The use of dietary supplements by individuals with tinnitus (mostly without medical guidance) is popular: ginkgo biloba, zinc, melatonin and magnesium are the most widely marketed supplements for tinnitus.
Ginkgo Biloba
Gingko biloba is the most studied dietary supplement in tinnitus treatment. It is thought to improve tinnitus symptoms by increasing the blood circulation in the inner ear and brain, as well as protecting against free radicals.
One study that focused on vitamin B12 deficiency in tinnitus patients showed that supplementation of vitamin B12 actually reversed the tinnitus symptoms. Another recent study showed significant tinnitus improvement after vitamin B12 injections were given in those who had tinnitus and were vitamin B12 deficient.
Higher intakes of calcium, iron and fat were associated with increased odds of tinnitus while higher intakes of vitamin B12 and dietary pattern factor 3 (High protein) were associated with reduced odds of tinnitus.
Shatner's treatment involved wearing a small electronic device that generated a low-level, broadband sound — a white noise — that helped his brain put the tinnitus in the background.
Background: Recent studies in noise-induced and idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss have suggested that magnesium supplementation may lessen both hearing loss and the severity of tinnitus in patients.
Relaxation Techniques
Stress can make tinnitus worse. Find ways that help you manage anxiety like deep breathing, exercise, and biofeedback, a relaxation technique that helps people to manage stress by changing their reaction to it. Some people find it is helpful in reducing tinnitus.
Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.
Mg deficiency has resulted in increased susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, ototoxicity, and hyperexcitability of the auditory system. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for Mg in adults is 4.5 mg/kg; however, all age groups of Americans fall short of the RDA for Mg by 100 mg daily.
A core method of improving your tinnitus is to train your brain to switch attention away from the Tinnitus sound(s) to the natural sounds around you. As part of that process we introduce a range of different types of sounds including; partial masking, relaxing, attention refocus and finally adaptation.
Electrical and Magnetic Stimulation of the Ear
A June 2022 study used electrical stimulation of the ear and showed a 79% improvement rate in tinnitus symptoms. There were no negative side effects. The treatment was non-invasive, meaning no surgery was required.
Other supplements that have been studied as tinnitus treatments are zinc, B-12, melatonin, flavonoids, and magnesium. But, research is clear in showing that dietary supplements are ineffective for reducing the perception of tinnitus.
A decrease of more than 1 point in subjective tinnitus scoring was accepted as valid. Results: Clinically favorable progress was detected in 46.4% of patients given zinc. Although this decrease was not statistically significant, the severity of subjective tinnitus decreased in 82% of the patients receiving zinc.
[23] Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause the demyelination of neurons in the cochlear nerve, resulting in hearing loss and tinnitus.
It's not clear exactly why it happens, but it often occurs along with some degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus is often associated with: age-related hearing loss. inner ear damage caused by repeated exposure to loud noises.
Although we hear tinnitus in our ears, its source is really in the networks of brain cells (what scientists call neural circuits) that make sense of the sounds our ears hear. A way to think about tinnitus is that it often begins in the ear, but it continues in the brain.
Sleep and stress
Our stress levels go up with less sleep or if you are suffering from long-term sleep difficulties. And, when stress levels go up tinnitus can seem louder. If you have not slept properly one night you might experience higher stress levels, and your tinnitus might seem louder than on a normal day.
Tinnitus is not a permanent condition, and in many cases, it will go away entirely by itself. For most people, tinnitus will disappear after a few weeks, or even a few days depending on the possible causes behind it.
Can You Get Over The Counter Tinnitus Medication? Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs specifically for tinnitus. Despite this, there are a number of over-the-counter substances that are misleadingly marketed as remedies for tinnitus.
Despite this, Ginkgo biloba is the most commonly used herbal supplement for tinnitus (Hall 2011).
Barbra Streisand
She waited for years to see an audiologist about her problem because she was afraid to find out what the problem was. An audiologist has helped her to manage her tinnitus and she has never let it hold her back.
Keanu Reeves, who you've probably seen in The Matrix, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, or John Wick, reported having tinnitus in his left ear. However, when later asked about his condition, he explained that it no longer bothers him.
If you suffer from tinnitus and feel that inflammation is part of the blame, increasing your intake of Omega-3 fatty acid may be of help. As one's general health is improved, a reduction in tinnitus may often follow.