Often referred to as a "ringing in the ear," tinnitus is the perception of sound in one or both ears when no actual sound stimulus is present. Symptoms can be described as hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking, and can be constant or intermittent. The perceived volume of the sound can also vary from patient to patient. There is no cure for tinnitus, which is more accurately described as a symptom than an actual disease. Treatment therefore centers around addressing the underlying causative factors.
Causes of Tinnitus
While the exact physiological cause of tinnitus has not been discovered, there are certain events which may trigger or worsen symptoms. These are noise exposure, head and neck trauma, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, thoracic outlet syndrome, certain types of tumors, wax build-up, jaw misalignment and heart disease. In addition, the side effects of some medications include tinnitus.
While the following dietary and supplement treatments have been shown to ease the symptoms of tinnitus, a physician should be consulted before making any changes in diet or vitamin intake.
The Effects of Diet
The association of tinnitus with cardiovascular diseases prompts a look at diet as a treatment. Certain ear sounds are known to be common to high blood pressure, which is usually the result of poor diet. Processed foods and refined sugars and flours limit the blood flow by constricting arteries. A diet high in vegetable and juice content, focused on those foods that dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure, can be effective. Saturated fats, vegetable shortening and margarine consumption should be reduced by tinnitus sufferers.
Magnesium and Potassium
Foods high in magnesium and potassium, such as baked potatoes, apricots, apples, bananas, leafy greens, beets and nuts should be utilized to promote overall health and reduce the factors associated with tinnitus.
Vitamin B
B vitamins are essential to a healthy diet. B--6 and B12, specifically, have been linked to improving tinnitus symptoms. B-6, at a recommended 50 mg two to three times daily, is available from whole-grain products, bananas, apples, most fruits and vegetables, eggs, and various dairy products. B-6 has been found to stabilize the inner ear fluids.
Dairy products, yeast, oysters, various fish, eggs, milk and milk products, poultry and lamb are excellent sources of B-12. Research has linked B-12 deficiencies with those developing tinnitus from exposure to loud noises.
Other Vitamins
Inner ear problems have been attributed to a lack of vitamin A, which helps keep the ear membranes healthy. Vitamin A is gained from eating such foods as fish, leafy vegetables, blackberries and blueberries, yellow vegetables, and fruits such as carrots, yams, oranges, apricots and cantaloupe.
Vitamin E, found in whole-grain products, green leafy vegetables, dried beans, fish and eggs, increases the supply of oxygen in the blood cells and enhances blood flow.
Choline works to reduce high blood pressure and the often resultant tinnitus symptoms.
Foods such as fish, oysters, whole-grain cereals, beans, nuts and eggs are an excellent source of zinc. Zinc has been used to treat both tinnitus and hearing loss due to age.
Herbal preparations, such as Gingko biloba, have also been used to treat tinnitus.
