Best Homeopathic Remedies for Tinnitus Relief – Causes & Cure

This article will cover the best homeopathic remedies for tinnitus relief, its causes, risk factor, diagnosis, management and treatment. Tinnitus is a disease condition where the patient hears noises in the ear, it is like a ringing sound even if no external sound is present.

It is caused by some underlying condition, like a problem with the circulatory system, trauma to ears, age-related hearing impairment.

In a few people, tinnitus can improve if the underlying cause is treated or with treatments that mask the noise or reduce it, the treatment that makes symptoms of tinnitus less remarkable.

Some people are not much disturbed by tinnitus, but in some people, tinnitus can cause a disturbance at work and disrupts their daily lives.

If tinnitus troubles or one has developed tinnitus after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, and it doesn’t get well within 7 -8 days then one should see a doctor.

One should seek medical help if one has hearing loss or dizziness with the tinnitus or has anxiety or depression due to tinnitus.

Tinnitus Causes

Several health issues can lead to tinnitus. The majority of times the exact cause is not known.

Common causes of tinnitus are:

1. Loss of hearing:-

There are very small hair cells in the inner ear (cochlea) that move when the ear receives sound waves.

These sound waves cause movement of these hair triggers electric signals that travel along the auditory nerve of the ear towards the brain, further the brain perceives these signals as sound.

If the hairs inside the inner ear are bent or damaged, this happens with old age or when one is regularly exposed to loud sounds.

This damaged hair cell in-ear, sends random electrical impulses to the brain, leading to tinnitus.

2. Infection in–ear / blockage in ear canal:-

Ear canals can get blocked with a buildup of fluid due to infection in the ear canal, accumulation of dirt, earwax, or other foreign materials.

This infection /blockage changes the pressure in the ears, causing tinnitus.

3. Head or neck injuries:-

Trauma to the head or neck can cause damage to hearing nerves, to the inner ear, and brain function associated with hearing, these types of injuries usually cause tinnitus in only one ear that is damaged.

4.Medications:-

Medications that can cause or worsen tinnitus are many, the higher the dose of these medications, there is worsening of tinnitus.

In such cases, the unwanted noise disappears when one stops the usage of these drugs.

Medications that can cause tinnitus are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics, diuretics, antidepressants, antimalarial, cancer medicines.

Other less common causes of tinnitus are:

It includes other ear problems, chronic health conditions, and injuries or conditions that affect the nerves or the hearing center in the brain.

1. Meniere’s disease:-

 Tinnitus can be an early indicative symptom of Meniere’s disease, the disorder of the inner ear that is caused by abnormal inner ear fluid pressure.

2. Dysfunction of Eustachian tube:-

This tube in the ear that connects the middle ear to the upper throat remains expanded all the time, which can make the ear feel full causing tinnitus.

3. Ear- bone changes:-

Stiffening of the bones in the middle ear (otosclerosis) may affect hearing and cause tinnitus, this type of change, caused by abnormal bone growth, tends to run in families.

Muscle spasms in the inner ear can tense up (spasm), which can result in tinnitus along with hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.

This happens for no explainable reason, but can also be caused by neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis.

4. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders:-

In this disorder the joint(TMJ) on each side of your head in front of each ear, where the lower jawbone meets the skull, can cause tinnitus.

5.Tumors:-

Tinnitus can occur due to Acoustic neuroma or other head and neck tumors, it is a noncancerous (benign) tumor that develops on the cranial nerve, this nerve runs from the brain to the inner ear and controls hearing and balance.

Other tumors in the head, neck, or brain can cause tinnitus.

6. Blood vessel disorders:-

Disorders that affect blood vessels, like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, or malformed blood vessels, causing blood to move through your veins and arteries with variable force, this can cause tinnitus or make it noticeable.

Other chronic disorders including, migraines, diabetes, anemia, thyroid problems, and autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, have all been associated with tinnitus.

Tinnitus Symptoms

Tinnitus is described as a ringing sound in the ears, that occurs when no external sound exists. Tinnitus can also cause other types of noises in the ears, including:

Clicking

Buzzing

Hissing

Humming

Roaring

Commonly one has subjective tinnitus or tinnitus that only one can hear.

