Your ear can be broadly divided into three sections: the outer,
middle and inner ear. The outer ear consists of the ear flap (pinna)
and the ear canal. Both of them are designed to channel sound waves
to the eardrum which is nothing but a thin membrane stretching
across the entrance of the middle ear. It vibrates in response to
the frequencies of the incoming sound waves. Then there is the
Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the
nasal cavity (into the throat) and equalizes the air pressure on
both sides of the eardrum. It also does the important job of
draining fluid and bacteria from the middle ear out to the throat.
The middle ear also consists of three bones:
the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. These bones conduct sound vibrations from the
eardrum through the oval window (or vestibule), present in the inner
ear, into the fluid-filled cochlea. The inner ear also has sensory
cells, the auditory nerve and the special fluid-filled semicircular
canals which are responsible for keeping you in balance, i.e. they
provide you with the sense of balance. Sensory cells in the cochlea
convert the sound waves, which are now in the fluid form, into nerve
impulses, which are then transmitted to the brain by the auditory
nerve.
About Tinnitus
This extremely irritating and stressful condition of the ear is
usually not caused by any external noise. This auditory sensation,
or ringing in the ears, as it is widely known affects thousands of
people. It involves a ringing noise in the ears which may or may not
be accompanied by hearing loss. Although many tinnitus sufferers can
hear perfectly well, some others experience such loud ringing in the
ears that other sounds are virtually blocked out. This severe
condition renders them helpless as they loose sleep and
concentration.
Tinnitus can be broadly classified into two types:
Objective which
is caused by vascular sounds in the head and neck or muscular
contractions of the middle ear or the soft palate in the mouth. Your
doctor can easily hear the same sounds on examination as you are
yourself hearing.
Subjective tinnitus refers to buzzing, roaring, ringing or whistling
in the ear which may be continuous or intermittent and are only
heard by the sufferer, i.e. a doctor is unable to hear the same
sounds. Subjective tinnitus is more common than objective tinnitus.
Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from this disorder. In almost all
cases, only the patient can hear the noise.
Therefore, a visit to your doctor is extremely important to identify
the origin of your problem as that only will determine the line of
treatment. This said, it is important to state here that there is
very little you or your doctor can do to cure tinnitus. All you can
hope for is controlling and treating the underlying causes.
According to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA),
there is no known cure of tinnitus with the conventional line of
medicine. For a long time though, herbs & herbal formulas
have come to the rescue of these tinnitus sufferers (read
more below).
Tinnitus
may be caused by a variety of disorders in all the three parts of
the ear as well as the auditory nerve and brain. The major ones are:
In the outer ear
·
Wax build-up or other obstructions
In the middle ear
·
A ruptured eardrum
·
Fluid build-up (congested Eustachian tubes)
·
Otosclerosis (excessive bone growth)
·
Disease of the middle ear bones or ear drum (tympanic
membrane)
·
Some infection
In the
Inner Ear
·
One of the most common causes of tinnitus is damage
to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in
the inner ear
·
Age related hearing loss (presbyacusis)
·
Ménière’s disease
·
Side effects of certain drugs like sedatives,
antidepressants, pain killers etc. (in some cases like
aspirin, the tinnitus is nothing but a transient side
effect)
·
Damage caused due to overexposure to loud noise
(particularly firearms and high intensity
music including ipods)
·
Tumours
Other
Causes
·
Certain diseases affecting the auditory nerve
·
Certain diseases affecting the brain like the ones
affecting the auditory centers inside the brain
Valium,
Xanax and Klonopin are benzodiazepine drugs that many doctors
prescribe for tinnitus. These are conventional medications which
achieve only limited success in tinnitus symptoms relief, and usually
their bothersome side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision,
and constipation often discourage use.
Although they are helpful in reducing tinnitus symptoms and aid in
sleeping, they are addicting to varying degrees and cannot be used
continuously for a long period of time. Valium is the most
addicting of these and is not used often for this reason.
Xanax is very popular and is prescribed often for tinnitus. However,
the ATA report on medications that cause tinnitus lists Xanax as
causing it in 6.6% of cases.
