Tinnitus: Symptoms, Causes and Natural Support Strategies
Tinnitus is a perceived sensation of a ringing, roaring, buzzing, chirping, or humming sound without any actual acoustical stimulation. It is estimated that over 15 million Americans experience this very disturbing condition on a regular basis. In this article, you will discover 8 ways to beat tinnitus naturally.
Research has shown that the many cases of chronic tinnitus are part of a degenerative process characterized by chronic inflammation (1). Lifestyle based solutions can reverse this inflammatory damage before it is too late.
Types of Tinnitus:
- Tonal Tinnitus – This type of Tinnitus generates a continuous sound like “ringing in the ears”, a single note playing over and over.
- Pulsatile Tinnitus – The Tinnitus sounds are intermittent, continuous, or pulsating in time with the heartbeat.
- Whistling Tinnitus: Tinnitus in which the sound is a ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling or a hissing noise.
- Beeping Tinnitus: Tinnitus, in which the sounds are described as beeping such as a Morse code type of signal, or even musical notes.
- Multiple Noise Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is described as hearing several different types of noises at the same time.
Most people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. This has led to the theory that one cause of tinnitus may be a compensatory homeostatic response of central dorsal cochlear nucleus auditory neurons that make them hyperactive to any form of auditory stimulus (2).
This means that the ears become more sensitive in order to compensate for the hearing loss. This sensitivity picks up more faint sounds that create the tinnitus.
From a survival perspective, it would be more important to maintain sensitive hearing in order to be aware of danger quickly and live with tinnitus symptoms than to be insensitive to sounds and unable to respond to danger quickly.
The Most Common Causes of Tinnitus:
Tinnitus can be caused by a number of different conditions including build-up of inner ear wax, ear infections, vestibular disorders, exposure to loud noises, Meniere’s disease, low thyroid function, hypertension, allergies and on very rare cases a tumor. Over 250 medications list tinnitus as a common side effect of usage including aspirin and antibiotics (3, 4).
Too much noise is also a big factor as many people involved in musical concerts with loud music or military personal who are firing weapons have suffered with tinnitus as the noise can overwhelm the ear drum mechanics and cause continual microtraumas that eventually lead to dysfunction.
Many in the military as well as musicians and individuals that work in industries with loud noises wear earplugs to prevent this sort of issue. Unfortunately, many of these earplugs haven’t worked as well as advertised and there is a big 3M earplug lawsuit update going on right now.
Must Control Inflammation:
One of the most common causes of tinnitus is due to inflammation and poor circulation within the inner ear. When the body is chronically inflamed certain inflammatory mediating prostaglandins are secreted in high amounts (5).
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to tissue damage. It can be a very good thing. If you bang your elbow your body will produce inflammation to clean up debris and initiate the healing process. However, when our body is in a state of chronic inflammation problems arise. In fact, all degenerative disease such as arthritis, heart disease, cancer, etc. are associated with inflammation at the cellular level (6).
These pro-inflammatory mediators cause an increase in vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation (7, 8). This decreases blood flow into the smaller capillaries of the body such as the inner ear.
This inflammatory process also increases the lymphatic fluid in the inner ear. This combination increases pressure in the inner ear which stimulates the auditory nerve enough to create a series of action potentials that the brain interprets as sound.
The presence of inflammatory based tinnitus may be a warning sign that the entire body is inflamed, and disease processes are forming rapidly. Most inflammatory conditions can be reversed through diet and lifestyle modifications and the use of beneficial supplementation.
Upper Cervical Spine and Tinnitus:
A 2000 study showed that tinnitus is very often caused by instability of the craniocervical junction (9). This could be related to subluxation and joint deformation or a more significant issue such as a prolapsed intervertebral disc or metastases as low as C3. Issues with the tempero-mandibular joint (TMJ) of the jaw can also play a role in tinnitus.
Chiropractic care specific to the upper cervical spine and TMJ can reduce stress on the region and improve function. Several studies have shown that chiropractic care addressing the upper cervical spine and TMJ can improve auditory function and have a beneficial effect on tinnitus (10, 11, 12).
An Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Plan:
Begin eating an anti-inflammatory diet that consists of phytonutrient dense fruits & vegetables, healthy fat sources, and grass-fed/free-range animal products. Keep sugar & grains to a minimum. Focus on getting in a lot of healthy fat sources such as coconut oil, olive oil, grass-fed meat, free range eggs, avocados, nuts/seeds, and non-starchy vegetables as primary fuels throughout the day.
Load up on anti-inflammatory herbs such as turmeric, ginger, dandelion, oregano, garlic, & green tea. The primary fruits that should be used are low-sugar, antioxidant rich ones such as lemons, limes, berries and grapefruits.
High Quality Essential Fats:
Several supplements have been shown to be highly beneficial for reducing inflammation and enhancing circulation throughout the body and in particular the inner ear. High quality sources of the omega 3 fatty acids EPA & DHA are critical for this process.
Omega 3’s are particularly key for influencing the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory prostaglandin formation (13). By providing the appropriate balance, these fats help to reduce inflammation and vasoconstriction that are part of the pathogenesis of tinnitus.
Plant based omega 3’s such as flax oil only contain the small chain omega 3 called ALA and do not have any DHA. It is very hard for our body to convert ALA into DHA, so it is best to get a high-quality fish or krill oil that is rich in EPA and DHA. You want to find a brand that is molecularly distilled to take out any heavy metals and other unwanted contaminants.
Be sure to discuss with your physician before using as fish oils have a blood thinning affect and can be contraindicated if you are on blood thinning medications.
Vitamin B12 and Tinnitus:
Vitamin B12 is a critical player in the formation of the myelin sheaths that surround and insulate nerve fibers. A vitamin B12 deficiency makes nerves more susceptible to the inflammatory damage that causes tinnitus (14).
Healthy meat sources are a great way to get Vitamin B12. Use digestive enzymes and apple cider vinegar with your meat products to enhance protein and B12 absorption. You can also use specific supplementation to get your B12 levels up. If you are low in B12, I recommend a sublingual dissolvable form of methyl-B12 in order to get right into the blood stream, so it can go to work without any disruption from the digestive system.
Boost up Antioxidants:
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an enormous role in many disease processes because they damage various structural and functional cellular components. Studies have indicated that individuals who suffer with tinnitus have elevated serum values for reactive oxygen species (15, 16).
A 2007 study demonstrated that oral antioxidant therapy in patients with idiopathic tinnitus seems to reduce the subjective discomfort and tinnitus intensity (17). Other studies have shown that elevated levels of magnesium, vitamins A, C and E were effective at reducing trauma to the inner ear structures (18).
Action Steps to Improve Tinnitus
Here are the best action steps to get started with on your journey to improve tinnitus. It is important to note that these strategies are not at this time FDA approved to prevent, mitigate, treat or cure tinnitus and should not be confused as such. You should always consult with your physician before stopping or changing medications or taking on new health strategies.
Additionally, you should be working with a functional health practitioner to help guide you through these strategies. This is not an exhaustive list and there are other natural therapeutic strategies that I and functional health practitioners will utilize to help individuals with tinnitus.
Get Into Ketosis
Our modern-day diet is heavy or moderate in carbohydrates. As a result, most people’s body relies on glucose from dietary carbs to create energy. However, when your body doesn’t receive enough glucose because of a high-fat diet or fasting, it turns to dietary or stored body fat for energy.
These fats get turned into ketones that enter your mitochondria inside your cells and then get converted into energy. The benefits of ketosis include enhanced autophagy, reduced inflammation, improved mitochondrial biogenesis, improved brain health, and better mental sharpness.
The easiest and best way to achieve ketosis is through the combination of the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting. To learn more about intermittent fasting, read the next section. To learn more about ketosis, I recommend reading this article. To learn more about the keto diet, I recommend this one.
Reduce Stress:
Reducing stress is a critical for reducing inflammation and improving your health. I recommend that you reduce stressors from your life as much as possible. Turn off the news, and only look at it once a day or a few times a week for a specific period. Reduce your social media use and time on the internet.
Avoid people and situations that bring you down. Surround yourself with loving and uplifting people. Engage in uplifting and relaxation-promoting activities. Read, try some arts and crafts, play cards or board games, sing, and dance.