The sounds of tinnitus vary in pitch from a low roar to a high frequency, and one may hear it in one or both ears.

In a few cases, the sound can be so loud that it interferes with a person’s ability to concentrate and hear external sound.

Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it can fluctuate, come and go.

In rare cases, tinnitus can occur as a whooshing sound or rhythmic pulsing, often in time with the heartbeat of the patient, it is called pulsatile tinnitus.

In pulsatile tinnitus, your doctor may be able to hear your tinnitus when he or she does an examination, this is objective tinnitus.

Complications

Tinnitus complications occur when it remains untreated for a long time.

Tinnitus affects people differently, in some people, tinnitus can significantly affect the quality of life. If you have tinnitus, you may also experience a few complications like :

1. Memory problems
2. Trouble concentrating
3. Fatigue
4. Sleep problem
5. Headaches
6. Stress
7. Depression
8. Anxiety and irritability
9. Problems with work and family life

Treating these problems may not affect tinnitus directly, but one will feel better.

Risk Factors that lead to tinnitus

Following risk factors may increase your chances of suffering from tinnitus:

1. Loud noise exposure: –

Loud noises, such as those occurring in the factory of heavy equipment, chain saws, and firearms, are common sources of noise-related hearing loss.

Portable music devices, such as MP3 players, can cause noise-related hearing loss if played loudly for a long time daily.

2.Occupational:-

People who work in noisy environments, like factories, musicians, soldiers, and construction workers, are at risk.

3. Increased age:-

As age increases, the number of functioning nerve fibers in the ears reduces, leading to hearing disorders that are associated with tinnitus.

 4.Gender:-

Men are more likely to experience tinnitus than women. Tobacco and alcohol use is another risk factor. 

5. Health disorders:-

Underlying disease increases the risk of tinnitus, like cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, obesity, a history of arthritis, any head injury.

Tinnitus Diagnosis

A doctor will diagnose you with tinnitus based on symptoms alone, to treat symptoms, a doctor will try to identify whether tinnitus is caused by any other reason, at times a cause is not even found.

To identify the reason for tinnitus, the doctor will mostly ask about your medical history and examine your ears, neck, and head. Common tests include:

1. Hearing (audiological) test:-

This test will be done in a soundproof room, one will be asked to wear earphones that transmit specific sounds in one ear at a time, then you will be asked to indicate when you can hear the sound, the results will be compared with results considered normal for your age, to rule out or identify causes of tinnitus.

2. Movement test –

A doctor will ask you to move your eyes, your neck, clench your jaw or move your arms and legs, if tinnitus worsens or changes, it will help to identify an underlying cause that should be treated.

3. Imaging tests:-

Depending on the possible cause of your tinnitus like any tumor, blood vessel disorder, imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans can be advised.

4. Lab tests:-

Your doctor may ask you to get your blood checked for anemia, thyroid problems, heart disease, or vitamin deficiencies.

One should explain in detail about the sound one hears to the doctor, the sounds you hear can help your doctor identify a possible underlying cause.

Different types of sound heard are as follows:-

1. Pulsing, rushing, or humming sound:-

These sounds, come from blood vessels also known as vascular causes, such as high blood pressure, and one may observe them when one changes positions, such as when you lie down or stand up or exercise.

2. Clicking sound:-

This sound suggests that muscle contractions in and around-ear might be the cause of tinnitus.

3. Low-pitched ringing sound:-

This sound points towards, Meniere’s disease or stiffness of inner ear bones due to otosclerosis or ear canal blockages.

4. High-pitched ringing sound:-

This sound is commonly heard in tinnitus sound, it is caused by continuous loud noise exposure for long, hearing loss, or medications, Acoustic neuroma will cause continuous, high-pitched ringing sound in one ear only.

Tinnitus Management

Treatment for tinnitus depends on whether tinnitus is caused by an underlying health disorder.

If so, your doctor may be able to reduce your symptoms by treating the underlying cause.

Examples include:

1. Changing your medication- 

If a medication one is taking is the cause of tinnitus, a doctor may recommend, switching to a different medication, stopping or reducing the medicine.

2. Earwax removal– 

Tinnitus symptoms decrease on removing earwax that causes blockage of the ear canal.

