OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on idiopathic tinnitus between the combined therapy with acupuncture and the modified formula of and and the simple administration of the modified formula of and .

METHODSA total of 60 patients were randomized into a combined treatment group and an herbal medicine group, 30 cases in each one and 2 cases dropped out in the herbal medicine group. In the combined treatment group, acupuncture was given at the local acupoints for tinnitus, such as Yifeng (TE 17), penetrating needling technique from Ermen (TE 21) to Tinggong (SI 19) and Tinghui (GB 2) combined with the scalp acupuncture [the vertigo-auditory area, Baihui (GV 20)] and the oral administration of the modified formula of and . In the herbal medicine group, the oral administration of the modified formula of and was only applied. The treatment was given once a day in each group, 5 times a week for acupuncture and 7 times a week for the oral administration of herbal medicine. Totally, the treatment for 6 weeks was required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the tinnitus severity score (TSS) and the score of tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) were observed and the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the TSS and THI scores reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.05). The scores in the combined treatment group were lower than those in the herbal medicine group (both <0.05). The total effective rate in the combined treatment group was 93.3% (28/30), better than 67.9% (19/28) in the herbal medicine group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined treatment with scalp acupuncture, acupuncture around the ear and the modified formula of and achieve the superior therapeutic effects on idiopathic tinnitus as compared with the simple oral administration of the modified formula of and .