A persistent ringing in your ears is a symptom called tinnitus. Tinnitus can have many different causes, including hearing loss due to aging, an injury to your ear or inner ear cells, earwax blockages, an ear-bone condition called otosclerosis, acoustic neuroma, Meniere's disease or certain circulatory disorders of the blood vessels. Ringing in your ears usually isn't a serious problem, although it can be annoying. Several herbal remedies can help treat tinnitus, but consult your doctor before trying any of the treatments.
Identification
Tinnitus causes a ringing-like noise in your ears that can come and go or occur continuously, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says. In some people, tinnitus sounds more like a buzzing or hissing rather than a ringing noise. Tinnitus is often caused by an underlying condition or event, like an ear infection, obstruction or injury. Persistent ringing in your ears can impact your hearing and sleep, the University of Michigan Health System notes.
Prevention/Solution
Certain herbal remedies may help reduce the ringing in your ears or otherwise ease the effects of tinnitus. Ginkgo biloba is often recommended as an herbal treatment for tinnitus and may even help in treating certain medical conditions like stress, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease and circulatory disorders that can cause tinnitus, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Periwinkle could also treat tinnitus, although the scientific evidence is weak, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center notes. No conclusive medical research supports the use of any of these herbal treatments for curing tinnitus, however.
Other Natural Treatments
Other natural treatments for tinnitus include supplements of zinc, coenzyme Q10, lipoflavonoid, glutamic acid, ipriflavone, oxerutins and vitamin B12, as well as a combination supplement of vitamins A and E. Melatonin supplements may help if the ringing in your ears affects your sleep and causes insomnia, the University of Michigan Health System adds. Alternative therapies like acupuncture and hypnosis could help reduce the ringing in your ears, the Mayo Clinic says. Certain lifestyle changes may also ease your tinnitus. These include abstaining from alcohol, nicotine and aspirin as well as staying away from loud noises, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center reports. Don't take any supplements for tinnitus before first consulting your physician.
Considerations
Keep in mind that tinnitus isn't considered a medical condition in itself, but instead is a symptom of an underlying health problem, the Mayo Clinic notes. Therefore, you should have a health care professional diagnose the underlying cause of your tinnitus before you attempt any kind of treatment. Unfortunately, the cause of tinnitus is sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says. Aside from herbal and natural supplements, you can try conventional tinnitus treatments like hearing aids and tinnitus masker devices, or medications like tricyclic antidepressants, carbamazepine and benzodiazepines.
Warning
Just like conventional medications, herbal remedies and natural supplements can cause side effects, drug interactions and other health risks. For example, ginkgo can cause gas, diarrhea, heart palpitations, dizziness, headaches and stomach upset, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports. Ginkgo can also increase the effects of certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood-thinners like warfarin, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). If you take antipsychotics or prochlorperazine, ginkgo could cause seizures. Also, chronic ringing in the ears can impact your quality of life, causing stress, insomnia, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and depression, the Mayo Clinic warns.