3. Treating a blood vessel disorder-

Underlying blood vessel disorder may require medication or some course of treatment to resolve the problem.

4. Hearing aids- 

If tinnitus is caused by age-related hearing loss, or due to noise-induced causes, using hearing aids may help improve your symptoms.

5. Noise suppression-

In a few cases, tinnitus can’t be cured, but some treatments can help make your symptoms less marked.

In such cases, a doctor may suggest the use of an electronic device to suppress the noise.

Devices include:

White noise machines–

These devices, which produce a sound like static, or environmental sounds such as falling rain or ocean waves, are often an effective treatment for tinnitus.

This machine with pillow speakers helps patients, who have disturbed sleep due to tinnitus sound.

Fans, humidifiers, and air conditioners in the bedroom also produce white noise and help in making tinnitus less marked at night.

Masking devices-

These devices produce a continuous, low-level white noise that suppresses tinnitus symptoms, they are worn in the ear and are like hearing aids.

6. Counseling for dealing with tinnitus

Behavioral treatment options aim to help a patient to live with tinnitus by changing the way they think and feel about their symptoms. Over time, tinnitus may disturb the patient less.

Counseling therapy includes

A)Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)-

TRT is an individualized program that is administered by an audiologist or at a tinnitus treatment center. 

TRT combines sound masking and counseling from a trained professional, where the patient wears a device in-ear that helps mask the tinnitus symptoms while the patient also receives directive counseling.

TRT  may help a patient to feel less distressed by tinnitus symptoms.

B)Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or different forms of counseling:-

 A licensed mental health professional or psychologist can help the patient to learn coping techniques to make tinnitus symptoms less disturbing.

Counseling helps with other problems often associated with tinnitus, like depression, anxiety, lack of confidence.

CBT for tinnitus is available in individual or group sessions, and CBT sessions are available online as well.

7. Medications:-

Drugs cannot cure tinnitus, they can lower the severity of symptoms or reduce complications.

To help relieve your symptoms, a doctor may prescribe medication to treat an underlying disorder or give medicine to reduce anxiety and depression that is associated with tinnitus.

Potential future treatments:-

Researchers are investigating if magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain can aid in relieving symptoms of tinnitus. For example, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and deep brain stimulation.

Prevention measures to avoid tinnitus:-

In the majority of cases, tinnitus is the result of something that cannot be prevented, still, some precautions can help prevent certain kinds of tinnitus.

a)Use hearing protection- 

Continuous, exposure to loud sounds can damage the nerves in the ears, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

Try limiting exposure to loud sounds, and if it’s impossible to avoid loud sounds, use ear protection to protect hearing.

If you use chain saws, are a musician, work in an industry that uses loud machinery, or use firearms like pistols or shotguns, always wear over-the-ear hearing protection masks.

b)Lower the volume:-

listening to amplified music without ear protection or listening to music at very high volume by headphones can lead to tinnitus and hearing loss.

c)Take precautions for cardiovascular health:-

Taking steps to keep your blood vessels healthy can help prevent tinnitus that is associated with obesity and blood vessel disorders, regular exercise and eating right is useful.

d)Limit intake of alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine:- 

These substances, used in excess, can affect the blood pressure flow and contribute to tinnitus.

Best Homeopathic Remedies for Tinnitus Relief

1. CALCAREA CARBONICA: for Tinnitus with vertigo

Symptoms

This remedy is indicated, when tinnitus is experienced alone or with vertigo, especially in patients inclined to grow fat.

The person has hearing problems or cracking and pulsing sensations in the ears, head sweat profusely, on the backside of head and neck.

This remedy works in people who are sensitive to take cold, easily fatigued, crave sweets, and feel overwhelmed and anxious when unwell.

Dosage and potency

Take in 30C potency and further the potency can be increased as required.

2. SALICYLICUM ACIDUM: for tinnitus with Meniere’s disease, and due to excess aspirin medication

Symptoms

It is used to treat tinnitus that may have begun with flu or occurred in a person with Meniere’s disease.

There is diminished hearing, dependent on hyperemia which is a rush of blood to the head, with an exciting mood.

Nervous deafness with noises roaring in ears causing difficult hearing can hear music; the swarm of bees or buzzing of flies.

