As we now know, the most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud sound which damages the ears. This may occur over an extended period of time or after just one particular experience with excessive noise. However, previously excessive noise exposure was a hazard of a few particular jobs, nowadays anyone with a pair of headphones/earphones and a mp3/cd player can become affected by sounds which are too loud for the ear. Although earphone and headphone makers design the items not to damage the physical structure of the ear, they are restricted from controlling the level of sound output, which is often the culprit in emerging tinnitus. Some manufacturers of portable music devices have attempted to introduce safety circuitry that limited output volume or warned the user when dangerous volume was being used, but the concept has been rejected by most of the buying public, which favors the personal choice of high volume. Koss introduced the “Safelite” line of cassette players in 1983 with such a warning light. The line was discontinued two years later for lack of interest
Most commonly tinnitus appears after prolonged and extreme overuse – such as listening to music for 5-8 hours a day at the loudest settings, although for some just a single blast of noise is enough to damage the ear, causing hearing loss and tinnitus symptoms. It is suggested that if earphones are used the time exposed to sound should be limited to 1 hour a day to protect hearing.
Doctors do suggest using headphones instead of earphones when possible as most earphones do not block out background noise, often pompting the user to turn up the volume. Those earphones that insert into the ear cannal can be even worse. “Insert earphones can boost the signal by as much as six to nine decibels. That’s about the difference between the sound of a vacuum cleaner and a motorcycle” – Dean Garstecki
Doctors also suggest that if you expect to visit an area where you will be exposed to prolonged loud sounds, like a concert or a construction site, you should equip yourself accordingly. The best way to do this is with use of earplugs and ear-muffs. There is a wide variety of these available on the market, offering different levels of protection which will block out excessive noise and prevent hearing loss. Protect your ears today so they may serve you well tomorrow.
Tinnitus and diet do go hand in hand, as we have already noted. Some foods aggravate your tinnitus symptoms while others help them to calm down. In the world of nuts it is hard for a tinnitus sufferer to go wrong, as nearly all species are very beneficial for ear and general health (note: Peanuts are NOT actual nuts. We will explain why you should avoid them in a future post). Almonds are at the top of the list of nuts which are useful for the ringing and buzzing symptoms, as they poses an impressive arsenal of tinnitus-specific health benefits.
Sugars and Fats:
Sugar and fat ingestion and digestion result in specific enzymes being released by the body so absorption of these m
aterials can take place. These particular food components are one of the greatest culprits in tinnitus symptoms which emerge due to dietary intake. The breakdown of sugars, fats, cholesterol and carbs in the body can cause an impressive leap in the intensity of the symptoms.
The sweet almond itself contains practically no carbohydrates, and is gluten-free, and thus may be made into flour for low-carbohydrate diets, for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus or any other form of glycosuria and individuals with coeliac allergies. A standard serving of almond flour, 1 cup, contains 20 grams of carbs, of which 10 g is dietary fibre for a net of 10 g of carbohydrate. This makes almond flour very desirable for use in cake and bread recipes by people on carbohydrate-restricted diets. They are also rich in monounsaturated fat, one of the two “good” fats responsible for lowering LDL cholesterol.
A controlled trial showed that 73g of almonds in the daily diet reduced LDL cholesterol by as much as 9.4%, reduced the LDL:HDL ratio by 12.0%, and increased HDL-cholesterol by 4.6%.
Antioxidants:
Almonds are a rich source of Vitamin E, containing 24 mg per 100 g or 20% of the daily value in each serving. Vitamin E is actually 20 times stronger, as an antioxidant, than vitamin C. The antioxidants in the nut scavenge the toxic free radicals in the body which cause an increase in the tinnitus symptoms. As the body is cleansed the buzzing sounds should calm itself.
Stimulating the GI tract:
One of the health benefits of almonds is improved movement of food through the colon, as well as helping with the absorption of mineral and vitamin content of the food.
Supplementation of Vitamin/Mineral Deficiencies:
Calcium is greatly important to the strength of the bones, including the small bones of the ear.
Magnesium is necessary for the proper absorption of calcium and vitamin D
Zinc is leached from the system when magnesium is used, so to keep a balance the two should be eaten together. Zinc is also found in the highest concentration in the cochlea of the ear and studies have shown that individuals with tinnitus have less zinc in the system and in the structures of the inner ear.
Niacin pumps oxygen and nitric oxide throughout the system, clearing out the free radicals and delivering oxygen to areas of the body which may usually be starved for it.
