What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is defined as a condition in which a person hears sounds that are not there. Tinnitus commonly presents itself in people of all ages and is diagnosed when the person complains of hearing a continuous humming or buzzing sound when there is no actual external sound. Tinnitus does not represent any underlying medical conditions. However, it can be rather frustrating to deal with.
Tinnitus Causes and Treatments
Damages commonly cause tinnitus to the inner ear, old age, being exposed to loud noises, blockage of the ears with earwax, smoking or alcohol, stress, or changes in the bone structure within the ear. Currently, there is medication available for treating tinnitus, and there are also special ear devices that are designed to reduce this condition. However, taking medication for tinnitus can be expensive and can have horrid side effects, and ear devices can also be very costly. Therefore, for natural tinnitus treatments, follow the tips below.
Tinnitus Natural Treatments
- Avoid Loud Noises
It is important to avoid loud noises at all costs if you have tinnitus. However, if loud noises constantly surround you, try wearing earplugs to reduce the tinnitus. In this way, you will be preventing the strain on your inner ear caused by loud noises, while reducing the occurrence of hearing buzzing when you are away from the loud noises.
- Lifestyle Changes
If you smoke cigarettes or consume alcohol frequently, a natural way to treat tinnitus may be to reduce your alcohol intake as well as reduce the amount of smoking you do on a daily basis. Ultimately, eradicating these causative factors from your lifestyle is ideal, however, do not push yourself or you will relapse. Therefore, focus on slowly reducing alcohol consumption and cigarette inhalation over a period of weeks or months.
- Reduce Stress
Stress has been shown to have a large impact on the epidemiology of tinnitus. Natural ways of dealing with stress are by listening to soft music, reading books, watching television, exercising, meditating, or enjoying a cup of coffee or tea outside. Therefore, reducing stress daily by taking an hour or two out of your day to do relaxing, stress-free habits can lower the onset of tinnitus. Moreover, finding hobbies related to stress reduction such as taking an exercise class or learning how to knit can also reduce tinnitus.
- Educate yourself
Behavioral therapy has been shown to help reduce tinnitus by using psychological coping methods. Many books are available on self-teaching behavioral strategies to regulate tinnitus. For example, tinnitus retraining therapy is a self-taught behavioral strategy used to reduce the onset of negative thoughts and the consequence of the emotional neuropathies.
However, this is just one of many self-taught cognitive therapies that are available. Therefore, searching up and educating yourself on the different behavioral therapies available to reduce tinnitus is fundamental.
- Chinese Remedies
Evidence has shown that traditional Chinese therapies such as acupuncture are famous natural ways of reducing tinnitus. Additionally, acupuncture is inexpensive, relaxing and removes dangerous toxins from the body. However, many ancient Chinese remedies such as Ginkgo Biloba have also proven to reduce tinnitus. Gingko Biloba is a natural medication responsible for increasing blood circulation within the inner ear canal. Therefore, a natural way of treating tinnitus would be to look for traditional Chinese remedies or therapies.
- Salt Solutions
Making salt solutions and using them in all passages is a natural way of reducing tinnitus. These salt solutions are typically made by mixing salt with glycerine and mixing them in warm water. This then gets sprayed into your nasal, ear and throat passages, daily. Therefore, an inexpensive way of reducing your tinnitus would be to make a saline solution that can be used every day.
- Food
Specific foods have been shown to treat tinnitus. Therefore, if you are suffering from tinnitus, increasing your intake of eating the specific food types listed below may help you reduce your tinnitus. Alternatively, these foods can be made and incorporated into solutions that can be used as herbal ear drops.
- Onions
- Pineapples
- Garlic
- Pears
- Lamb
- Spinach
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Bananas
- Seafood
- Basil