This is something that I have experienced myself, but didn't know the extent of irritation that this can cause people. In a recent email from a reader they asked if we were familiar with any natural remedies for this very aggravating disorder.What is Tinnitus?
The symptoms of tinnitus include ringing noises in the ears or hearing sounds that seem to be coming from inside your head. The sounds of tinnitus may be varied and sufferers report the noise as ringing, buzzing, whistling, beating or roaring. The noise may be continuous, may come and go, be heard in one ear or in both. Tinnitus is sometimes associated with hearing loss. For some, tinnitus may be nothing but an annoying little sound they hear every now and then, but for the unlucky ones, tinnitus can reduce the ability to concentrate or hear outside noises and may become completely debilitating - preventing the sufferer from leading a normal life.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is usually caused by damage to the microscopic hairs that line the auditory cells in the ear. These hairs usually move in response to sound waves detected, producing a brainwave that is experienced as sound. When damaged, these hairs become bent or broken and move randomly in a constant state of irritation, producing “sound” impulses in the brain.
Degenerative damage in people of advancing age is a common cause of tinnitus and usually paired with hearing loss. In younger sufferers exposure to loud noise is probably the leading culprit.
Other causes of tinnitus may be as benign as a small plug of wax in the ear that is easily removed. Tinnitus may also occur as a result of head and neck injury, stiffening of the bones in the middle-ear or as a side-effect of prescription drugs.
Sometimes tinnitus may be caused by an actual sound produced in your body that becomes audible due to disease or proximity to the ear (Objective tinnitus). Circulation problems such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis can cause the sound of blood flow in vessels close to the ear to become more forceful, or turbulent - allowing your ear to detect the sound. Malformation or narrowing of blood vessels in the head and neck can have the same effect. More rarely, tinnitus is a symptom of a tumor in the head or neck.
Most tinnitus comes from damage to the inner ear, specifically the cochlea. Tinnitus can also arise from damage to the nerve between the ear and brain (8th nerve, also called the vestibular nerve); from injury to the brainstem and, rarely, to the brain itself.
Pulsatile tinnitus (tinnitus that beats with your pulse) can be caused by aneurysms, increased pressure in the head (hydrocephalus), and hardening of the arteries. Anything that increases blood flow or turbulence such as hyperthyroidism, low blood viscosity (for example, anaemia), or tortuous blood vessels may cause pulsatile tinnitus. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in tinnitus patients.
Many medications can cause tinnitus. Generally this is thought to arise from their effect on the cochlea (ear). The following is a list of some common medications that may contribute to tinnitus:
*Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as naproxen
*Aspirin and other salicylates
*Frusemide and other "loop" diuretics
*Antibiotics ending in - mycin (such as erythromycin)
*Quinine and related drugs
Chemotherapy
What is the usual treatment for Tinnitus?
Conventional treatment of tinnitus is based on the underlying cause if one is found. For example, if impacted wax is the culprit, it is easily removed or, if a medication is causing the tinnitus, you would need to discontinue the medication or ask your health care provider to prescribe an alternative drug.
In cases where tinnitus is caused by ear damage due to noise exposure or advancing age, very little is available in terms of medical treatment. Treatments that are available are generally used on a trial and error basis as different drugs may help different people.
Dr. Caporiccio recommends....Ginkgo Biloba. It is an extremely effective herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and derived from one of the oldest trees on earth. Its medicinal properties have only been discovered by the West during the last 20 years, where clinical studies have indicated its effectiveness in restoring the functioning of the circulatory system and treating conditions caused by degenerative changes of ageing. Ginkgo is excellent for a number of cerebral and circulatory disorders. It is probably the most widely-used herb for tinnitus and many sufferers swear by this natural ingredient.