Spend time in nature and do some grounding walking barefoot on grass. Practice daily gratitude and try positive affirmations. Practice self-love and laugh with friends and family. Meditate, pray, journal, and try daily breathwork. Be grateful and smile more.
Improve Your Sleep:
Prioritizing good sleep is just as important as reducing your stress levels. Develop a regular schedule going to bed and getting up at the same time every day to support your circadian rhythms.
Avoid electronics, sugar, caffeine, heavy foods, and stress close to the bed. Engage in relaxing activities, including stretching, relaxing baths, meditation, and prayer. Make sure that you have a supporting bed, pillow, and bedding, and sleep in a dark calming room.
Practice Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is a form of fasting cycles between not eating (fasting) and eating (feasting) over a period of time. Intermittent fasting offers countless benefits including cellular repair, increased autophagy, immune regulation, inflammation levels, and insulin sensitivity.
It also helps to lower the risk of chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative conditions and mental health issues. If you are new to intermittent fasting, I recommend that you start with the Simple Fast, which includes only 12 hours of fasting including your overnight sleep. Slowly you can increase your fasting window.
Most people do the best with the 16:8 approach involving 16 hours of fasting. Make sure to consume nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods during your eating window and meet your caloric needs. To learn more about the benefits of intermittent fasting and best intermittent fasting practices, I recommend this article.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a very important vitamin for brain function and keeping inflammation under control (19). Research has found that vitamin D supplementation may protect the blood-brain barrier, reduce neuroinflammation, and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and mental health issues.
To optimize your vitamin D levels, I recommend spending time out on the sunshine regularly. Make sure to eat plenty of vitamin D-rich foods, such as fatty fish, beef liver, and egg yolks. Since food and sunshine are not enough, I recommend daily supplementation with Vitamin D3/K2.
Reduce Toxin Exposure
Reducing your toxic exposure is critical for preventing brain degeneration and tinnitus. Buy organic food as much as possible. Stop using conventional beauty, body, and household products, and replace them with organic, natural, or homemade alternatives.
Use glass, stainless steel, wood, and bamboo products instead of plastic. Spend time in nature and breathe in the fresh air. Use a good indoor air filtration system. Make sure that you drink clean, toxin-free water by using a high-quality reverse osmosis system.
I recommend systems like Aquatrue or the Berkey system for low-cost filtration. The best water is the UltraLux Triple Action Hydrogen Water Machine which is what I use at home as it is powered by molecular hydrogen which reduces oxidative stress in the body and improves immune function. Add a slice of lime for some extra flavor.
Support Detoxification Pathways
It is not enough to put good things into your body, you have to make sure that the bad things come out as well. Drink plenty of water to support detoxification through sweating and urine. Support your detoxification pathways to protect your body from brain inflammation and tinnitus.
I recommend using infrared saunas to promote detoxification through sweating. Try rebounding and dry skin brushing to support your lymphatic pathways. Support two major detoxifying organs, your kidneys and liver with herbs like milk thistle, parsley, dandelion and bioactive carbons which can penetrate and remove toxins from deep within the tissues and cells.
Include Magnesium & B Vitamin Rich Foods:
Magnesium helps to improve blood sugar signaling patterns and protects the blood-brain barrier. The best magnesium and B vitamin rich foods include dark green leafy veggies, avocados, grass-fed animal products, raw cacao and pumpkin seeds.
You can also do Epsom salt baths to support your magnesium levels. It would also be wise to supplement with a good magnesium and B complex supplement. Look for magnesium L-threonate which is the best form of magnesium for crossing the blood brain barrier.
When it comes to B vitamins, it is best to look for one with pre-activated forms such as methyl-folate, methyl-cobalamin (B12), Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate form of B6, and Riboflavin-5-phosphate form of vitamin B2. The methyl groups are in the active form and will be better utilized by the body.
Improve Your Mitochondria:
The mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of every cell. When someone has a neurodegenerative disorder, brain inflammation or tinnitus, it is a clinical sign that they have dysfunctional activity going on in the mitochondria.
Support your mitochondria with clinical doses of CoQ10, L-carnitine, N-acetyl cysteine, creatine monohydrate, B vitamins, magnesium, alpha lipoic acid and D-ribose. You can find mitochondrial support supplements that have most if not all of these key nutrients.
