Acupuncture for Tinnitus in San Francisco
Ringing, buzzing or hissing that won't fade? Ali Hakimi uses acupuncture and moxibustion, drawing on his training in neurological care, to help you cope with tinnitus and the stress and poor sleep that often come with it.
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What our patients say
5.0 on Google from 92 reviews
I was introduced to Andrew by a friend who dubbed him as nothing short of magical. After experiencing his expertise firsthand, I couldn't agree more. Andrew's mastery of the human body and its intricacies truly feels like a kind of magic. I've been to other specialists for my chronic upper back and neck pain, but Andrew is different. He focuses on treating the actual problem, not just masking the symptoms. For the first time, I walked out of an acupuncture session and went back to exercising without feeling any pain. It was a game-changer. I feel as if I've been given a brand new back. Honestly, I never thought a life without back pain was possible until now. While I was also working with Andew some other health issues came up that couldn’t be diagnosed by western medicine. His thoughtful and holistic approach immediately made me feel understood and valued. Throughout our sessions, he would patiently explain the various points he was working on or the sensations I was experiencing, shedding light on what was going on internally within my body. Thanks to him, I now have a deeper appreciation for how imbalances in one area can send ripples throughout the entire system. He was able to find the root cause, guiding me slowly but surely on the path to recovery. I feel blessed to have met Andrew, he really has changed my life and I’m grateful for that.
I would strongly (strongly!) recommend Acupuncture for Athletics for both athletes and non-athletes alike. Not only does Andrew help with injury recovery, pain management, and stress relief, but he creates a relaxing and positive environment that enhances the work that he does and leads you to feel better both physically and mentally after each visit. And beyond acupuncture and massage, Andrew goes the extra mile to provide guidance on how to address specific pain-points and injuries, or to simply ensure that you are feeling and performing your best. Again, I can't recommend Acupuncture for Athletics enough!
Andrew is amazing! Very caring and concerned about your health and well being. He genuinely is a very kind person.
Andrew is a cornerstone of my care team. He successfully unwinds my ills before they can become chronic problems.
I came to Andrew after nearly six excruciating months of not being able to run. I had a seemingly minor Achilles tendon injury that simply refused to heal, defying every modality I tried. I hoped Andrew, a specialist in sports injuries, could break the deadlock. The simple answer is that in three visits, I was running again, hardly able to believe my good fortune. The more complicated answer runs deeper. Andrew’s work doesn’t just address physical injury; he works on spiritual and emotional injury and stress too. I didn’t realize that my physical injury was bound up with emotional trauma, but he did, and he figured out how to disentangle them so the healing process could start. The process can be painful; emotional injuries that have lodged in your body have to work their way out through muscle and bone, like a physical illness. But it’s also both profound and unexpected. As another of Andrew’s clients said, he is a true healer.
Andrew is terrific. I saw him post shoulder surgery and it was very beneficial in getting pain free and full range of motion.
Andrew treated me over a period of about two years for hip and shoulder problems, and he was tremendously helpful. I was impressed with his knowledge and skill, not to mention wonderful “bedside manner” and especially his enthusiasm for staying current in his field.
I loved coming to Andrew. He was a lifesaver in helping me through some back issues when I was pregnant with my first child. A lovely, warm place and Andrew is amazing!!!!
Andrew is a fantastic alternative and addition to physical therapy. He quickly understands your condition and treats it effectively.
Andrew introduced me to a form of healing which, after years of competitive long distance running and many injuries, I am more than thankful to have discovered! My latest injury, a small tear in my left hamstring, sidelined me for a number of months. After trying rest, physical therapy and anti-inflammatories with little results, I finally met Andrew. His approach from the very beginning was completely methodical, precise and extremely professional. Right away the pain eased, and I felt my body finally respond to treatment. Andrew was instrumental in healing my hamstring, and I trust that his acupuncture/massage techniques will keep me healthy and, importantly, keep me running for many decades and miles.