Others
include:
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline
- Migraine medications gabapentin (Neurontin) and acamprosate (Campral)
- Baclofen (a muscle relaxant)
Additionally, ATA clearly states that there is no cure for Tinnitus
with the conventional line of medicine.
However,
some natural
and holistic tinnitus remedies have been found to be extremely effective in assisting with
the relief of symptoms, as well as addressing the individual’s
overall health and well-being. These herbal and homeopathic remedies are
gentle, yet effective - without the harmful side effects of
conventional medicine.
Tinnitus
herbal remedies can be used to support all body systems involved
in helping the ear to perform its tasks of clear hearing and
balance, as well as the circulatory, cardiovascular, and nervous
systems.
These are a few herbs that
are extremely helpful in alleviating the symptoms related to
tinnitus.
·
Ginkgo biloba - Leaves of ginkgo
are the ones having medicinal qualities and their main
constituents are ginkgolide terpenes and flavonoids - antioxidants
that strengthen the blood vessels and improve the
circulation. Terpenoids (such as ginkgolides) improve
blood flow by dilating blood vessels and reducing the
stickiness of platelets. These particular traits of
ginkgo are used to treat tinnitus by improving the
circulation in the ear area. As many a times, tinnitus
is attributed to nerve damage and certain blood vessel
disorders, some researchers believe that ginkgo relieves
symptoms of this hearing disorder. Although the quality
of most studies was poor, the reviewers concluded that
ginkgo moderately relieves the loudness of the sound
heard by tinnitus sufferers.
·
Rosmarinus officinale (Rosemary) - Rosemary contains many
active constituents like flavonoids which act as a
stimulant and antioxidant. Its other constituents
include rosmarinic acid (a phenol) which is known for
its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory powers and is also
considered an excellent antioxidant. Another constituent
rosmaricine has analgesic property along with being a
stimulant. Then there are astringent tannins that fight
infections. The essential volatile oil of rosemary is
attributed with the characteristic sharp, stimulating
smell and it also contains many other active compounds
including camphor and cineole (eucalyptol) and has
excellent antibacterial property along with the ability
to relax smooth muscles of the lungs. Rosemary’s
expectorant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
properties are used extensively to treat bronchial, ear,
nose and throat infections. Rosemary is particularly
useful for tinnitus that is caused or worsened by high
blood pressure and other circulatory conditions.
Rosemary also acts as an invigorating herb, relieving
depression and imparting a zest for life, preventing
fatigue and stress which both affect tinnitus.
·
Avena sativa - This is made from the wild oat plant and
is a well known restorative and nerve tonic. Avena
sativa is effective in reducing high cholesterol levels
which can contribute to circulatory problems which cause
tinnitus. This herb is also used to treat depression,
low libido and lack of energy. Recent studies have
suggested that it is also effective in reducing the
craving for nicotine in people who are trying to quit
smoking.
·
Salicylic Ac. (30C) - This is a homeopathic remedy
indicated for tinnitus with loud roaring or ringing
sounds, which may be accompanied by deafness or vertigo.
This remedy is particularly useful in people whose
symptoms began with a bout of flu, Meniere’s disease or
long-term use of aspirin. Because it is presented in
homeopathic potency, Salicylic Ac. carries none of the
negative side effects of pharmaceutical aspirin, yet
offers excellent benefits.
·
Ferrum phosphoricum (Ferrum phos. D6) is a homeopathic biochemic tissue salts which supports the absorption of
iron in the body. The protective myelin sheath which
surrounds all nerve tissue needs iron to supply this
vital nutrient to the nerve cells it encases. Iron in
hemoglobin also helps to keep all body tissue, including
the brain, supplied with oxygen. Regular use of Ferrum
phos. can help to prevent dizziness, headaches and
restlessness and is of great benefit for those who tend
to feel irritable, tense and tired.
·
Magnesium phosphate (Mag. phos. D6) well-known as a
homeopathic painkiller, Mag. phos. is also of great
benefit to the health of the nerves. It acts as a
natural anti-spasmodic and a nerve and muscle relaxant
and is also frequently recommended for stress headaches
A few
things that you can do to alleviate your tinnitus symptoms with the
help of your diet are by incorporating certain foods that contain
the below mentioned vital minerals and vitamins that help in
tinnitus in their own ways. These foods along with the herbal &
homeopathic remedies discussed above, go a long away in alleviating
tinnitus symptoms.
