by Olivia Elsom

Created on: November 25, 2008

Tinnitus can be a distressing condition which produces persistent buzzing, hissing and ringing noises in one, or sometimes both ears. The main cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise which damages the hair cells in the inner ear. These hair cells translate sound into nerve impulses, which explains why damage to the cells results in distorted noise in the ear. There are other, less common causes including head injuries, ear infections, taking some medications, high blood pressure, aneurysms, and tinnitus can also indicate underlying health conditions such as Meniere's disease. As some of these other causes are potentially serious it's important to have tinnitus properly diagnosed by a physician.

Drugs can be prescribed to treat tinnitus, the most common is betahistidine, but these can also produce unpleasant side-effects including nausea and digestive problems. Antidepressants and tranquilisers are also fairly frequently prescribed to tinnitus sufferers, but again these drugs can often produce unwanted side-effects. However, there are a number of natural options which can be used to bring relief to tinnitus sufferers.

Lifestyle and dietary changes can often produce good results. Certain foods have been shown to aggravate tinnitus, including saturated fats, processed foods, foods high in sugar or salt, and dairy products. Following a healthy diet which includes fresh fruit, vegetables, raw foods and good quality proteins alleviates the symptoms of tinnitus for many sufferers, and moderate exercise regularly taken will improve the circulation and therefore the flow of blood to the ears.

A number of nutritional and herbal supplements can be used to treat tinnitus. Niacin (vitamin B3) has proven to be effective for many people as it promotes the transport of oxygen and nutrients through the bloodstream. Vitamin B12 has also produced good results although this is given in injection form so needs to be prescribed and administered by a physician.

Studies have shown that magnesium supplements can reverse noise-induced hearing loss, and zinc supplements have also proved beneficial in reducing the symptoms of tinnitus where the sufferer was previously suffering from a zinc deficiency. Ginko Biloba and Black Cohosh have also performed well in controlled studies of tinnitus sufferers, although both supplements need to be taken over a period of some weeks before noticeable improvements are detected.

Tinnitus, by the very nature of the condition, will often interfere with sleep patterns. Taking 3mg of the natural hormone Melatonin every night can help to improve the quality of sleep and relieve the symptoms of severe tinnitus.

As there are a number of factors which can cause tinnitus, finding the right treatment may require some trial and error before positive results are achieved. As tinnitus can be such a distressing and debilitating condition, most sufferers feel it's worthwhile to keep persevering until they find a remedy that works for them.

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