I’ve always wanted to be able to demonstrate clearly to professional dancers when giving them corrections or setting ballets. However, without the level of daily physical preparation that my body was used to when I danced, my body now has moments of rebellion that, however careful I am, need the assistance of experts to ensure I can do my job fully. Andrew’s combination of acupuncture and soft tissue work always made a significant difference to my mobility, helping me undertake my role in the studio at a level of physicality such that I’m not confined to the minimum level of demonstration. With his level of experience with dancers it was always easy to discuss problematic muscles and joints, and reassuring that he ‘got’ what was going on and what was required to improve the situation efficiently and effectively.
Andrew’s massage and acupuncture techniques have seen me successfully through back-to-back marathons seven weeks apart, plus two active pregnancies and a record-breaking racing season in between. He is a veritable genius in his field — a true healer.
Does this sound like you?
Tinnitus is hearing a sound that isn't coming from the world around you. People describe it in many different ways.
If your tinnitus came on suddenly, is in one ear only or comes with hearing loss, please read the section below on seeing a doctor first.
- Ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming or clicking in one or both ears
- A sound that's loudest when the room is quiet, especially at bedtime
- Trouble falling asleep or concentrating because of the noise
- Tinnitus that gets louder when you're stressed, tired or clenching your jaw
- A sense of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Feeling worn down or anxious because the sound never seems to stop
What tinnitus is
Tinnitus is very common. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that 10% to 25% of adults have it. For some it's a faint hum they barely notice. For others it's loud enough to disrupt sleep, work and mood.
It isn't a disease in itself. It's a symptom, most often linked to hearing loss from aging or loud noise. Earwax, ear infections, some medications, head and neck injuries, and problems with the jaw joint can also cause it or make it worse. Some people develop it with no clear cause at all.
Stress and tinnitus tend to feed each other. The sound can make you tense and tired, and being tense and tired can make the sound seem louder. That cycle is one of the places where acupuncture may help most, and it's why we look at sleep, stress and the jaw and neck as well as the ears.
Common causes and triggers
- Age-related hearing loss
- Exposure to loud noise, from concerts to power tools
- Earwax or fluid from an ear infection
- Certain medications, especially at high doses
- Head or neck injury
- Jaw clenching, tooth grinding or TMJ problems
- Stress, anxiety and poor sleep
See a doctor first
New tinnitus should be checked by your doctor before you start acupuncture. They can look for simple causes like earwax or an infection, review your medications, and refer you to an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) or an audiologist for a hearing test if needed.
Some signs need care quickly. The NHS advises emergency care for tinnitus that comes with sudden hearing loss, facial weakness or a spinning sensation, or that follows a head injury. Sudden hearing loss is treated as a medical emergency, because prompt treatment improves the chance of recovering hearing. If you have any of the symptoms listed here, please don't wait for an appointment with us.
Once you've been checked, we're glad to work alongside your doctor, ENT or audiologist.
Get urgent care if you have
- Sudden hearing loss, especially in one ear: seek care the same day
- Tinnitus after a head injury
- Tinnitus with weakness in your face, or a spinning sensation (vertigo)
See your doctor or an ENT soon if
- Your tinnitus is in one ear only
- It pulses or whooshes in time with your heartbeat
- It comes with trouble hearing
- It's getting worse or affecting your daily life
Care led by Ali Hakimi
Ali is a California-licensed acupuncturist and a seventh-generation practitioner of traditional medicine, with a master's degree from the Academy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences. Alongside pain and injury care, he has built a focus on neurological conditions, using targeted acupuncture and moxibustion.
He studied classical diagnosis with Dr. Suzanne Robidoux, including scalp acupuncture for anxiety, stress and insomnia, and classical Chinese formulas with Dr. Huang Huang. That training suits tinnitus well, because so many people with it also struggle with sleep and stress.
Chinese medicine describes tinnitus in patterns. A low, steady hum that gets worse when you're run down is read differently from a high-pitched ringing that flares with stress or anger, and the treatment changes to match. Ali takes time to understand yours: when it started, what makes it louder, and how it's affecting your life. Learn more about him on our team page.
What Ali looks at
- When the sound started and how it has changed
- What makes it louder or quieter
- Sleep, stress and energy
- Jaw, neck and shoulder tension
- Your hearing tests and medical history
How we treat tinnitus
Treatment is built around you rather than a fixed recipe. Most visits combine several of these.