Auditory nerve vertigo and nausea accompanying the head symptoms are marked.

Dosage and potency

30 C Potency with frequent repetition is useful.

3. CHININUM SULPHURICUM: for violent headache along with Tinnitus

Symptoms

It is of use in treating tinnitus with tinkling in ears, buzzing, in the left ear, sometimes deafness on that side is also noticed.

The person may also tend chills and vertigo, hardness of hearing, with violent headaches during which the tinnitus is often worse.

Dosage and potency

30c potency can be used initially, increase in potency can be made as required.

4. GRAPHITES: in loud cracking and hissing sounds

Symptoms

Dryness of the inner ear. Cracking sound in ears when eating.

Hissing and clicking sounds are often heard in the ears or even louder sounds like gunshots.

People who need this remedy may also have a complication of tinnitus like poor concentration, hearing better in noise, hardness of hearing, or a tendency to cracked skin eruptions behind the ears.

There are thin, white, scaly membranes covering membrane tympani, like exfoliated epithelium, fissures in and behind the ear.

Dosage and potency

30C potency can be started further increase in potency can be made as required.

5. NATRUM SALICYLICUM: for tinnitus after Flu or due to ear bone degeneration

Symptoms

This remedy is useful if ringing in the ears is like a low, dull humming with loss of hearing related to bone conduction, along with nerve interference and vertigo.

It is a useful remedy when tinnitus and tiredness occur along with Meniere’s disease, or after influenza.

Dosage and potency

30C potency with frequent repetition is useful.

6. LYCOPODIUM: for tinnitus with a middle ear infection

Symptoms

People needing   Lycopodium often tend to have ear infections with thick, yellow, offensive discharge as well as chronic digestive problems or urinary tract.

Otorrhoea and deafness with or without tinnitus; after scarlatina.

In tinnitus there is humming and roaring in the ears, along with impairment of hearing, sounds may also seem to echo in the ears.

Dosage and potency

Starting with 30 C potency will give results further potency can be increased as required.

7. KALI CARBONICUM: for itching and cracking sound in the ear

Symptoms

Tinnitus with stitches in ears ringing or roaring, accompanied by cracking noises and itching in the ears, and vertigo on turning is another indication for this remedy. People who need this remedy are quite conservative, with a rigid code of ethics and they tend to feel anxiety in the region of the stomach.

Dosage and potency

30 C potency is useful, with frequent repetition is useful.

8. CARBO VEGETABILIS: for tinnitus with intense nausea and vertigo

Symptoms

This remedy is useful if ringing in the ears occurs during flu or other conditions involving nausea and vertigo.

When tinnitus occurs from a disturbance in blood circulation symptoms are worst in the evening and at night.

The person feels cold and faint but has a craving for fresh and moving air close fanning.

It is of use when an illness has been prolonged or recovery is slow.

Dosage and potency

30Cpotency with frequent repetition is useful to further potency will vary depending on the case.

10. CHINA ( CINCHONA OFFICINALIS): for tinnitus due to loss of vital fluids

Symptoms

This remedy is useful to people who feel exhausted, weak, and nervous with sensitivity to noise and tinnitus.

It is indicated after vital fluids have been lost through vomiting, hemorrhages, diarrhea, heavy sweating, and surgery or conditions involving blood loss.

Pain in the ear relieved by pressure, periodicity of complaints marked.

Dosage and potency

Useful in 30Cpotency, increase in potency can be made as required.

11. CIMICIFUGA: for tinnitus associated with menstrual problems and headaches

Symptoms

This remedy is useful in people who are very sensitive to noise, along with tinnitus, and often have pain and muscle tension in the neck and back.

They are energetic, nervous, and talkative, but become depressed or fearful when not feeling well.

Headaches and problems during menstrual periods are often seen.

Dosage and potency

30C potency is useful with frequent repetition is useful to further potency will vary depending on the case.

Remember that homeopathic remedies are prescribed based on individual symptoms and characteristics. It’s crucial to consult with a qualified homeopath for proper evaluation and personalized treatment. Homeopathy focuses on treating the whole person, so a detailed case study is necessary to select the most appropriate remedy.

Homeopathic medicines should be taken only when prescribed by a homeopathic physician. Self-medication may aggravate the original conditions.