Support Gut Health
Your brain and gut are closely connected and supporting your gut is important for preventing and reducing brain degeneration and tinnitus. Make sure gut-friendly, anti-inflammatory, and nutrient-dense diet abundant in veggies, healthy fats, clean protein and probiotic-rich foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir.
Additionally, I recommend taking a daily probiotic supplement. Probiotics helps to optimize your gut health and improve your nutrient absorption while reducing gut related inflammation. When gut inflammation goes down it also reduces inflammatory mediators in the brain.
Low Intensity Movement:
A sedentary lifestyle reduces cerebrospinal fluid flow and can lead to increased oxidative stress in the brain. Movement and exercise are critical for brain health and can play an important role in the prevention of tinnitus. Regular movement may help to reduce chronic inflammation, decrease stress levels, and lower the risk of memory problems, learning troubles, and cognitive decline.
Aim to exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes minimally 5 times a week combining cardiovascular exercise, strength and resistance training, and low-impact exercise. Make a commitment to stay active throughout the day. Take a walk during lunch, stretch regularly, play with your kids or pets, dance for your favorite song, take the stairs, and find other creative ways to sneak in movement into your day.
Final Thoughts
Tinnitus is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world. The symptoms of tinnitus include hearing problems, constant ringing in an ear or in both ears, dizziness and nausea. Follow the recommendations in this article to help prevent and improve tinnitus naturally.
You may notice improvements not only in your cognition, mental sharpness, mood, and energy but also in your overall health. If you want to work with a functional health coach, I recommend this article with tips on how to find a great coach. On our website, we offer long-distance functional health coaching programs. For further support with your health goals, just reach out and our fantastic coaches are here to support your journey.
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Sources For This Article Include:
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2. Schaette R, Kempter R. Development of tinnitus-related neuronal hyperactivity through homeostatic plasticity after hearing loss: a computational model. Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Jun;23(11):3124-38. PMID: 16820003
3. Han BI, Lee HW, Kim TY, Lim JS, Shin KS. Tinnitus: Characteristics, Causes, Mechanisms, and Treatments. Journal of Clinical Neurology (Seoul, Korea). 2009;5(1):11-19.
4. Vestibular Disorders Association: Tinnitus: Ringing in the Ears Link Here
5. Ricciotti E, FitzGerald GA. Prostaglandins and Inflammation. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 2011;31(5):986-1000.
6. Edwards T. Inflammation, pain, and chronic disease: an integrative approach to treatment and prevention. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005 Nov-Dec;11(6):20-7; quiz 28, 75. PMID: 16320856
7. Smith JB. Prostaglandins and platelet aggregation. Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1981;651:91-9. PMID: 7034481
8. Rajtar G, Cerletti C, Castagnoli MN, Bertelé V, de Gaetano G. Prostaglandins and human platelet aggregation. Implications for the anti-aggregating activity of thromboxane-synthase inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol. 1985 Feb 1;34(3):307-10. PMID: 3918536
9. Montazem A. Secondary tinnitus as a symptom of instability of the upper cervical spine: operative management. Int Tinnitus J. 2000;6(2):130-3. PMID: 14689631
10. Emary PC. Chiropractic management of a 40-year-old female patient with Ménière disease. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. 2010;9(1):22-27.