- Points around the earFine needles at classic points in front of and behind the ear, combined with points on the hands and feet.
- Scalp acupunctureNeedles along zones of the scalp, often used for neurological concerns. Research suggests it may be especially helpful for tinnitus.
- MoxibustionA gentle warming therapy using the herb mugwort, held near the skin over chosen points. Ali uses it for neurological conditions.
- Jaw and neck releaseWhen clenching or neck tension seems to drive the sound, we treat the muscles of the jaw and neck too.
- Calming stress and sleepPoints chosen to help your nervous system settle, so the sound has less of a hold on you.
- Classical herbal medicineAli may discuss herbal formulas, always after checking your medications and health history.
What the research says
Acupuncture for tinnitus has been studied in a number of clinical trials. A 2021 review of eight trials with 504 people found acupuncture improved scores on questionnaires that measure how much tinnitus bothers people and disrupts daily life.
Scalp acupuncture has shown encouraging results. A 2025 review of 20 studies with 1,430 people found it outperformed standard acupuncture or medication for tinnitus. It's one of the techniques Ali may include in your treatment.
Many people also come to us because tinnitus is affecting their sleep and stress levels, and that's often where they notice a difference first. Results vary from person to person. Curious about the basics? Read how an acupuncture visit works.
In short
- Studies have found improvements in how much tinnitus bothers people day to day
- Scalp acupuncture has shown especially encouraging results
- Benefits often show up in sleep, stress and how intrusive the sound feels
- Results vary from person to person
- It's best used alongside care from your ENT or audiologist
Working alongside your hearing care
There are good ways to make tinnitus easier to live with. Acupuncture fits best as one part of that plan.
From your doctor, ENT or audiologist
- A hearing test to check for hearing loss
- Hearing aids, if you have hearing loss
- Sound therapy and tinnitus retraining
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus
- A review of medications that can cause ringing
What we add
Acupuncture and moxibustion aimed at the ear, the nervous system and the tension around the jaw and neck. Many people come to us because tinnitus is wrecking their sleep or keeping them on edge, and that's often where we can help most.
We also talk through daily habits: winding down before bed, keeping a little background sound in a quiet room, protecting your ears from loud noise, and noticing whether caffeine or stress makes your tinnitus louder.
Your first visit and your plan
Plan on about an hour for your first visit. How many sessions you'll need varies, and we'll give you an honest estimate after your assessment.
Talk
Ali asks about your tinnitus, your hearing, sleep, stress and health history. Please bring any hearing test results or notes from your ENT. He'll also check your pulse and tongue as part of classical Chinese diagnosis.
Treat
You stay clothed and lie comfortably while Ali places fine needles around the ears, scalp and limbs, sometimes adding moxibustion for warmth. Then you rest quietly.
Afterwards
Most people feel relaxed. Some notice the sound is quieter for a while, and some notice little change at first. Keep a simple note of loudness, sleep and stress between visits so we can see what's shifting.
Review
After a handful of visits we look at your notes together. If acupuncture isn't helping, we'll tell you rather than keep you coming.
Who'll treat you
Ali leads our care for tinnitus, drawing on his work with neurological conditions. Like Andrew and Suzanne, he is a California-licensed acupuncturist trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a classical assessment, including your pulse and tongue, shapes each visit. Andrew and Suzanne can also treat the jaw and neck tension that often comes with it.
Ali Hakimi
L.Ac
Acupuncture and moxibustion for tinnitus, plus care for stress and sleep.
- Targeted acupuncture and moxibustion for neurological conditions
- Scalp and ear acupuncture for stress and insomnia
- Studied classical Chinese formulas with Dr. Huang Huang
Andrew Castellanos
L.Ac, CST · Clinic owner
Jaw, neck and shoulder tension that can travel with ringing ears.
- Myofascial release and soft tissue work for a tight neck
Suzanne Lange
DACM, L.Ac, CMT
Gentle bodywork and acupuncture for a tense jaw and neck.
