Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held medical instrument, in particular a hand-held surgical or dental instrument, comprising a component that generates mechanical vibrations during operation, and a particle damping element which has at least one hollow space that is designed to receive the mechanical vibrations and is filled at least in part with a plurality of granular particles which dampen the mechanical vibrations by means of dissipative shocks between the granular particles and/or between the granular particles and a wall surrounding the hollow space.