Acupuncture Improves Blood Pressure and Hearing Health

A specific combination of acupuncture points, targeting both the body and the ear, significantly improved autonomic nervous system balance and lowered blood pressure in a new randomized controlled trial. The study, published in the *Journal of Kedokteran dan Farmasi*, found that a multimodal protocol produced results that were measurably superior to single-point therapies or a sham procedure.

The Autonomic Link Between Stress and Hearing Sensitivity

Blood pressure and heart rate are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, a balance between the “fight-or-flight” sympathetic branch and the “rest-and-digest” parasympathetic branch. When sympathetic activity is chronically high, it contributes to hypertension and a state of physiological stress. This autonomic imbalance is also a recognized factor in auditory disorders. For instance, heightened sympathetic tone can amplify the distress associated with misophonia and contribute to the limbic system involvement seen in tinnitus and hyperacusis. Researchers Kadek Buja Harditya and colleagues hypothesized that modulating this autonomic balance could have wide-ranging benefits.

Testing a Multimodal Acupuncture Protocol

The team designed a study to test whether combining somatic and auricular acupuncture could be more effective than either approach separately. They recruited 60 adults aged 20-60 and randomly assigned them to one of four groups for an eight-session treatment over four weeks.

The combination group received needling at Neiguan (PC6, a body point on the wrist known for cardiovascular effects), plus stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve point and Er Shen Men (a master ear point for relaxation). The PC6-only group and the auricular-only group received those respective components alone. A sham acupuncture group underwent a placebo procedure with non-penetrating needles at non-acupuncture points.

Outcomes were measured objectively. Heart rate variability (HRV) metrics—SDNN (overall variability), RMSSD (parasympathetic activity), and the LF/HF ratio (sympathovagal balance)—quantified autonomic function. Researchers also tracked resting heart rate and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Superior Results from the Combined Approach

The data revealed clear, graded outcomes. The sham acupuncture group showed minimal changes, confirming that the observed effects were treatment-specific. The single-intervention groups (PC6 only or auricular only) demonstrated moderate, positive changes in autonomic metrics and blood pressure.

The combination group, however, showed the most pronounced improvements. Participants experienced significant increases in SDNN and RMSSD, indicating stronger overall autonomic regulation and enhanced parasympathetic (calming) tone. The LF/HF ratio, a marker of sympathetic-parasympathetic balance, moved toward a more relaxed state. Practically, this translated to a notable drop in blood pressure: an average reduction of 12.0 mmHg in systolic and 10.0 mmHg in diastolic pressure, alongside a lowered heart rate. Statistical analysis confirmed that the gains in the combination group were significantly greater than those in all other groups.

Implications for Hearing and Stress-Related Health

This study provides evidence that a structured, multimodal acupuncture protocol can effectively shift autonomic nervous system function toward a more balanced, parasympathetic-dominant state. For the hearing health community, this has direct relevance. Chronic stress and autonomic dysregulation are common companions to conditions like tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia, often worsening their perceived burden.

A therapy that reliably reduces physiological arousal and blood pressure offers a complementary, non-pharmacological tool. It could be used to address the systemic stress component that exacerbates auditory hypersensitivity. While this study did not measure auditory symptoms directly, the physiological pathway it targets—autonomic balance—is a shared mechanism. The findings align with research exploring other neuromodulation techniques, such as tDCS for tinnitus and hyperacusis pathways, which also aim to calm overactive neural networks.

“The combined somatic and auricular acupuncture protocol showed a significant effect on improving autonomic balance and reducing blood pressure,” the authors concluded. This approach may represent a valuable strategy for managing cardiovascular risk and, by extension, the stress-linked dimensions of auditory health disorders.

Source: Harditya, K.B., Padmiswari, A.A.I.M., & Strisanti, I.A.S. (2023). The Effect of Combination of Somatic and Auricular Acupuncture on Autonomic Function and Blood Pressure. Journal of Kedokteran dan Farmasi. DOI: 10.37341/jkf.v11i1.499.