Exposure to loud noise such as the cheering and music found in sporting events and in concerts can cause you to experience a ringing sound inside your ears. If you have ever had exposure to this kind of noise, then you know firsthand how annoying and distracting it can get. Imagine a scenario where the ringing was a constant part of your daily life.
People suffering from tinnitus have to contend with this ringing on a daily basis, with no hope of getting any kind of relief. Tinnitus is a common condition that affects many people across the globe. As of now, there is no relief in sight as the available treatment options are still quite limited.
In the past few years, medical professionals and tinnitus sufferers have started looking into CBD for Tinnitus. The working theory among some medical professionals is that CBD can assist to reduce some of the symptoms associated with this condition.
Tinnitus: Causes, Symptoms and Conventional Treatment
Before looking into CBD for Tinnitus, we should gain a better understanding of this condition which affects millions of people in the world today.
A common cause of this condition is damage to the inner or middle ear1. The middle ear deals with picking up sound waves. Conduction of these sound waves prompts the middle ear to start transmitting electric impulses towards the brain.
You only get to hear the sound after the brain has accepted the signals coming from the inner ear, and translated them into meaningful sounds. The middle ear can in some cases sustain extensive damage causing it to alter the approach used by the brain to process sound.
Damage to the tiny bones in the inner ear or to the eardrums can also interfere with sound conduction. The presence of a tumor in the auditory nerve or inside the ear can also lead to ringing inside the ears.
People who use heavy equipment such as chainsaws and jackhammers can also get this condition. Listening to loud music at a concert or using headphones could also lead to the development of temporary tinnitus.
Medical conditions that can cause ringing inside the ears include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol2
- Meniere’s disease Symptoms
Tinnitus is an internal, non-auditory sound that can either be continuous or intermittent. It can occur in one ear or both, and can either be high or low-pitched.
Varying sounds heard by sufferers are often described as musical, whistling, chirping, whooshing, clicking, pulsing, screeching, buzzing, hissing, roaring, and static.
Its volume tends to fluctuate. In many cases,3 the noise becomes noticeable during the quiet periods or at night. You may also experience a hearing loss.
Overall Effect on Daily Life
As we look into CBD oil for Tinnitus, it is important to also look at the effects that this condition has on the quality of daily life. Tinnitus can have different effects on the life of the average human. While no two sufferers complain of the same issues, the condition mainly has an impact on sleeping patterns, emotional reactions, and concentration levels. Some of its effects target emotional responses.
Conventional Treatment
Before medical researchers started looking into CBD oil for Tinnitus, doctors had various treatment recommendations. Normally, the first thing to do is ensure that its underlying cause is attended to immediately.
Conventional treatment may involve:
- Treating TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems. These are issues that affect the joint present between the cheekbone and the jaw bone
- Discontinuing the use of ototoxic medications4
- Prompt care for any ear infection that may arise
As doctors and researchers continue to look into CBD and Tinnitus, it is important to note that the condition does not have a cure as of now. With time, many people become accustomed to this condition and develop techniques that they rely on to tune out the noises. Choosing to ignore its presence, rather than obsess over it can also help to provide some form of relief.
In the event that this fails to work, another option is to seek treatment for tinnitus effects. They include depression, insomnia, social isolation, hearing difficulties, and anxiety. Addressing such issues can assist to improve the sufferer’s quality of life, as doctors continue to research CBD and Tinnitus.
Why CBD Can Be an Effective Treatment for Tinnitus
Cannabis for tinnitus is a continuous research topic as doctors seek to find a cure for this condition. Researchers investigating the condition are continuously linking CBD oil and Tinnitus as many believe that cannabis may be the cure that has for long been sought by researchers5.
Researchers exploring the link between the two have stated that tinnitus is not an illness or disease. They have stated that the persistent noise being experienced in the ears is a symptom of a medical condition.
Health experts estimate that one out of every five adults suffers from this condition. It can manifest itself in varying forms.