Vitamin Bs deficiencies of any of the B vitamins can cause the symptoms of tinnitus to emerge
This nut can also be used externally to help with causes of objective tinnitus, such as build up of wax in the ear canal. Almond Oil is extracted by cold process and is considered a nutritive treatment both for external use and internal consumption. It can help with the safe removal of ear wax if a little is dripped inside the ear daily. Recent studies have shown that almond oil has anti-inflammatory, immunity boosting, and anti-hepatotoxicity effects.
As a man or a woman ages the pH balances of the saliva and the stomach enzymes begin to change, while the gastric tissues go through some extensive transformations. As a result the entire function of digestion begins to be altered along and one of the results of these changes is the inability of the GI tract to properly absorb all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes that are in the food and drink ingested. Eventually this often ends up causing some form of a vitamin deficiency.
Various complaints associated with aging are also commonly associated with vitamin deficiencies. In fact for researchers this poses a question of how much of the aging “symptoms” can be avoided with the right sort of body care. For example macular degenration, the leading cause of eyesight loss in aging and thickenin
g skin with toughening cuticles can both be helped and even reversed with proper vitamin supplementation. Research has shown that almost any vitamin deficiecy and many of the mineral deficiencies may, directly or not, lead to the symptoms of tinnitus.
So ideally taking a multivitamin daily should help stave off, and maybe even prevent some of the symptoms of aging. But herein lies the issue, the original deficiency was most likely caused by the poor absorption in the GI tract, which means that most of the supplements swallowed, or left under the tongue, will end up being literally flushed down the toilet, instead of within your body. In fact some data reports say that up to 80%-90% of vitamin supplements taken end up flushed out of the system without being absorbed by the body. This ends up being extremely problematic for people seriously affected by these deficiencies, as supplementation becomes an almost losing battle. Some deficiencies can be supplemented with subdermal and intervenous injections, but few people enjoy being a pincushion for syringes.
Fortunately there are a number of ways one can increase the absorption rate in his or her GI tract, but it often requires a change of diet and even lifestyle. Ingesting more fiber in the diet as well as prebiotic and probiotic enzymes is extremely benificial to digestion and absorption. Certain natural gut/colon cleansing techniques (NOT COLONICS!!) may as well be of help. However if you are going to begin a vitamin regiment*, it is much more beneficial to find the types which contain natural “absorption-helpers”, such as in the TinnitusDX formula, which will boost the permiability and the pH in your GI tract without damaging the lining. Many individuals see great changes in the well being when they adress the problem of absorption, even without begining a vitamin regiment, as food becomes a nutricious substance for the body once again.
* Be sure to communicate with your doctor before begining any new dietary and/or lifestyle changes
The TinnitusDX formula provides a highly effective and fully comprehensive synergistic blend of vitamin and mineral supplements, combined with carefully matched homeopathic medicines to create a one-of-a-kind type treatment for any and all symptoms of tinnitus. 
What makes this tinnitus formula so extraordinary is that it is designed to address nearly all the possible causes of the tinnitus symptoms while also being mindful of what type of treatment any individual’s body could respond to best. The makers of this tinnitus formula believe, due to a substantial amount of peer-reviewed research, that the tinnitus symptoms are multi-causal – in other words, they rarely stem from just one root cause. Any combination of physical trauma, lifestyle choices and certain disorders can be the true cause of your tinnitus symptoms. The TinnitusDX formula is literally able to treat nearly every single cause, without competing with itself, or damaging your body. And as a bonus as the symptoms begin to wane, it is very likely that your general well-being will be increasing along. After all, this unique tinnitus therapy is designed to treat vitamin deficiencies, metabolic disorders, toxicity of the body, some traumas and even the effects of aging, and all of this is done without the use of dangerous and potentially addictive drugs.
On a weekly basis we will discuss an ingredient of this tinnitus relief formula, where you will be able to see what laboratory research has been saying not only about the effects of the element on tinnitus symptoms but also find out exactly why it may be so helpful.
We will begin with the vitamin A, a necessary component of a healthy diet which can be found in most
green vegetables like kale and broccoli and some yellow/orange fruit like apricots and mango. Vitamin A is extremely important for the health of one’s vision, skin, bones, heart, the immune system and the body’s antioxidant activity to name a few.
It’s importance in tinnitus is multileveled, vitamin A is firstly involved in the growth and repair of epithelial cells, which form the stomach lining, the glands and various bodily tissues as well as the production of membranes of the myelin sheath, which coat the nerves and allow for correct conduction of message. Without healthy epithelial cells tinnitus can be caused either by malabsorption in the stomach, poor gland secretion and a number of other causes which will be discussed in a separate article. The healthy myelin coating is necessary for the correct conduction of neural signals and messages, including those involved in hearing. A vitamin A deficiency can easily be a reason for emerging tinnitus symptoms.
