Can CBD Oil Help Treat Tinnitus?
Home: Can CBD Oil Help Treat Tinnitus?
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What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear sounds that aren't coming from anywhere else. The sounds can be perceived as soft or loud and have a variety of qualities. It can be ringing, clicking, buzzing, roaring, whistling, or hissing.
The person who has tinnitus is usually the only one who can hear the sounds. Tinnitus can appear in one or both ears as well as in the head. This can occur with or without hearing loss.
This disturbing condition affects more people than you can imagine, for instance, 1 in 8 people in the UK suffers from tinnitus. The sensation lasts only a few seconds, sometimes up to a few minutes at a time. Others suffer from tinnitus either constant or recurrent which interferes with their daily lives. To the point where they seek professional help. Tinnitus can cause these people to lose sleep, have trouble concentrating or reading. It can develop into having negative emotional reactions like despair, frustration, and depression – even suicide.
Tinnitus can affect people of any age although it is less common in children. A healthcare professional should evaluate you if this becomes a bother. This can be an otolaryngologist or an audiologist.
What can cause Tinnitus?
Although the exact cause of tinnitus is unknown, the following are the most common causes:
- Hearing loss is a common problem.
- Loud noises are a source of stress for many people.
- Injuries to the head
- Side effects of medications
- High or low blood pressure
- In the ear canal, there is a buildup of wax.
- Behind the eardrum, there is a buildup of fluid.
- Heart, blood vessel, neck, jaw, or tooth problems
To rule out a medical cause for your tinnitus, you should have it evaluated by a medical professional. You should see an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Only one ear has tinnitus
- Tinnitus that sounds or pulses like your heartbeat (pulsatile tinnitus)
- Hearing loss that is sudden
- In one or both ears, there is pressure or fullness.
- Tinnitus can cause dizziness or balance issues.
Otherwise, schedule an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing test and to start talking about your tinnitus.
Can we prevent tinnitus?
Certain behaviors can make tinnitus worse and they should be avoided whenever possible. These include:
- Smoking or using other tobacco products
- Drinking alcohol
- Exposure to loud noises and sounds
The use of hearing protection devices (earmuffs or earplugs) is advisable in all situations where the exposure to sound is too loud for too long.
What is the conventional treatment for Tinnitus?
Your treatment options are limited if your tinnitus is caused by an underlying condition. If this is the case, treating the underlying cause may be able to alleviate your symptoms.
Here are some examples:
- Earwax removal is a procedure that involves removing wax from the ear canal. Tinnitus symptoms can be reduced by removing an earwax blockage.
- Taking care of a blood vessel problem.
- Hearing aids are used to help people hear better. Hearing aids may help improve your symptoms if your tinnitus is caused by noise-induced or age-related hearing loss.
- Changing your prescription medication. If a medication you're taking appears to be the source of your tinnitus, your doctor may advise you to stop taking it or reduce how much you take it, or to switch to a different one.
Noise reduction
Tinnitus is often incurable. However, there are treatments that can help you hide your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend that you use an electronic device to block out the noise. The following are examples of devices:
- Machines that make white noise. Tinnitus is often treated with these devices, which produce a sound similar to static or environmental sounds like falling rain or ocean waves. To help you sleep, you could use a white noise machine with pillow speakers. White noise is produced by fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners in the bedroom, which may help to mask tinnitus at night.
- Devices for masking. These devices, which are worn in the ear and work similarly to hearing aids, produce a continuous, low-level white noise that reduces tinnitus symptoms.
Counseling
Behavioral treatment options aim to change the way you think and feel about your symptoms in order to help you live with tinnitus. Your tinnitus may become less bothersome over time. The following are some of the counseling options:
TRT
You can learn to deal with your tinnitus, also known as ringing ears, in two ways: on a conscious and subconscious level. This is called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). This method has helped a lot of people get less stressed and have a better life. We've written a guide to tinnitus if you think you might have tinnitus. You can read it to learn more about it.
This therapy can be likened to the sound of raindrops falling on a roof. When it first starts raining, people pay attention to the sound, but after a while, they don't pay attention anymore and forget about it.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy must be done with the help of hearing professionals. At the source of tinnitus, therapy is used to try to teach the brain to not pay attention to it.
CBT
CBT can help you deal with the effects that tinnitus has on your life by giving you ways to deal with anxiety and distress. It helps you understand how your thoughts work in relation to the situation so that your thoughts can become more positive about the situation as a whole.
When you start a cognitive-behavioural program, you'll have to write down your thoughts and write down what you were thinking at the time that tinnitus is the most bothersome. Your thoughts and ideas will then be discussed. You'll be challenged on how to change your thinking for the better.
A clinical psychologist could help you have a one-on-one or group therapy session. They could also help you with your problems in a group.
