Ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ears can be more than just bothersome; it can be debilitating. Tinnitus is a disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide and usually leads to the search for solutions.
While pharmacological therapies are available, experimenting with herbal remedies offers a natural and balanced way to control tinnitus symptoms.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a subjective auditory phenomenon in which sound is perceived in the absence of an external source. It can take many forms, from high-pitched ringing and buzzing to hissing, humming, and even roaring.
The sound may be steady or intermittent, affecting one or both ears, and its strength may vary.
Tinnitus Symptoms
The feeling of phantom sound within the ears or head is the major symptom of tinnitus. However, the illness can potentially cause other symptoms such as:
- Concentration and focusing difficulties
- Disruptions in sleep
- Depression and anxiety
- Irritability and exhaustion
- Dizziness and problems with balance
- Fullness or earache
- Hearing difficulties with weak noises
Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of reasons, including:
- Loud sounds, ear infections, trauma, and ototoxic drugs can all cause tinnitus by damaging the auditory system.
- Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of medical diseases, including Meniere’s disease, malignancies, thyroid abnormalities, and some neurological illnesses.
- Tinnitus is more frequent in elderly persons because of changes in the inner ear caused by aging.
- Stress, anxiety, coffee use, and smoking can all aggravate tinnitus symptoms.
Natural Remedies for Tinnitus
While there is no one treatment for tinnitus, numerous natural solutions have shown promise in treating symptoms and improving overall health. Here are a few of the most common choices:
Meditation and relaxation
Tinnitus can be exacerbated by stress and worry. Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing techniques can help manage stress, increase relaxation, and lessen tinnitus perception.
A 2017 research investigated if mindfulness meditation or relaxation treatment may benefit 86 patients suffering from tinnitus. Although the research was small, participants in both groups stated that these strategies were beneficial.
However, as compared to the relaxation group, more participants in the meditation group reported feeling helped by the practice.
Sound therapy
Tinnitus can be efficiently reduced and relieved by masking the sound with white noise, natural sounds, or peaceful music. There are additional sound treatment devices and applications available.
Sound therapy has been shown in studies to effectively decrease tinnitus in some persons, while further study is needed.
Masking is one sort of sound treatment that may help persons with tinnitus. This includes disguising the tinnitus with other noises, which can give respite from the tinnitus’s persistent or monotonous ringing.
Yoga
Gentle yoga positions and stretching activities might help you relax, decrease tension, and increase blood flow, perhaps providing tinnitus treatment.
Yoga is a stress-reduction technique that has been investigated as a potential therapy for tinnitus.
In a short research published in 2019, 25 tinnitus sufferers participated in a 12-week yoga session. Before and after the yoga instruction, several of the patients in the group got an MRI of their brain. Participants reported improved sleep, quality of life, and a sense of “control” over tinnitus symptoms at the end of the trial. When the researchers compared the “before and after” yoga training brain scans, they saw probable alterations in brain connections.
Regular Exercise
Regular physical exercise can enhance general health and well-being, which can help with tinnitus. Exercise also aids in the management of stress and anxiety, which provides extra advantages.
As a result, frequent exercise may be beneficial. One short research of persons with persistent tinnitus discovered that yoga decreased stress and tinnitus symptoms.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicinal procedure that includes inserting tiny needles into certain body sites. In certain circumstances, acupuncture may help control stress, promote sleep, and decrease tinnitus symptoms.
Ginseng
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities of this plant may enhance blood flow and circulation in the inner ear, thereby relieving tinnitus symptoms.
Ginseng is a common herbal remedy in alternative and complementary medicine.16 Some studies have looked at whether Korean red ginseng might aid with tinnitus symptoms.
A 2015 experiment, for example, examined Korean red ginseng with ginkgo biloba extract in 61 tinnitus sufferers. Patients who took Korean red ginseng for four weeks reported improvements in their tinnitus symptom ratings as well as their mental well-being.
Acai
This superfood is high in antioxidants and other nutrients that may protect the auditory system and promote general health.
Ginkgo biloba
This plant has been used in traditional medicine for ages for its circulation-boosting effects. According to research, it may enhance blood flow to the inner ear and alleviate tinnitus symptoms in certain people.
Several trials have been conducted to determine if ginkgo biloba is an effective tinnitus therapy, according to a 2022 review. Researchers believe that the extract’s antioxidant and vasodilatory properties may aid in the treatment of tinnitus.
Although several research studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ginkgo biloba as a therapy for tinnitus, the data is ambiguous or wrong.
Zinc
Zinc, an important mineral, aids in the transmission of nerve messages to the brain, especially those involved in hearing. Some study shows that zinc shortage may interfere with hearing signals and lead to tinnitus, however, this is debatable in the scientific community.
Antidepressants
Tinnitus has been connected to depression and anxiety in some circumstances.
Antidepressants are a little different in how they may aid tinnitus symptoms since they may truly help reduce the problem rather than simply your impression of it.
Neurotransmitters are substances that transport information about feelings from all over your body back to the brain, and some of the same neurotransmitters that modulate sound also have a role in sadness.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter that aids in the transmission of sound impulses.
Some antidepressants act by raising serotonin, which may block the effects of the GABA neurotransmitter and lessen tinnitus symptoms.
A doctor may prescribe antidepressants to treat these underlying disorders, which might indirectly alleviate tinnitus symptoms.
When is Tinnitus Considered a Medical Emergency?
Seek emergency medical assistance if your tinnitus is sudden, severe, and accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, or facial numbness. These symptoms may signal a dangerous underlying medical issue that needs immediate care.
Conclusion
Living with tinnitus can be difficult, but it does not have to be a continual battle. You may manage the disease and restore a sense of serenity and well-being by adding natural therapies into your daily routine, reducing stress and anxiety, and investigating lifestyle changes.
Remember that determining the most successful technique may need a mix of strategies as well as consultation with a healthcare expert to determine the underlying cause and establish a specific treatment plan.
Dr. Kimberly Langdon has been an MD for 31 years, board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist with 19-years of clinical experience. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, earning Honors in many rotations. She then completed her OB/GYN residency program at The Ohio State University Medical Center, earning first-place accolades for her Senior Research Project and Score of 98th percentile on a National Proficiency Test.
During her clinical career, she delivered over 2000 babies and specialized in minimally invasive procedures, menopause, endometriosis, menstrual disorders, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. After retiring from clinical practice, she founded a medical device company to commercialize her two patented and four patent-pending medical devices for both life-threatening and non-life-threatening infections.