Dr. Shambaugh, the son of the founder of the American Board of Otolaryngology had said “all special sensory receptor cells, including the retina of the eye and the hair cells of the inner ear, depend upon vitamin A … to function properly. He also noted that Vitamin A is found in high concentrations in the cochlea. Certain studies showed that people who are exposed to a lot of noise and have symptoms of tinnitus show much lower levels of vitamin A than individuals with no hearing concerns. This means that tinnitus can be caused by a vitamin A deficiency but also that this deficiency could be caused by high levels of noise in one’s environment.
Studies about vitamin A and tinnitus symptoms say that
A dose of vitamin A was administered to 30 patients with progressive hearing loss, twice a week for a period of six weeks. The patients who responded positively received further treatment during 22 more weeks, or as long as it took to achieve the maximum gain in hearing ability. In the first six weeks 83% of the patients responded positively to the Vitamin A treatments. Participants reported that both conductive and perceptive hearing loss improved. Individuals with dysfunctions in the conductive system including otosclerosis responded more swiftly when compared to individuals without such disorders. Of the 30 participants 23 also suffered from tinnitus, and 17 (74%) reported an improvement of their tinnitus. Dramatic improvement of tinnitus was noted in 15 patients.
Lobel M. J. Clinical studies with parenteral vitamin A therapy in deafness: preliminary report Eye Ear Nose Throat Mon. 1949 May;28(5):213-9
Vitamin A was used in a study of endogenous inner ear hearing loss, presbyacusis, Meniere’s disease and in acoustic neuroma. The group consisted of 103 participants. Results showed some improvement in pure-tone hearing. An improvement of 38% was noted in pure-tone hearing and 39% improvement was noted in speech perception. Accompanying tinnitus also benefited from the Vitamin A therapy. Tinnitus perception was reduced by an average of 39%, and 27% of the participants reported a total disappearance of all tinnitus symptoms. Thus vitamin A may be recommended as a treatment for the treatment of inner ear hearing loss and tinnitus.
Nager G. Results of vitamin A (Arovit-Roche) therapy of inner ear hearing disorders and tinnitus. Pract Otorhinolaryngol (Basel). 1952;14(3):129-57.
Aspirin is made from the compound known as acetylsalicylic acid, a derivative of salicylic acid which is found naturally in the bark of the willow tree. If you have heard the stories of Native Americans using willow bark brew to treat their ailing comrades, this was the reason. Salicylic acid possesses analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulate properties, and is very effective at fairly low doses. This makes aspirin one of the most widely used medicines, as it can relieve anything from a minor ache to a migraine, fever, and even diabetic cataracts and blood clots.
However, aspirin’s makeup is mildly toxic, and the overuse of it can cause a variety of symptoms and problems including stomach ulcers. But most importantly for individuals who suffer with tinnitus this painkiller and blood thinner can aggravate and even cause the buzzing/ringing symptoms. It is ototoxic – it causes destructive damage to the structure of the ear, specifically to the cochlea, while other ototoxic drugs also affect the auditory nerve and sometimes the vestibulum.
Although aspirin is a free-radical scavenger, its ototoxic properties have more effect on the body and will aggravate the symptoms of an existing tinnitus condition. Often accidental, non-lethal overdoses of aspirin result in the original emergence of underlying tinnitus, especially for those individuals susceptible to it. There appears to be a hereditary predisposition to ototoxic reactions and other underlying conditions which cause tinnitus.
If you are a tinnitus sufferer it is suggested that you avoid the use of aspirin as an analgesic for mild pain and instead go for non-salicylate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
Tinnitus maskers are devices used to add natural or artificial sound into the environment of an individual suffering with tinnitus. They are used in suppressing or masking the perceived ringing of the patient.
Tinnitus maskers increase the amount and volume of sound in the environment and allow the brain to re-perceive the ringing in the sufferers head with a calming, less intrusive sound. It’s comparable to an individual trying to read or study or even have a phone conversation in a room with another person speaking directly at them, or as in a noisy study hall or airport, club or restaurant. The brain is able to filter out the unnecessary noise when, interestingly, there is more of it.
Tinnitus maskers are most often used when trying to sleep, as the quiet of the environment makes the symptoms all the more noticeable. Commonly a tinnitus masker is a CD/MP3 recordings or a noise generator which produce either natural noises like the ocean or rain, synthetic sounds such as white noise, or in more advanced models a combination of natural and synthetic noises calibrated to suppress specific frequencies of the experienced symptoms.
