Tinnitus is ringing in the ears that occurs internally, without there being any real exposure to noises or sounds. Sometimes the buzz becomes piercing and unstoppable. The causes can be of various kinds and the cure takes many ways.

• What is tinnitus
• Symptoms of tinnitus
• Causes of tinnitus
• Diagnosis
• Nutrition in case of tinnitus
• How to cure tinnitus
• Natural remedies for tinnitus
• Bach flowers for tinnitus
• Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tinnitus
• Aromatherapy for tinnitus
• Exercises for tinnitus
• How to prevent tinnitus

What is tinnitus

Tinnitus is a very annoying hearing disorder  , as it results in a noise that the patient hears in the ear or head, not caused by external agents . It is not a disease, but a symptom and being able to diagnose the cause can be important in resolving the disorder.

Symptoms of tinnitus

Buzzing, ringing in the ear, sudden sounds, crackling, hissing, rustling are the manifestations of tinnitus . The disorder is also called tinnitus and occurs in the absence of external stimuli. Usually the sound goes in sync with the heartbeat and can be throbbing tinnitus and generate additional headaches.

Tinnitus is a frequent symptom, in fact 20% of the general population experience it. For 5% per cent it constitutes disability and in 1-2% it causes a handicap with strong repercussions on the quality of life

Two types of tinnitus are distinguished:

• Subjective tinnitus : the most common form, caused by problems in the middle ear and brain where nerve signals arrive as noise in the ear .
• Objective tinnitus , rare form, caused by a mechanical movement inside the head, or in the cervico-mandibular area.

Causes of tinnitus

The cause of this phenomenon is not really known yet . Of course, the factors can be many and the nature of the disorder varies greatly from case to case. They range from simple and pure exposure to very noisy environments up to diseases such as diabetes, thyroid problems, the use of certain drugs such as antidepressants, sedatives, anti-inflammatories.  

Nutrition also has an influence , in case of intoxication with sugars, alcohol and white flours. 

Tinnitus can also be due to neurological disorders , infections, drug therapies, alcoholism , otological alterations, atherosclerosis and hypertension , cervical and mandibular disorders . Psychological factors, somatic origins, can represent multifactorial causal constituents.

Diagnosis 

The first step is the auditory investigation . The specialist audiologist or otolaryngologist will pay particular attention to the otoscopic examination of the ear. After having proceeded to the basic audiometric and impedance test and to some tinnitus tests, we usually move on to an investigation of the cranio-cervical and mandibular district . 

Following these tests, the patient may be asked for further diagnostic investigations such as nuclear magnetic resonance , angioresonance, echocolordoppler of the epiaortic and possibly trans-cranial vessels, angiography.

How to cure tinnitus

There are no treatments that can silence this symptom with certainty, and generally we proceed by proper steps:

• the first measure taken is the removal of earwax plugs that may be present inside the ear; 
• the possible presence of a vascular alteration (responsible for tinnitus) occurs, and through the administration of drugs or targeted surgery it is possible to eliminate the tinnitus;
• if the cause of the tinnitus depends on a drug , it must be replaced;
• there are electrical devices useful for suppressing perceived noise or hum, unfortunately not effective for all cases

Nutrition for tinnitus

Beware of dairy products and alcohol . In the case of the former, it is a question of keeping the mucus  that inhabits our body in good health which, when balanced, protects us while when excessive, clogs us. Alcoholic beverages cause blood vessels to dilate and consequently a greater amount of blood could reach the capillaries of the inner ear. 

Tinnitus negatively affects the quality of sleep  so it would be advisable to take light evening meals that do not engage the digestive system too much. It is also good to check for any food allergies or intolerances .

You can learn more about how  to sleep well with natural remedies

Natural remedies for tinnitus

On the physical level it is possible to intervene through  mesotherapy  with the use of homotoxicological remedies and phyto / bud derivatives. In this case the choice depends on the possible cause that prevails over all the combined factors: if for example tinnitus is caused by atherosclerosis it is useful to use Gingko Biloba , a natural fluidifying agent. 

It is an innovative solution of scientifically documented active ingredients:

• Titrated Gingko biloba extract : helps brain performance, promotes microcirculation and blood flow to the brain
• Alpha-lipoic acid: an antioxidant molecule, which can also act on the central nervous system because it is able to cross the blood brain barrier.
• Trans-resveratrol : protects brain functions and regulates arterial ression.

These act synergistically in the treatment of tinnitus and microcirculation dysfunctions.
Bach flowers for tinnitus

Useful Bach flowers are:

• Cherry-plum , linked to the fear of losing control,
• Rock Water , connected to excessive rigidity towards oneself, and towards others,
• White Chestnut , in case of recurring thoughts.

It is essential that the flower therapist is a very attentive person and able to create the right harmony with the patient at the time of the preliminary interview, considering how many variables may be related to the disorder.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tinnitus

With acupuncture  satisfactory results are achieved in tinnitus of various kinds. The scientific literature in Chinese medicine is very extensive on the subject and clinical cases with positive results are numerous.

It may happen that the acupuncturist suggests a check with needles in the wrists and ankles which, through graphs, highlight the unbalanced areas of the body. Usually tinnitus is traced back to the internal organ of the stomach and to the state of anxiety that can enclose the heart, but each individual case is evaluated specifically.

The pathogens can be many but they can be traced back to full-excess and empty-insufficiency. In a full situation, the disorder can be caused by an excess of fire in the heart and liver , blood stasis and qi stagnation, fire-phlegm union. The treatment takes place by dispersing the fire, reducing the fire and dissolving the phlegm, unblocking the stasis of the blood. The situation of emptiness, on the other hand, is characterized by an insufficiency of yin in the kidney and liver. 

Aromatherapy for tinnitus 

Some reactivating essential oils such as:

• Juniper essential oil : detoxifying, Juniper oil helps purify the blood.
• Cypress essential oil : improves circulation, cypress oil helps calm the nervous system.

Exercises and movement for tinnitus 

Movement of the cerebrospinal fluid is related to listening . Undergoing craniosacral sessions  by expert hands can be of great benefit and unblock some energy stagnations. Stress is an aggravating factor in cases of overt tinnitus and dedicating oneself to disciplines such as qi-gong , yoga  and pilates helps to control and govern states of distress  .

How to prevent tinnitus

How can tinnitus be prevented? Taking care not to damage hearing and avoid acoustic trauma, caused by exposure to too intense sounds. It does not depend on whether the sounds are pleasant or unpleasant, a music or a jackhammer can be harmful in the same way. It is the intensity of the sound and the sensitivity of the ear , which intervene as causal factors of the phantom sound

There is a tinnitus reconditioning therapy, called   TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy), which transforms the signal perceived by our brain, from annoying into a habitual and non-annoying signal. TRT uses two strategies: sound enrichment and counseling. Sound enrichment operates at an unconscious subcortical level . The sounds of nature, neutral and reassuring, should be listened to for at least eight hours a day for a period ranging from 12 to 18 months. The counseling consists of reassuring interviews and also makes use of mindfulness paths  and if necessary psychiatric support.