Tinnitus is a symptom for an underlying condition. It involves hearing sound when no external sound is present. The noise you hear can vary from high to low pitch and affect one or both ears. Usually, the noise is only heard by you, but it occasionally can be heard by your doctor. Ear damage, health problems and auditory nerve damage may cause tinnitus, but you may not find an exact cause. Cod liver oil is sometimes used as a homeopathic treatment for tinnitus.
Ear Anatomy
Your ear canal terminates at your eardrum, where noise vibrations transmit to the inner ear. Tiny bones called ossicles transmit these vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea. Within the cochlea, tiny hairs sense the noise and convert it into an electric impulse. The impulse is sent along nerve fibers to the brain. Ear damage or canal blockage can cause tinnitus. Sometimes, medications can affect ear physiology, which result in tinnitus. In rare cases, tinnitus may be attributed to blood vessel disorders, such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is obtained from the liver of Atlantic cod, a type of fish. It is rich in vitamins A and D and in omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil supplements support cardiovascular health and decrease inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, fish oil has been discussed as a treatment option for mental disorders and prostaglandin disturbances, which cause symptoms of tinnitus.
Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment
Because tinnitus is caused by a variety of mechanisms, doctors base treatment options on the individual's experiences and needs. A medical diagnosis often involves a hearing exam, movement analysis and inner ear imaging. Also, correctly describing the type of sounds you hear can assist the doctor with diagnosis. If a health condition for the tinnitus is not found, noise suppression, medications, home remedies, counseling and alternative medicine may be part of your treatment protocol.
Cod Liver Oil for Tinnitus
Research by Wayne Briner and colleagues reported in the 1993 issue of “Archive of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery” supports prostaglandins as a treatment for tinnitus. Prostaglandin hormones help regulate your body‘s blood pressure, nerve transmission and inflammatory responses. Cod liver oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which assists in the formation of series 3 prostaglandins within your body. Therefore, it may be possible to take cod liver oil as an alternative treatment for tinnitus. Any changes in your tinnitus treatment program should be discussed with your doctor.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Tinnitus; July 2010
- Indiana University; How Does the Ear Work; Jeffrey Hass; 2003
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Cod-Liver Oil
- Natural Health Research Institute; Tinnitus Relief; Gene Bruno; March 2010
- "Archive of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery"; Synthetic Prostaglandin E1 Misoprostol as a Treatment for Tinnitus; W. Briner, et al.; June 1993
- ScienceDaily; Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Omega 3 Fatty Acid In Fish Oil Linked to Lowering of Prostaglandin; April 2006
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