This method can be used very effectively with sound pillows, as they contain small embedded speakers, which help masking the tinnitus of the individual without causing disturbance to their partner. However, some individuals who have extremely intense tinnitus symptoms require a tinnitus masker which works around the clock. For these cases a wearable hearing-aid type device is available, which will either amplify ambient sound, generate synthetic sound or combine the two.
Tinnitus maskers can be an excellent “first-aid” treatment for tinnitus symptoms, as any alleviation of the buzzing and ringing can be a comfort. It allows the individual to become less tense, and as stress is a huge factor in the emergence and severity of the symptoms, the relaxation too should help to lessen the intensity of the perceived noise. When these maskers are used in tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), especially in a clinical setting, they can be as much as 95% effective in completely masking the symptoms.
However, as phenomenally helpful as these items are, they also may hinder the healing progress. Although it alleviates the symptoms during the time it’s used, the individual still continues to suffer from the tinnitus symptoms, as none of the many root causes of tinnitus are addressed or treated with this method. Some researchers also say that completely masking the symptoms may be counterproductive and may result in the brain beginning to focus the perception on the tinnitus symptoms despite the background noise.
Tinnitus maskers are best used in conjunction with any tinnitus treatment therapy. Whether you opt for the use of supplements like TinnitusDX or medications like tricyclics or lignocaine, cognitive-behavioural therapy or TRT, the maskers can assist with overwhelming symptoms as the therapy starts to work or in the case of an unexpected episode. They can be a tremendous helping hand in the success on tinnitus treatment and therapy by bringing a quick and comforting relief to a patient with little hope.
How is Meniere’s Different From Tinnitus
Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that, unlike tinnitus, affects both hearing and balance. It is characterized by episodes of dizziness, buzzing, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and progressive hearing loss, usually in one ear. It is named after the French physician Prosper Ménière, who first reported that vertigo was caused by inner ear disorders. Meniere’s disease occurs due to an increase in volume and pressure of the endolymph of the inner ear, and is a progressive disorder which often gets worse with time. Although, progression of Meniere’s is unpredictable: symptoms may worsen, remain the same or disappear altogether.
An episode of Meniere’s disease is usually characterized by an attack of vertigo which sometimes lasts more than 24 hours, tinnitus which increases in volume and temporary hearing loss, which can become worse and more permanent with more attacks. Nausea and sweating can also be experienced during an episode.
Meniere’s disease is not known, but it is believed to be related to endolymphatic hydropsor excess fluid in the inner ear. It is thought that endolymphatic fluid bursts from its normal channels in the ear and flows into other areas causing excess pressure and damage. This may be related to swelling of the endolymphatic sac or other tissues in the vestibular system of the inner ear, which is responsible for the body’s sense of balance.
The symptoms may occur in the presence of a middle ear infection, head trauma or an upper respiratory tract infection, or by using aspirin, smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol, all of which also aggravate the experience of tinnitus. They may be further exacerbated by excessive consumption of salt in some patients. It is most commonly treated with a variety of prescription medications and may even benefit from surgery. However the condition may return even for individuals post surgery, which is why a more permanent and less invasive solutions are currently being researched for the treatment of Meniere’s disease.
Current peer reviewed research explores a correlation between damage caused by neck trauma, such as whiplash, and disorders associated with cranial nerves, like Meniere’s disease and Trigeminal neuralgia. A pinching of nerves between the vertebrae of the spine, called subluxation, can cause pain and symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo and other indicators associated with Meniere’s. This subluxation can be analyzed and adjusted by upper cervical specific chiropractors, which may help relieve some if not many, of the symptoms.
Individuals who suffer with overwhelming symptoms of tinnitus often find that some lifestyle changes do help to ease the intensity of the symptomatic sounds. Dietary changes are often a necessary step in the quest of alleviating the persistent buzzing, chirping and ringing. However, there is no absolute rule that these changes need be unpleasant or feel like a chore. In fact, many discover that the new additions to their meal plans are not only very tasty, but give the bonus of better overall health and are actually exciting to prepare.
Let us introduce the cranberry in a way that you may have never known – fresh berries turned to healing elixirs. Cranberries have been used as a rejuvenating and healing tonic for hundreds of years all over Europe. To this day this bog treasure is considered one of the best home remedies for cystitis, yeast infections, as well as colds and flus. Its antioxidant content flushes the body of free radicals while they strengthen the immune system, assist the GI tract and kidney function and even boost your metabolism. As the berries flush the system with antioxidants, cleanse the blood flow and increase metabolism the tinnitus will begin to ease, as quite a few catalysts to the symptoms are addressed with the effects of these berries and their tonic.
