If tinnitus is especially noticeable in quiet settings, try using a white noise machine to mask the noise from tinnitus. If you don't have a white noise machine, a fan, soft music or low-volume radio static also may help. Limit alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments that can improve the symptoms and address the mental health effects of tinnitus. Common natural remedies for tinnitus include natural supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, acai, and ginseng. Acupuncture, yoga, and mindfulness meditation may also be beneficial.
There is no single medication that works on all tinnitus patients. Some of the antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications available are helpful for certain tinnitus patients, however more research is needed in this area.
Lipo-Flavonoid, Synapse XT, and Ring Stop are a few examples of brand-name pills for tinnitus relief. Keep in mind that no OTC tinnitus supplements have been reviewed by the FDA. This means that they haven't been extensively tested for safety or for how well they work.
Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system.
Sometimes, tinnitus is a sign of high blood pressure, an allergy, or anemia. In rare cases, tinnitus is a sign of a serious problem such as a tumor or aneurysm. Other risk factors for tinnitus include temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), diabetes, thyroid problems, obesity, and head injury.
Research suggests sound therapy can effectively suppress tinnitus in some people. Two common types of sound therapy are masking and habituation. Masking. This exposes a person to background noise, like white noise, nature sounds, or ambient sounds, to mask tinnitus noise or distract attention away from it.
A way to think about this is that while tinnitus may seem to occur in your ear, the phantom sounds are instead generated by your brain, in an area called the auditory cortex. Other evidence shows that abnormal interactions between the auditory cortex and other neural circuits may play a role in tinnitus.
And staying hydrated by drinking water will help reduce the impact of tinnitus. Keep a journal if you need to. On days when your tinnitus seems particularly loud, think back; what have you eaten or drank or done in the last 24-36 hours?
For some people, tinnitus may be temporary. A person may experience tinnitus as a symptom of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL occurs due to long-term exposure to a noisy environment. A person's NIHL symptoms can go away after leaving the noisy environment.
What does the research say? Serum magnesium levels are lower in people with tinnitus than the general population[3]. Increased susceptibility to noise damage, ototoxicity and auditory hyperexcitability have also been linked to magnesium deficiency[4].
There are many causes of tinnitus and certain activities, like smoking, sleep deprivation, or stress, actually make this hearing condition worse. Some issues, like stress or anxiety, can heighten tinnitus symptoms, which in turn leads to even more stress or anxiety.
Many studies have reported that poor cognitive performance was associated with tinnitus. However, unlike hearing loss, which has been reported to be an independent risk factor for dementia, the link between tinnitus and cognitive impairment remains unclear [1].
Recent studies show that a person's experience with tinnitus originates with the brain, not the ears. One study from the University of Illinois found that sounds are processed differently in the brains of those with tinnitus than those without it.
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière's disease usually affects only one ear.
Vitamin B12 – Vitamin B12 can help alleviate your tinnitus symptoms that are a result of noise damage.
Caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and soda can aggravate tinnitus, as they trigger stress responses, which are also associated with tinnitus. Note, however, that if you're dependent on caffeine, stopping your intake may make your tinnitus worse before it gets better.
Certain fruits are found to be particularly helpful when it comes to relieving tinnitus, especially foods that are rich in potassium. These include bananas, pears, and tropical fruits such as pineapples, papayas, and mangoes. These foods help lower the blood pressure and encourage proper blood circulation to the ears.
Tinnitus is caused by a few different factors, from noise trauma to medication issues or often from specific injury, but massage therapy helps reduce or even eliminate its symptoms while hitting at those root causes.
The British Tinnitus Association reviewed the research on acupuncture for tinnitus and concluded "there is no evidence that this treatment is effective."