Medications
Many drugs have been tried to help people with tinnitus. People who have tinnitus may be able to get rid of it with low doses of anti-anxiety drugs like Valium or antidepressants like Elavil. The use of a steroid and an anti-anxiety medicine called alprazolam has been shown to work for some people who have trouble hearing. Study: Some small tests have shown that a hormone called misoprostol can work in certain situations.
Lidocaine, a drug used to treat some types of abnormal heart rhythms, has been shown to help some people with tinnitus. It must be given intravenously or into the middle ear to work. If you have tinnitus, you should not use lidocaine because it can be dangerous.
Can CBD help treat tinnitus? Let's take a look
Alternative medicine for Tinnitus
There's little evidence that alternative medicine treatments work for tinnitus. However, some alternative therapies include:
- Acupuncture
- CBD products
- Ginkgo biloba
- Melatonin
- Zinc supplements
CBD and Tinnitus – What research tell us
Very little research has been made on CBD and Tinnitus. So to answer the question of whether CBD oil can help treat tinnitus we mostly rely on anecdotal evidence. However….
Dr. Dennis Colucci of Laguna Hills led a study to see if CBD could help some people with tinnitus.
Because CBD is becoming more widely accepted, now is an excellent time to conduct research in this area. The UK is one of few countries in Europe which have legalized Medicinal Cannabis. However, CBD products are legal in the most of EU, so it would be an excellent time for some clinical studies to be performed – now more than ever.
CBD's health benefits outweigh its drawbacks for many people. It's non-psychoactive, doesn't give you a buzz, and appears to help with the symptoms of certain medical conditions. Its use for patients with refractory epilepsy has already been approved, paving the way for future medical treatments.
Hemp-derived CBD products were found to be effective in reducing the cycle of anxiety and stress experienced by people with tinnitus, according to Dr. Colucci's study, which was published in the August 2019 issue of The Hearing Journal. People with tinnitus are often concerned about their ability to adjust to life and ignore the ringing in their ears, which can exacerbate symptoms.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid – a chemical compound that acts throughout the body, including on certain parts of the brain, and is becoming increasingly popular in the health world. It comes from the cannabis plant. CBD derived from the hemp plant is non-intoxicating and is believed may have potential health and wellness benefits. Once extracted from the hemp plant, it is diluted with a carrier oil such as olive or coconut oil – this improves its bio-availability.
If you want to know more about Carrier oil – click here
CBD for Tinnitus?
CBD products can alleviate Tinnitus-related anxiety. Patients with severe or debilitating tinnitus are frequently anxious to the point of psychopathology. These concerns are frequently accompanied by insomnia and the inability to concentrate, both of which can lead to severe depression.
CBD reduces stress and anxiety in patients. It can be very effective in improving their overall quality, of life when offered in conjunction with counseling. The benefits of Dr. Colucci's study were found to last even after some patients' treatment was stopped.
Further research is required before the medical community accepts CBD as a viable solution. Dr. Colucci admits that the long-term efficacy and safety of cannabis are unknown therefore more research is needed. However, studies like one published in Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews in 2018 and the WHO Critical Review Report on CBD in 2018, both of which confirmed the potential benefits of CBD, give him hope.
How can CBD help Tinnitus
CBD works thanks to the role of two receptors in the brain, known as CB1 and CB2 via the Endocannabinoid System. Research has shown that CB1 and CB2 could play a role in balance and hearing disorders like tinnitus.
Should you be interested in using CBD products for your tinnitus symptoms, please make sure you find a trustworthy product. Your doctor can tell you if CBD will interact with any medications you're currently taking, such as blood thinners. If you begin taking CBD, keep an eye out for side effects like diarrhea, drowsiness, fatigue, and dry mouth.
More about CBD
FAQ – CBD for Tinnitus
There's growing interest in the potential of CBD oil to alleviate some symptoms associated with tinnitus, like stress and anxiety, which can exacerbate the condition. However, direct evidence linking CBD to tinnitus relief is currently limited, and more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
CBD may help manage stress by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating mood, stress, and anxiety levels. By potentially reducing stress and anxiety, CBD could indirectly make tinnitus symptoms more manageable for some individuals.
CBD is generally considered safe, but it can cause side effects in some people. Common side effects include fatigue, changes in appetite, and gastrointestinal issues. It's important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting CBD, especially if you're taking other medications.
There's no one-size-fits-all dosage for CBD, as it can vary based on individual factors like body weight, the concentration of CBD in the product, and the individual's sensitivity to CBD. Starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it while monitoring symptoms is a recommended approach.
There's no scientific evidence to suggest that CBD can cure tinnitus. While some individuals may find relief from tinnitus symptoms by using CBD, particularly in managing related stress and anxiety, it's important to approach CBD as a potential supportive treatment rather than a cure.
The Real CBD for Tinnitus
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