Prepare the tonic thusly – on a low fire simmer berries in water for at least an hour, with just a little bit of sugar, avoid boiling the berries.
When the berries are soft, and the water has turned a nice deep red, take the cooking pot off the fire. Remember the less water to berry ratio that you use the more concentrated the drink. There are a number of things you can do with this concoction.
If you wish for a hot drink, pour the infused water over rose-hip tea, which too has excellent effects on the symptoms of tinnitus, and allow the brew to steep for a few minutes. Try to avoid using bagged teas and opt for leaves as the health benefits are unmatched. Avoid sweetening the tea further as both sugar and sweeteners can aggravate the symptoms. The rose-hip/cranberry infusion concoction is reportedly a great rejuvenating tonic. Of course if rose-hip tea is difficult to get a hold of, black and green tea leaves will not be a shabby substitute.
If you wish or a drink which can be savored both hot and cold, you will need to separate the berries from the infused juice. Crush the berries well in a separate bowl and then mix them back into the cranberry water, and enjoy.
People suffering from overwhelming tinnitus report that Cranberry Juice, Cranberry Tea, or Rose-hip Tea, drunk first thing in the morning, on an “empty” stomach, considerably lessened their tinnitus symptoms. In the UK, research on cranberries and their effects on health is conducted at St. George’s Teaching Hospital, in Tooting, S.W. London.
Tinnitus, like many conditions, can be prevented or held at bay by making sure you take an extra moment or two to protect yourself.
The most common cause of tinnitus is believed to be exposure to high noise levels. For some this may mean being in a loud environment for many years before symptoms begin, but for others a one time high-decibel blast may irreversibly damage the hearing function.
Thus, limit or avoid exposure to loud noises, such as music, power tools, gunshots, and industrial machinery and be sure to wear protective earplugs or earmuffs if you cannot avoid loud noises. Also be careful when using stereo headphones. If music is so loud that others can hear it clearly or you can’t hear other sounds around you, the volume is too high. Do not use wadded-up tissue or cotton balls. These do not protect adequately against loud noises, especially the more dangerous high frequencies, and they may become lodged in the ear canal.
It is suggested that regular exercise may prevent tinnitus because it improves blood flow to the structures of the ear, flushing away the free radicals and oxygenates the area, making it function in a healthier manner. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important for prevention of tinnitus as studies show it occurs more frequently in obese adults.
In cases of mild ringing of the ears cutting back on drinking alcohol and beverages containing caffeine as well as using tobacco products may be beneficial to stopping the symptoms. Nicotine and alcohol use may cause tinnitus by reducing blood flow to the structures of the ear, whereas caffeine may over-excite the nerves, causing the buzzing sound. A more in depth discussion concerning these sorts of lifestyle changes for the reduction of the buzzing/ringing symptoms will be posted in the future.
When it comes to nerves and nerve conduction vitamin B-12 plays a special role. The body needs this nutrient to manufacture myelin, the fatty sheath that wraps around nerve fibers, insulating them and allowing them to conduct their electrical impulses at a better pace. A vitamin B12 deficiency can raise blood levels of homo-cysteine, an amino acid that is thought to be toxic to nerves, and cause subsequent ringing in the ears. Vitamin B12 sheathes ear nerves and may help prevent tinnitus.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with chronic tinnitus,” says Dr. Attias. “Long-term exposure to noise depletes the body’s levels of B12 and so makes the ears more vulnerable to noise-induced damage.” If you have tinnitus, and especially if you also have memory problems, ask your doctor to check your blood level of vitamin B12.
Research from the Institute for Noise Hazards Research and Evoked Potentials Laboratory at Chaim-Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan and from Tel Aviv 
University, both in Israel, looked at a group of 385 people with tinnitus and found that 36 to 47 percent suffered from vitamin B12 deficiency. All of the people low in B12 received injections of 1,000 micrograms weekly for four to six months. At the end of that time, their hearing and tinnitus were evaluated. Fifty-four percent reported improvement in their tinnitus, and approximately one-fourth reported reductions in the measured loudness of their tinnitus.
Most people get enough vitamin B12 from foods but often an individual is unable to absorb the B12 in their GI tract, which will eventually cause a deficiency. Strict vegetarians, who eat no meats, dairy products or eggs, are also at risk for deficiency, since B12 comes only from animal products. If your doctor determines that you have issues with absorbing B12 the vitamin you will need to supplement it. Those with an absorption problem will need to opt for either injections of B12 by your doctor, sublingual B12 pills from your pharmacist (studies show this method can also be poor in terms of absorption) or a transdermal B12 patch available online.