11. Björne A. Assessment of temporomandibular and cervical spine disorders in tinnitus patients. Prog Brain Res. 2007;166:215-9. PMID: 17956785
12. Cherian K, Cherian N, Cook C, Kaltenbach JA. Improving tinnitus with mechanical treatment of the cervical spine and jaw. J Am Acad Audiol. 2013 Jul-Aug;24(7):544-55. PMID: 24047942
13. Bagga D, Wang L, Farias-Eisner R, Glaspy JA, Reddy ST. Differential effects of prostaglandin derived from omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on COX-2 expression and IL-6 secretion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Feb 18;100(4):1751-6. PMID: 12578976
14. Shemesh Z, Attias J, Ornan M, Shapira N, Shahar A. Vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with chronic-tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss. Am J Otolaryngol. 1993 Mar-Apr;14(2):94-9. PMID: 8484483
15. Neri S, Signorelli S, Pulvirenti D, Mauceri B, Cilio D, Bordonaro F, Abate G, Interlandi D, Misseri M, Ignaccolo L, Savastano M, Azzolina R, Grillo C, Messina A, Serra A, Tsami A. Oxidative stress, nitric oxide, endothelial dysfunction and tinnitus. Free Radic Res. 2006 Jun;40(6):615-8. PMID: 16753839
16. Neri S, Mauceri B, Cilio D, Bordonaro F, Messina A, Malaguarnera M, Savastano M, Brescia G, Manci S, Celadini M. Tinnitus and oxidative stress in a selected series of elderly patients. Arch Gerontol Geriatr Suppl. 2002;8:219-23. PMID: 14764394
17. Savastano M, Brescia G, Marioni G. Antioxidant therapy in idiopathic tinnitus: preliminary outcomes. Arch Med Res. 2007 May;38(4):456-9. PMID: 17416295
18. Le Prell CG, Hughes LF, Miller JM. Free radical scavengers, vitamins A, C, and E, plus magnesium reduces noise trauma. Free radical biology & medicine. 2007;42(9):1454-1463.
19. Mangin M, Sinha R, Fincher K. Inflammation and vitamin D: the infection connection. Inflamm Res. 2014 Oct;63(10):803-19. PMID: 25048990
Hello Dr David
It is awesome info on tinitus which is a very common problem without much solution but by acquiring knowledge with articles like this on can really help himself. Great article.
Could you please let me know for what maximum period one can use apple cider vinegar and – break – reuse again?
Dr Prakash Chhajed
Hey Dr Prakash,
You can use ACV ongoing unless you develop a food sensitivity. But a few servings each day is quite tolerable and beneficial for most people. Blessings!
My tinnitus did not change even after fasting for 32 days on pure water with rest, then eating 100% raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, for 9 months after. I have one of the worst cases ever documented, 17 tones ranging from 147 Hz to 11,640 Hz. Some of the lower frequency tones are reactive meaning their amplitude increases to compete with external noise, sounding similar to Morris Code, making the use of fans and other maskers more annoying. The higher tones seem to be affected by stress and often reach a perceived volume of 112 dB, so that standing next to a jet throttling for takeoff will not drown out the tones. I also developed hypercusis, extreme hearing sensitivity where external sound over 75 dB becomes distorted and somewhat painful.
Very sorry to hear about this Jeff!!! Have you checked your B12 levels? I have seen that make a big impact.
Hi Dr. Jockers, Could you tell me whether the treatments for inflammation and chronic inflammation be the same or different? Thank you for your time.
I am so grateful for the time you spend educating and helping us.
Could you have a PRINT this article as with some other Dr articles without a lot of paper , ink wastage.
Blessings
Love to you and your beautiful family
Shirley
Hey Shirley, yes we just launched the new website and will have that on shortly.
Hi Doctor I have tinitus 3 weeks now. It happened from a birthday party so basically noise exposure. Can doing this reverse my tinitus esp because I’m in the acute stage ?
Hey Saleem, try the suggestions in the article and let me know how it goes!
Hi Dr,
I have pulsatile tinnitus after using accutane for three months, do think the tinnitus will go away after stopping the medication?
Hi Doctor
I have a tonal tinitus for more than one year for now, doctors said that cochlear nerve isn’t damaged nor any neurological problem exists. But I have some pressure and deaf pain in my left ear, I am going to visit doctors again, doubting that I may have some kind of ear inflammation. I wonder is there any medication remedy to fix the inflammation? Or the diet is the only way as written above?
Whiplash 12 yrs ago (2nd time) had nerve block but it settled in my forehead instead of neck, age 64, lift occasional heavy boxes / mattresses for job, about 4 weeks ago developed ringing, had neck pain and back pain down left of spine, ask for p.t., dr gave pain meds which I did not use, pain lasted two weeks then moved to left arm/elbow and inside muscle area, then ears ringing started and I get a tingling sensation on left base of back of neck, comes and goes. Currently doing acupuncture, fullness in ears and congestion. Herniated disc?? Sudden allergies? Taking b vitamins for ringing in ears o.t.c.. on bp meds and cholesterol but never had a problem for last 14 or so years. Any theory appreciated!
