Get Tinnitus Relief

The Underlying Condition

Before considering natural remedies for tinnitus, a medical professional should be consulted to determine if other complicating factors exist. Because tinnitus may be symptomatic of an underlying medical condition, the first step in any therapy is to make an accurate diagnosis. If an underlying condition is identified then the treatment should focus on the associated disorder. Some conditions that are known to cause tinnitus symptoms include the following.

1. Excessive earwax build-up in the ear canal – Earwax can be removed by a medical professional. However, there are home techniques available.
2. Ear infections –These are usually treated with antibiotics. Don’t mess around. Ear infections can cause permanent hearing damage. See your doctor, get the antibiotics.
3. Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) – The TMJ is a very complex set of bone structure subject to a variety of potential disorders, sometimes cause by teeth grinding. If you grind your teeth at night, get a retainer to minimize damage.
4. Tumors or otosclerosis– Often surgery is the best course of action. However, a hearing aid can be useful in the early stages of otosclerosis.

Lifestyle Changes

If an underlying medical condition cannot be identified, which makes up the majority of cases, the tinnitus individual is often advised to look at lifestyle changes and ameliorative techniques to reduce or eliminate the symptoms. These lifestyle changes and natural remedies for tinnitus may include the following.

1. Avoid smoking, alcohol and caffeine. Health-wise, smoking covers a whole host of sins. It should be eliminated completely. Excessive alcohol and caffeine also worsen existing tinnitus. Drinking alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea and sodas should be kept to a bare minimum if not eliminated altogether.
2. Avoid aspirin and aspirin products and other potentially contributing medications. Tinnitus and the worsening of existing tinnitus is a common side effect of certain medications. If you are on a daily aspirin or medication prescription, consult your physician to see if an alternative medication may be used that may not result in tinnitus symptoms.
3. Avoid loud noises and music. Exposure to high decibels is a contributing factor to hearing loss and tinnitus. Protect your ears. If you like listening to loud music, just tone it down. You’ll get used to it. If you must be exposed to excessive noise levels, say for work, use earplugs or ear protectors (like headphones, but without the speakers).
4. Create “white noise” to mask tinnitus sounds. Many people with tinnitus don’t notice it whenever there is competing sound. You can create white noise in a number of ways – turn on a fan, tune the radio in between stations, record the sound of running water and play it on a MP3 player, buy a white noise CD.
5. Avoid stress and/or employ stress reduction techniques. Many people find that their tinnitus starts or gets worse during periods of stress. Learning stress reduction techniques is a worthwhile investment for managing tinnitus and for general good health.
6. Take time to truly relax. This in many ways parallels the problem of stress, but it also relates to giving the body time to heal and regenerate itself. Set aside half a day once a week to devote to relaxing – read a book, take a Jacuzzi bath, take a nap, watch a good movie, take your mind off work and whatever might be worrying you.
7. Increase circulation to the head, neck and ear areas with exercise and massage. Improper circulation to the auditory apparatus can be a contributing factor in tinnitus. Do a head and neck exercise by rocking your head from side to side and rolling it around in a circle several times. Take regular massages from a masseuse or chiropractor that focuses on the neck, head and ears.
8. Complete a detoxification program to reduce potential ototoxicity that may contribute to tinnitus. It is known that certain drugs and supplements can contribute to tinnitus. You body attempts to rid itself of toxic substances through the liver, kidneys, lungs and skin. Over time toxins can build up, particularly when poor circulation and digestion patterns are present. A detoxification program can eliminate and help correct conditions brought about by inefficient waste removal.
9. Follow a sensible diet avoid too much salt and drink plenty of water. If you want to eliminate tinnitus, then you should try to achieve the healthiest state possible. This obviously includes a good diet and regular exercise. A healthy diet relies more on natural foods such as grains, fruits and vegetables, and less on heavy meats, refined sugars and highly processed foods.
10. Take regular exercise. This doesn’t need to be excessive, but should be regular. For instance, a brisk walk for half an hour every other day. Consider joining a yoga class or a swimming class.
11. Keep a positive mental outlook and recenter yourself spiritually. We are what we think as well as what we eat. Thoughts become things. Prays have answers. Approach tinnitus with the expectancy that relief will be forthcoming. Keep working at it and it will happen.

    (Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try. -Yoda)

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This entry was posted on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 3:07 am and is filed under Tinnitus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.