Tinnitus causes ringing in the ears, as well as buzzing, whirring and other sounds not attributed to outside noise. The condition itself does not pose any major health risks, but you might find it distressing, which can interfere with your quality of life. Certain holistic measures, such as diet and lifestyle changes, might help reduce symptoms and change how you perceive the condition, which can make it easier to live with.
Reducing Stress
Stress can worsen tinnitus symptoms. Modern-day living has made for a more stressful day-to-day existence, and it is all too easy to get swept away in it. Stress reduction forms a cornerstone of any holistic approach to bettering your health. While it might be challenging, finding ways to reduce and manage your stress is well worth the effort if you have a true interest in using natural strategies to treat this condition. No one-size-fits-all approach exists; experiment with different techniques and stick to the ones that work best. Try meditation, deep breathing, yoga or visualization. Exercise is always a good choice, and it gives you the added bonus of improving other aspects of your health.
Dietary Changes to Consider
A study published in a 2007 issue of ''International Tinnitus Journal'' tested the effects of diet and medication on individuals who suffered tinnitus due to noise exposure and hyperlipidemia, or elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Subjects who responded positively to the interventions experienced a significant difference in tinnitus symptoms compared to subjects who had no response to the treatments, which suggests maintaining healthy lipid levels might influence this condition.
Another study, published in a 2004 issue of the same journal tested the effects of diet on tinnitus sufferers who had hyperinsulinemia, more commonly referred to as prediabetes. This condition might serve as an underlying cause of tinnitus, according to the Brazilian researchers that conducted the study. They found that patients who followed a diet to address high insulin levels were five times more likely to report an improvement in their symptoms compared to those in the control group who did not make any changes to their eating habits. Fifteen percent of respondents noted their symptoms went away entirely.
These studies, of course, looked at only specific subgroups of tinnitus sufferers, but it cannot hurt to experiment with these dietary changes as they promote good health anyway. Eat less saturated fat, processed carbohydrates and sugar. Eat more healthy fats found in nuts, seeds and fatty fish, vegetable proteins such as beans, non-starchy vegetables and lean meats.
Experimenting with Acupuncture
Acupuncture has gained popularity in the West in recent years. This ancient Eastern practice works on the premise that stimulating certain energy points linked to the healthy functioning of specific parts of the body will help treat conditions affecting them.
The British Acupuncture Council says a review of studies in 2000 found acupuncture ineffective for managing tinnitus but notes many studies suffered from flaws, such as designs inappropriate to evaluate acupuncture treatment, that might have skewed the results. It says more recent, better-designed studies conducted between 2006 and 2007 found it effective. They were small, however, and larger studies are needed before drawing any firm conclusions. Acupuncture might work in several ways to reduce tinnitus symptoms, such as reducing inflammation and noise production and altering brain chemistry.
Behavioral Therapies
The Australian Tinnitus Association reports hypnotherapy might help. It involves implanting messages into your subconscious mind -- the part that functions without your awareness -- that can promote relaxation and stress reduction. Cognitive behavioral therapy might be useful, as well. This type of therapy is particularly effective with chronic conditions, helping change your thought processes, manage your stress and replace negative behaviors with positive ones. Since you often cannot completely eliminate tinnitus, part of a holistic approach to managing it involves changing how you respond to it and putting your focus elsewhere, and these types of interventions can help do that.
References
- ''The International Tinnitus Journal''; Low-cholesterol Diet and Antilipid Therapy in Managing Tinnitus and Hearing Loss in Patients with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Hyperlipidemia; A. Sutbas, et al.; 2007
- Australian Tinnitus Association: Tinnitus: What is It?
- ''International Tinnitus Journal''; Hyperinsulinemia and Tinnitus: A Historical Cohort; L. Lavinsky, et al.; 2004
- Better Health Channel: Tinnitus Explained
- British Acupuncture Council: Tinnitus