Hi Doctor.
I am getting Tinnittus for the last 2 months. At times it is low but have seen it varying with emotional state of mind. Once it is heightened, seen it takes long the come down to manageable state. Experienced that – Anger, fear, stress and adrenaline flow – are the triggers. The low levels seem to manageable- but heightened once become severely bothersome. Kindly advise as how to keep this at manageable level with supplements or medication that which treat the very reasons of -trigger.
Hey Navin, all my top tips are in the article above! You may also want to test your environment for nnEMFs (electric fields from electronic devices) and try to minimize those as much as possible, especially when sleeping.
What I did was do usely I put peroxide in my ear and let the bug or object fell out of my ear one ear had a toenail in it the other one had a bug.
Wow, Thanks for sharing Micheal!
Hi Doctor
I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. After diagnosis, I took Enbrel on Rheumatology’s prescription for 6 months and then I dropped it because it caused boils to appear on my skin at back and unusual headaches began to appear. I began with Ketogenic Vegan Diet after dropping Enbrel and I am so glad to have found this proper cure and that I now know the science behind it (which is leaky gut with molecular mimicry of immune system w.r.t. overgrowth of gut pathogens). However, my headaches have not subsided yet. Also, a few days ago I started to have Ear Ringing too. As you mentioned above techniques, I am already applying all of these but have not ried yet Oregano Oil. Can you tell me how much of it, for how long and how should I take it to help stop Ear Ringing and perhaps these headaches too? I suspect those immunosuppressed 6 months caused some bugs to enter my nervous system. If you have any other suggestions, kindly let me know. Thanks.
It is likely more complex Nanu, I suggest working with one of our functional nutrition practitioners to investigate underlying causes!
Thanks for your reply, doctor. Currently I am not in US but soon will be. Will contact you if my issues persist even then. However, let me tell you that my AS began after I got Typhoid in 2012. Its also reported as early as in late 19th century in the name of Typhoid Spine. Clearly if not headaches or ear ringing, Oregano Oil will help in AS atleast. In my area unfortunately I have tried many a doctors and even nutritionists but none knows about this herb. I would be grateful to you for giving my some guidance on taking this or any other oil you may recommend.
Dear Dr Jockers
I just came across your site. And it really helped me. I have been suffering from tinnitus in over 3 years with no success I still suffer from tinnitus. Thankfully it does not affect my sleep , but I have realise it has reduced my hearing lately and I feel like i cannot hear fully clear sometimes . I am female and just turned 31 and I am abit worried now. I have been reffered to a tinnitus specialist a year ago but with no success. But recently I went to a chinese herbalist dr who said it is coming from my upper spine around my neck area. And I have noticed I am slightly uneven my shoulders are not even nor are my hips . It looks like my right leg is shorter. What do you think I should do and who do you think its best to see? Do you think a chiropracter would be good for this type of problem?. I really need your advice.
Thank you
Amina
That might be a good idea Amina!
I have found the Ayurveda herbs to be very helpful and in particular, Bala, Ashwagandha and Gotu Kola. No silly OTC capsules though. You need the real powder (dried leaf for Gotu Kola). Bala and Ashwagandha should be taken in about 50ml of warm milk with honey and let it stand for at least 30min). Valerian can also be very helpful. In the mornings Ginkgo is also very useful and as far as minerals and supplements are concerned these are essential:
Zinc
Multi B 3x per day
B6 and B12
ALCAR
NAC
The last two have helped a lot of people with tinnitus but not all. Importantly there is no magic pill. You need to stick with it. Some people will recover very quickly. Some won’t. The brain is unknown territitory for everyone including Doctors. Whatever you do, do not take SSRIs or Benzos.
Finally:
NO JUNK FOOD
NO COFFEE. Drink tea until the cows come home but not coffee.
Proper food can help but it wont stop tinnitus. I believe it is nerve issue, caused by virus, bacteria, or fungi and your body signals inflammatory close to your brain. Usually it is connected with having sex, kissing….
This is possible but no matter what the underlying cause, nutrition will play an important role in getting this corrected. But you will also need key supplements and strategies to correct the root cause.
