Tea Tree Oil & Ringing Of The Ears

Tea tree oil is one alternative medical treatment some claim is effective for ear conditions related to fungi and bacteria. There is little evidence to support any of these claims regarding tea tree oil. In an article from the March-April 2000 issue of "Audiology & Neurotology," researchers discovered that high concentrations of tea tree oil may be toxic to the cochlea, producing a high-frequency hearing loss.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is extracted from the Melaleuca tree, grown in the northeast area of New South Wales, Australia, providing the most potent medicinal oil of any tea tree, as reported by Dr. Christine Horner. Though it has gained folkloric stature by people who endorse its purported soothing, antibacterial and antiseptic properties, tea tree oil as a treatment for tinnitus has not been replicated in any clinical setting. Tea tree oil can cause an allergic skin reaction in some people.

Tinnitus

According to the American Tinnitus Association, approximately 50 million Americans experience some ringing in the ears. Most experience only a brief tone called transient tinnitus, most often heard, for example, during the quiet of night or following a loud concert without earplugs. The ATA states that "for 12 million of those 50 million, the tinnitus is persistent and very often troubling." Most importantly, there is no known cure.

Ear Health

Our bodies produce a stream of ear wax that lubricates, protects and cleans our ear canals. Hairs in the canals move wax out to the outer ear. You can use ear drops to thin the wax if it is too thick. Traditional Chinese medicine theory maintains that most hearing disorders are related to imbalances in the kidney meridian system. According to the Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine, re-balancing kidney energies using acupuncture and Chinese herbs may often resolve hearing problems.

Stress Management

The University of California, San Francisco, reports that keeping your composure when coping with the stress and pain of tinnitus is often extremely difficult. Self-help methods, such as relaxation, self-hypnosis and guided imagery, can be effective in helping combat the sleep disturbances, anxiety and stress associated with tinnitus.