In the studies that have been advanced by researchers studying CBD oil and Tinnitus, cannabis has been seen to assist in reducing many of its underlying causes. Some of the conditions that have led to its emergence include:
- Aging
- Sinus or ear infections
- Blockage
- Presence of benign tumors on the auditor’s nerve
- Damage to the small hairs found in the middle ear
- Autoimmune disease
- Cardiovascular disease
One theory being advanced at the moment is that this condition is a kind of epilepsy that is brought about by hyperactivity inside the cochlea. For this reason, anti-epileptic drugs are being advanced as possible tinnitus treatment options. And this is where cannabis is factored in by the proponents of this theory.
Studies have shown that CBD is an effective treatment for depression, insomnia, anxiety, and stress. It can also be used to treat epilepsy. This explains why many are considering it as a potential tinnitus treatment option.
How to Use CBD to Treat Tinnitus
Anyone looking into CBD treatment for Tinnitus should note that CBD is a major component of hemp and marijuana. It can, however, be extracted on its own for use as a supplement.
Taking this into account, it means that provided that a CBD product has .3percent THC or less, it will be classified as a hemp product. Such products are legal for use in many countries including the US.
CBD comes in many varied forms, many of which are readily available in the open market. If interested in CBD treatment for Tinnitus, you will likely come across spectrum plant tincture oils, vape ready concentrates, and isolated CBD powders.
You can ingest CBD in various ways. You can consume it orally, by smoking or vaping it or take it sublingually. When taken sublingually, it gets absorbed into the body through the capillaries that are located below the tongue. When smoked, it is absorbed via the lungs.
What Is Medical Research Saying About Using CBD Tor Tinnitus
Congress, in the United States, passed the Agriculture Improvement Act in 2018. The act was meant to remove hemp from the list of Controlled Substances. This is what led to a surge in the number of people using CBD for Tinnitus.
Ongoing research on CBD and Tinnitus has led scientists to discover that there are two main receptors in the brain. They are referred to as CB1 and CB2. These receptors have been seen to respond to the presence of a CBD.
Available research indicates that the two receptors can play a significant role in hearing and balance. Based on this research, many are wondering whether using CBD for Tinnitus could help cure hearing disorders, e.g., tinnitus.
A study conducted in 2015 using CBD to treat rats in a lab did not provide any conclusive results6. In some cases, the CBD was seen to worsen the condition in the test animals.
But, there is proof that CBD can assist in reducing stress. For instance, a study published in a 2015 publication of the Neurotherapeutics suggested that CBD was effective in reducing anxiety behaviors that were associated with medical disorders like OCD, SAD, and PTSD7.
According to VeryWell.com,8 other studies have continued to produce mixed results. The lack of information also goes both ways as seen with its side effects.
Conclusion
As research continues on whether CBD is an effective treatment for Tinnitus, there is a need for buyers to exercise caution when purchasing CBD products. Tinnitus sufferers should note that the experience that one has had with available treatment options do not apply to every other person with this problem.
Anecdotal reports and testimonials could suggest that there was research, but this is not sufficient evidence. Scientific processes are often designed to surpass any biases that could be present in the anecdotal evidence.
For tinnitus relief, it is best to consider consulting a professional who has specialized in this disorder, and who is conversant with the use of CBD for tinnitus. The professional could suggest possible solutions that could assist in reducing the symptoms associated with the condition.
Patients should also refrain from using CBD products without first conducting adequate research.
References
- Healthline. (2019). Inner and Middle Ear Anatomy, Diagram & Function | Body Maps. [online] [↩]
- Healthline. (2019). High Cholesterol. [online] [↩]
- Alana Biggers, M. (2019).Deafness and hearing loss: Causes, symptoms, and treatments. [online] Medical News Today [↩]
- Langguth, B., Salvi, R. and Elgoyhen, A. (2009). Emerging pharmacotherapy of tinnitus. Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs, 14(4), pp.687-702. [↩]
- Smith, P. and Zheng, Y. (2016). Cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors and tinnitus. Hearing Research, 332, pp.210-216. [↩]
- Zheng, Y., Reid, P. and Smith, P. (2015). Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Agonists Do Not Decrease, but may Increase Acoustic Trauma-Induced Tinnitus in Rats. Frontiers in Neurology, 6. [↩]
- Blessing, E., Steenkamp, M., Manzanares, J. and Marmar, C. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), pp.825-836. [↩]
- Verywell Health. (2019). Discover the Uses, Research, and Safety of CBD Oil for Anxiety. [online] [↩]