Dr. Jockers,
I have seen multiple doctors and have tried different medications over the past 5 months for my tinnitus and have not received much help. I have been trying to find a possible cause, as I woke up one morning and noticed it and it has not stopped since. I have been told that because it came on so suddenly, that it is more likely that it would be treatable, but I do not know if I believe this since no one has been able to help. Would you happen to have any advice or recommendations?
So sorry to hear about this Kay! I would be sure to follow the recommendations in the article. One other thing to look at would be issues with your jaw and TMJ joint. When you open and close your jaw, does it click or slide to one side? If so, seeing a chiropractor, osteopath or physical therapist would be a good idea to rule that out or to get the proper treatment for it. Praying for fast healing for you!
Hi Dr
First off thank you very much for your content here as well as on youtube that has helped me a lot. My Tinnitus began abruptly after one night along with lymph swelling in neck and pelvis area. I think this is some infection. MRI Brain is ok and Ultrasound neck and pelvis show 2-3 swollen lymphs to 16mm. I am already doing keto diet. Can you suggest any anti-infection herb or supplement protocol? If not infection what could be the cause behind all this. Thank you.
So sorry to hear this! Here is a helpful supplement that I give for these types of things: https://store.drjockers.com/products/lymphatic-detoxification
Thank you doctor.
Have been suffering from tinnitus for the past three weeks,only on the left ear. the doctor said it’s was as a result of the medications ( antibiotics). The noise has has reduced recently as a result of my diet I believe but I started feeling slight pains in the right ear since yesterday.pls what is wrong, why am I having this pains as if my right ear is hitching me
So sorry to hear that!! I would be sure to discuss this in more detail with your doctor. Praying for fast healing!!
thanks for the great article. Can hypertension produce the ear noise? Will the above treat it if the underlying cause is hypertension.
Yes hypertension is a common contributor to tinnitus!
thanks.
One thing I have seen is when the ear noise clicking starts, blood pressure goes up too. Then if I walk lightly for 15 mins , pressure comes back to normal. Even though ear sound takes couple of days to go away! Any advise! thanks.
That is interesting. It may be an issue with your TMJ joint. There may be inflammation in there that is causing this. You can have that looked at by physical therapist.
Thanks. Also what I have seen is taking an advil caused it one time. Once I think excessive garlic in dinner probably caused it. and then once even vitamin D (just 2000 mg) probably caused it. I don’t take these regularly but once in a while.
Thanks for your discussion and advise.
Very interesting Jamu…thanks for sharing!
Purely my view as a fellow “sufferer.”
Most people with tinnitus will probably be stuck with it forever.
But!!!
Over time, your brain can kind of come to terms with it and learns not to dwell
on it as much.
It gets better as time goes by if you accept it, make friends with it and try not to
focus on it all the time.
You’re going to focus on it sometimes, after all we’re only human.
But don’t look at it as an enemy, make peace with it.
One night, when you’re lying in bed, instead of dreading and trying to get away from the noises in your head — listen to the sounds…as unpleasant as it may be…
listen to those sounds in your head.
Try to make out all the frequencies and tones, etc.
Really listen to it for as long as you can and realize it is not a danger to you.
It is annoying as heck, but once you make peace with it, you will have the upper hand.
It will not control you.
You will realize those sounds will not harm you or hurt you.
The trick is to come to terms that it is a part of you.
If you can make friends with it and not consider it a threat or an enemy, you will very slowly start to care less about it.
This will happen very slowly, but it will get better.
In the beginning it will be very unpleasant, and you might have to pretend you are caring less about it.
Eventually you will amazingly realize that you haven’t been paying as much attention to it, and it hasn’t been bothering you as much.
It will keep getting better.
I believe if you can’t get rid of it, but you don’t care you have it…then it’s almost like getting rid of it.
It’s the same psychological result…it feels like it doesn’t exist.
Or at least it feels somewhat reduced as far as how much impact it has on your life.
Whatever you do, don’t consider it an enemy or it can ruin your life.
Think of it as a friend — a somewhat annoying friend who comes and goes.
And hopefully that friend will get the hint and not show up so often.
Hi there, thanks for the great article!
In the upper section it says: “reverse this inflammatory damage before it is too late”
What do you mean by that? Is imflammation at some point not treatable anymore? What kind of time window are we speaking of?