·
Zinc – Zinc supplements have been used to treat people
who had both tinnitus and hearing loss (usually
age-related). But such large amounts of zinc should be
monitored by a doctor. Your doctor can measure blood
levels of zinc and if you are deficient in it, start
taking a zinc rich diet immediately. Zinc is mostly
found in foods such as dairy products, seafood
(oysters), chicken, beef, egg, collards, spinach,
papaya, Brussels, sprouts, asparagus, beans, cowpeas,
prunes and cucumber.
·
Vitamin B12 - People who are exposed to loud noise on
the job and who subsequently develop tinnitus have been
found to be generally deficient in Vitamin B12.
Intramuscular injections of Vitamin B12 reduced the
severity of tinnitus in some of these people. It is
generally believed that a diet containing good amounts
of this vitamin should help the sufferer in maintaining
the status quo after getting treated by the injections.
Foods that contain generous amount of it are liver,
fish, milk, lean meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, fortified soya drink. Remember, folic acid supplements may hide
deficiency of vitamin B12 and hence you better get
yourself checked for its deficiency if your folate
intake is good enough.
·
The other important vitamins needed are A, B and E, which you
can get easily if your diet is full of fresh fruits and
vegetable. Also remember that proteins are what your
body needs for cell building and repairing. So, your
diet must definitely be protein rich.
·
Avoid saturated fats as their consumption leads to you
developing all kinds of circulatory problems and also
high blood pressure. These in turn can initiate and
definitely add up to your vows..
·
Bring your salt, sugar and processed foods consumption
under control. This helps in regulating blood pressure
and prevents clogging of veins.
·
Tea, coffee and alcohol also play around with your blood
pressure. So decrease their consumption to basic minimum
levels and see the difference for yourself.
Some
most effective home made remedies for tinnitus are:
·
Dried ginger powder - Mix jaggery and clarified
butter with dried ginger powder, heat it and then eat
it. It shall cure rustling noises in the ears.
·
Sesame oil - To calm the ringing in the ears, ten drops
of warm sesame oil can be applied daily to each ear.
Pour oil in the first ear and allow it to remain for
five or ten minutes, then let it drain out. Repeat the
same procedure with the other ear, lying on the other
side. Typically, this treatment should alleviate
tinnitus within eight to ten days.
·
Head massage and foot massage, wherein the soles of the
feet are massaged with warm sesame oil, has a specific
effect in reducing the noise in the ear. At bedtime,
warm sesame oil should be applied to the soles of the
feet and also to the scalp.
Earwax – Never remove earwax with a sharp object.
This can cause a wax impaction against your eardrum
which can cause tinnitus and you should consult
your doctor about it and get it removed periodically.
·
People who are exposed to loud noises at job should
protect their ears by using earplugs or earmuffs. Also as
a thumb rule, avoid too much exposure to loud noises,
music, speakers, and professional activities which
involve high frequency sounds. Even everyday noises,
such as blow drying your hair or using a lawnmower, can
require protection.
·
Check your smoking as it not only raises your blood
pressure but also provides enough contamination to your
already troubled ear/ears increasing the chances of further infections.
·
Control blood pressure. Take blood pressure medicines
and other prescribed medications as they are ordered by
your doctor.
·
Avoid excess TV viewing, sitting in front of computers,
or sleeping near an equipment emitting RF field.
·
Utilize masking noise. Tinnitus is usually more
bothersome when the surroundings are quiet, especially
when you are in bed. A competing sound
such as a ticking clock, a radio, a fan or white noise
machine may help mask tinnitus. Small hearing aid like
devices which generate a competitive sound may help
reduce the awareness of the tinnitus. You may combine
such maskers along with herbal
& homeopathic remedies like
TinnaRex
for complete relief from tinnitus by attacking the
bothersome symptoms from all corners.
·
De-stress – You should consider relaxation techniques to
conquer anxiety due to tinnitus. As tinnitus could be
quite suffering, you need to first of all calm yourself
to carry on with your normal, day to day life. A lot of
biofeedback techniques and other therapies are on offer
but yoga
may help you a lot more.