- Trained in myofascial and trigger point therapy
- Craniosacral therapy and somato-emotional release training
- Doctorate in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Pricing and booking
Tinnitus care happens within a standard acupuncture session, using whatever mix of acupuncture and moxibustion suits you. There's no tinnitus package to buy.
We don't bill insurance, but we provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. We accept HSA and FSA cards and all credit cards. We're on Webster Street in Cow Hollow, a few blocks from the Marina if you're looking for acupuncture near the Marina District. When you book, ask for Ali.
Appointments
- 60-min initial acupuncture & assessment
- $225
- 45-min acupuncture follow-up
- $195
- 60-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $225
- 75-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $265
- 90-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $300
Tinnitus FAQ
Can acupuncture cure tinnitus?
We won't promise that acupuncture will make the sound go away. Many people find it becomes quieter or less intrusive, and that it's easier to sleep and cope. Studies have found improvements in how much tinnitus bothers people day to day. Results vary from person to person, and we'll review your progress together after a few visits.
Does acupuncture for tinnitus work?
Many people come to us for help with the sound itself and with the poor sleep and stress that come with it. A 2021 review of clinical trials found acupuncture improved how much tinnitus bothered people and affected their daily life, and a 2025 review found scalp acupuncture outperformed standard acupuncture or medication. Results vary from person to person, and we'll estimate how many sessions you may need after your assessment.
Should I see a doctor before trying acupuncture?
Yes. New tinnitus should be checked by a doctor, who can look for causes like earwax, infection or medication side effects and refer you for a hearing test. Sudden hearing loss, tinnitus after a head injury, or tinnitus with facial weakness or vertigo needs urgent care the same day. One-sided or pulsing tinnitus should be checked soon by your doctor or an ENT.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies with how long you've had tinnitus and what seems to be driving it. We usually suggest a short course of regular visits and then review together. If it isn't helping, we'll say so.
What is moxibustion?
Moxibustion is a traditional warming therapy. A small amount of dried mugwort is warmed and held near the skin over chosen acupuncture points. It feels like gentle, spreading warmth. Ali uses targeted acupuncture and moxibustion in his work with neurological conditions.
Can jaw problems or TMJ cause tinnitus?
They can play a part. Jaw clenching, tooth grinding and problems with the jaw joint can cause or worsen tinnitus in some people. If your tinnitus changes when you clench or move your jaw, we'll treat the jaw and neck muscles as part of your plan.
Can acupuncture help me sleep with tinnitus?
Poor sleep is one of the hardest parts of tinnitus. Acupuncture may help you relax and settle at night, and we'll suggest simple habits such as low background sound and a steady wind-down routine. Results vary, and we can't promise better sleep, but this is often where people notice a difference first.
Is acupuncture safe for tinnitus?
When performed by a licensed acupuncturist with sterile, single-use needles, acupuncture is generally very safe. The most common side effects are mild soreness or a small bruise. Let us know if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder or a pacemaker, or are pregnant.
Where can I get acupuncture for tinnitus in San Francisco?
Ali Hakimi treats tinnitus at our clinic at 2920 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94123, in Cow Hollow. His approach combines acupuncture and moxibustion with attention to the stress and sleep problems that often travel with tinnitus. He draws on his training in neurological care.
What should I know before I arrive?
We're on Webster Street between Union and Filbert, in a gated building. Enter code from your booking confirmation email at the street gate to come in. Our directions and parking page explains the bus lines and parking nearby.
References
- Huang K, et al. Acupuncture for tinnitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2021.
- Chen J, et al. The clinical efficacy of scalp acupuncture for tinnitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2025.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Tinnitus.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Sudden Deafness.
- NHS. Tinnitus.
Want to talk about your tinnitus?
Book a visit with Ali at our Cow Hollow clinic, or call us to ask a question first.
Visit us in Cow Hollow
2920 Webster Street, between Union and Filbert. A short walk from the Marina, Pacific Heights and the Presidio.
Address
Acupuncture for Athletics2920 Webster Street
San Francisco, CA 94123 Gate code: in your booking confirmation email
Hours
- Every day
- 7:30am – 9:00pm