All the best, Fabian
Yes there are limitations of matter and once tissue is completely broken down…it is hard to repair. The time window for that to happen is different for everyone.
I’m in my late 60s and have had tinnitus for over half a century! My ears used to ring after frequenting discos; by the time I started to use ear plugs it was too late, the damage had been done.
Has it ruined my life? No, definitely not. I still managed to study for exams etc and have enjoyed my career(s) but life would be better without it. Now I’m retired I find that I have more time to listen to it, so I would say try and stay busy and get outdoors as much as possible. I can’t say it has impacted on my sleep.
My hearing is OK and I don’t have to annoy others by turning up the volume on the TV.
Thank you for sharing Bill!
I have tinnitus in my right ear only. Its worse waking up , is hardly noticeable during the day , and toward the end of the day it becomes more noticeable. I don’t sleep well. Im no doctor but I believe my tinnitus issues relate back to my sleeping/rest issues. Lots of good content here hopefully incorporating these into my daily regime will improve my issues.
Hey Greg, Yes, I will be praying for you!
All, magic has happened. I had put a drop of little warm olive oil in my ear for 3 alternate days (warmed up a little oil in a bowl (just little warm – not hot) and used dropper to put one drop in my flickring ear)…. and touch wood – it’s 4 weeks – flickring has stopped…. it used to happen 3-4 times every week and then last for more than 24 hours……
I have only applied drop of olive oil once a week for last 3 weeks….. it has done wonders….it used be frustrating at times otherwise…. thought will share it with all….
Thanks.
That is great Jamu! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve had tinnitus my entire life from a very young girl to this minute. I turned 71 last Saturday. It’s a multi-tone chord all the time in both ears. My parents insisted on giving me cow’s milk even though I am highly reactive and almost died as a baby after being forced to drink it. Mom didn’t breastfeed.
As a result I suffered constant, painful earaches and stomachaches which, I’m sure, scarred my inner ears. I simply have learned to live with the constant noise which does not affect hearing acuity at all. In fact, I have very sensitive hearing.
Since moving to a new house with new WIFI and upgraded laptop, I-Pad and cell phone my tinnitus has vastly increased in volume and intensity and now I get vertigo. It helps to unplug my wifi at night but my ringing ears are blazingly loud.
It would be wonderful before I die I know what true silence is like.
I take B-12 every day, have been vegan for 37 years, a runner for 42. I take thyroid for hypothyroidism, have very low blood pressure (90/43) and low pulse (52), all normal for me.
If I don’t think about it it’s not a problem but in moments like this in silence, the chorded ringing is extremely loud.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Really sorry to hear about this. I would strongly encourage reaching out to one of our functional health coaches so they can work with you and get you on a healing protocol. https://drjockers.leadpages.co/long-distance-coaching-dr-jockers/
I started having tinittus this June, 2022. Devastating. I did initially suspect the 5G street lamps and the new distant cell tower but I had no proof. What worked for me initially was a few drops of olive oil in the ears, it didn’t resolve the noise for more than a day. Then I looked at my environment, I turned off the wireless router, stopped using the mobile phone, started to shield the bedroom. I have an EMF meter, so I could check that the shielding was effective. I turned off the power to the ring main and upstairs lighting at bedtime. In my car all passengers have to use aeroplane mode. I take a lot of cloves, in my breakfast cereal, rice pudding etc. It’s working, it’s getting much quieter. Tinnitus is EHS, http://www.electricsense.com
Hello Dr Jockers
Why don’t western medical doctors know about tinnitus and inflammation and why don’t they treat the root cause of all these diseases? Instead they prescribe drugs that make people sicker?
My mum developed tinnitus and vascular dementia, root cause: she was a chronic sugar and carb eater (very slim, but didn’t want to eat anything else – it made her ‘happy’). Non existent veg and fruit. Clearly inflammation was diagnosed by her doctor. How she survived to 93 I don’t know but she survived although depressed and unwell.
Case #2 lady had chronic tinnitus, developed cancer. Inflammation.
Your communications are a blessing to the community. Thank you so much.
Yes chronic inflammation is a major issue. Thank you for all your support!