Tinnitus: Natural Remedies Can Stop The Persistent Ringing In Your Ears

If you suffer from tinnitus, you'll be only too aware of how unbearable the persistent ringing, buzzing or hissing sound in your ears can be - interfering with both your sleep and your normal everyday activities. You're not alone, however, as one in every ten adults in the UK suffers from this distressing condition. Fortunately, there are many effective natural alternatives to drugs and surgery that can bring considerable relief and help you cope.

One of the main causes of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise, which wears down the delicate hair cells in your inner ear that translate sounds into nerve impulses. Other factors include high blood pressure, head injury damage, ear infections, high cholesterol, medication, or an aneurysm (ballooning of an artery), which causes an obstruction to the blood flow to your inner ear.

Tinnitus can also be a symptom of Meniere's disease, whereby fluids build up in your inner ear and cause vertigo and loss of hearing. Poor nutrition, food allergies and low blood sugar are also thought to contribute to tinnitus, and stress is commonly linked with the onset or worsening of the condition.

Drugs and surgery can make matters worse!
Doctors commonly prescribe the drug betahistidine, or 'Serc'. This is used to treat Meniere's disease and works to reduce the pressure in your inner ear - however, its side-effects include nausea and stomach upsets. Antihistamines are also used to reduce mucus production and let your inner ear dry out - but they can cause drowsiness and blurred vision.

Antidepressants and tranquillisers have also been given to tinnitus sufferers, in an attempt to help them cope with the intolerable persistence of the sound they hear. However, such drugs have serious side-effects, including insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, nausea, stomach pain, and dependency - and can even make your condition worse.

Surgery may be a last resort, especially if blood vessel abnormalities or a problem with the temporo-mandibular joint (the hinge between your skull and jaw) are suspected, to remove swollen blood vessels or abnormal bone growth. However, surgery has a low success rate and can actually worsen tinnitus or even result in complete deafness!

Simple dietary and lifestyle changes can improve your symptoms
Tinnitus sufferers should avoid certain foods, which can aggravate the condition - these include, sugar, salt, saturated fats, dairy products and processed foods. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, raw foods and good quality proteins instead.
As low blood sugar has been associated with tinnitus, you should prevent blood sugar swings by cutting out sweet foods, refined flour products and stimulants, such as coffee, tea and alcohol. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, start a programme of exercise (gently at first), since this can help improve the flow of blood to your ears.

Natural alternatives can relieve the torture of tinnitus
Nutritional and herbal supplements can provide complete relief if your tinnitus is a recent problem, or reduce long-standing symptoms. Niacin, a form of vitamin B3, can be extremely beneficial, as it opens up your blood vessels and allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach your inner ear. Take 100-200mg a day, taken as part of a balanced B-complex supplement. Injections of vitamin B12 (1mg intramuscularly, twice a week) have also been shown to help (Am. J Otolaryngol. 14:94-99,1993) - consult your doctor for more information.

Supplementing with magnesium (500-1,000mg a day) has been shown to reverse noise-induced hearing loss (Am. J. Otolaryngol 15: 26-32, 1994). The cochlea of the ear (spiral organ) has the body's highest concentration of zinc. A Japanese study showed that zinc supplements relieve symptoms of tinnitus in people with a zinc deficiency (Oto-rhino-laryngol. Soc. Japan 100(9): 915-9, 1997). Take 15-30mg a day.

The extract of the maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba, is known to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow. Studies indicate that taking 120-240mg a day of standardised extract for 4-6 weeks can deliver significant improvements (Clin. Otolaryngol. 24: 164-7,1999; Advances in Therapy 15(1): 54-65, 1998). The herb, black cohosh, can also help by improving blood flow to your brain. The suggested dose is 20-40mg a day.

Because tinnitus has so many possible causes, you may need to try a few of these natural remedies before you find a treatment that works for you. The main thing is not to give up hope - and don't listen to doctors who tell you it's something you've just got to live with!