Aversion To Noiseaccording to TCM

What is Aversion to Noise?

An aversion to noise is a condition where everyday sounds are perceived as excessively loud or intrusive, leading to discomfort or pain. Known medically as hyperacusis, this heightened sensitivity can cause significant distress, prompting individuals to avoid noisy environments and potentially impair social interactions and overall wellbeing. It's a response where the auditory processing system is compromised, making normal acoustics seem overwhelming.

How Does TCM View Aversion to Noise?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, aversion to noise is understood as an imbalance in the body's harmonious state, often involving the disruption of the flow of Qi, or vital energy. Specifically, TCM associates this condition with disruptions caused by Wind, which in TCM can penetrate the body and disturb the balance, particularly affecting the sensory organs and the Mind.

Additionally, such a symptom could be a manifestation of an imbalance in the Liver, which in TCM is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body and is closely associated with stress and emotional well-being. Addressing the Wind invasion or supporting the Liver to ensure the free flow of Qi is crucial for treatment.

Acupoints for Aversion To Noise

In TCM, the choice of acupoints for treating aversion to noise focuses on those that dispel Wind and harmonize the Mind. For instance, Neiting ST-44, an acupoint on the Stomach Channel located between the second and third toes, is believed to clear Wind and Heat which can contribute to sensory disturbances like noise sensitivity.

Moreover, its role in calming the Mind is essential as emotional disturbances in TCM are often linked with the health of internal organs like the Liver and Heart. By selecting points that address both the physical and emotional aspects of Wind and its effects on the Mind, TCM aims to alleviate the symptoms of hyperacusis.

See more details below about Neiting ST-44, an acupoint used to address aversion to noise.

Neiting ST-44

Between the 2nd and the 3rd toes, proximal to the interdigital fold.