Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions for Auditory Disorders: Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence Supporting the Management of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

Hearing loss and tinnitus are prevalent yet clinically challenging auditory disorders resulting from structural and functional impairments of the auditory system. These conditions substantially diminish quality of life and pose a considerable socioeconomic burden. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained increasing attention as a complementary and integrative therapeutic approach that offers unique advantages through its holistic, multi-targeted strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical application and recent advances in TCM for the treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus, with an emphasis on acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and therapeutic exercises. Mechanistic studies suggest that TCM might exert therapeutic effects by improving microcirculation in the inner ear, modulating oxidative stress and inflammation, regulating neuronal excitability, and restoring immune balance. Classical prescriptions such as Er-Long-Zuo-Ci-Wan have shown clinical efficacy, although challenges remain in standardizing treatment protocols and elucidating precise mechanisms. This review highlights the urgent need for high-quality, multicenter randomized controlled trials and interdisciplinary research to bridge traditional practices with modern scientific validation. By integrating ancient wisdom with contemporary biomedical insights, TCM presents a promising avenue for enriching therapeutic strategies in auditory medicine.