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Tinnitus
Your ears should pick up sounds and funnel them
along the ear canal to the auditory nerve, where they are taken to the
brain and interpreted. Tinnitus is a condition whereby your auditory
system creates sounds that are not actually there, so you hear ringing,
buzzing or swooshing noises that are not audible to anyone else. They
may occur in either or both ears, and may come and go at varying
levels.
Fortunately there are many avenues to pursue in order to alleviate or solve the condition.
Factors that can contribute to tinnitus and some ways of dealing with them
- A
build-up of wax in the ear can cause crackling and roaring noises.
Don’t attempt to get wax out by putting implements such as cotton buds
into the ears, as this can cause the wax to impact against the eardrum
and make symptoms worse. Consult your doctor.
- Catarrhal congestion in the ear/nose/throat
tract should be tackled with a combination of a dairy-free diet and the
herb Plantago.
- Infection of the ear bones or membranes in the ear canals should be ruled out by the doctor.
- More than 200 medications can cause tinnitus
[1], even commonly used medications such as aspirin. Talk to your
doctor if you think your medication could be a factor.
- Combined with loss of balance, tinnitus may be
part of a condition called vertigo, in which case it will resolve with
the condition. Try cutting out salt and caffeine and drinking plenty of
water and dandelion tea to reduce fluid imbalance.
- If you have suffered an injury such as whiplash,
or undergone dental treatment, there may be unresolved muscle tension
in the head/neck region contributing to the tinnitus, and you may find
that craniosacral therapy or another gentle manipulation therapy will
ease the symptoms.
- Damage to the sensitive nerve endings in the
auditory canal should be avoided by wearing earplugs in noisy
environments and eschewing the use of i-players, or anything else that
pipes noise directly into your ear.
- The auditory system is part of the nervous
system, and additional nervous strain should therefore be avoided.
Artificial stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine are a bad idea, but
nutrients such as vitamin B and magnesium can be taken to support the
nervous system.
[1] www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing
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