Prevention is better than cure, so goes the unmistakable cliché, a truth that should always be kept in mind when health issues are discussed. Tinnitus is a bothersome illness that can be prevented from becoming worse by identifying the factors that may aggravate it. Such factors include exposure to excessive or loud noises; too much intake of salt, caffeine, saturated fats, and alcohol; and other habits causing trauma to the ear should be avoided to inhibit the severity of tinnitus.
Methods to minimize noise (e.g. use of earplugs) should be sought by people who cannot avoid exposure to loud noises because of the nature of their work (e.g. people working in industrial settings or those that require frequent contact with running aircraft engines).
Thankfully, there are simple natural remedies for tinnitus. These ingredients are readily found in the kitchen and usually involve foods that can be easily incorporated in the diet. Food supplements, which are cheap and safe, are likewise easily accessible in the market.
The following are 3 natural remedies for tinnitus you can whip up or use at home.
- Sea vegetables. Seaweeds and kelp are two ‘sea vegetables’ rich in various vitamin B-complexes and antioxidants that are can be used to treat tinnitus. Vitamins B1 (thiamine) and B9 (folic acid) work to stabilize the nervous system, including the auditory nerve in the inner ear. B3 (niacin) promotes circulation, thus reducing altered blood flow and turbulence to the ear. B6 (pyridoxine) is used as supplemental treatment for depression, nausea and tinnitus. Studies show that vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency is correlated with chronic tinnitus secondary to auditory dysfunction. Additionally, seaweeds contain zinc and vitamins A, C, E, antioxidants, all natural remedies for tinnitus that work in eliminating free radicals harmful to the body. Reduction in the symptoms of tinnitus indicates that these vitamins and minerals play a role in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species that may damage the inner ear.
- Pineapple and garlics. Including pineapple and garlic in the diet alleviates tinnitus. The pineapple helps reduce inflammation and garlic improves blood circulation and prevents build-up of atherosclerotic plaques leading to stroke or aneurysm.
One home Tinnitus remedy that can alleviate tinnitus symptoms involves mixing 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of glycerine in a pint of warm water. The mixture is placed in a nasal spray bottle and applied in each nostril until the solution drains into the throat. The solution is sprayed into the throat as well. This can be done three times a day.
- Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo extract has been recognized for thousands of years as one of hundreds of natural remedies for tinnitus available to man through nature’s garden. Isolation studies have revealed multiple pharmacologically active compounds present in the ginkgo that improve various metabolic functions. Flavonoids and other compounds possess antioxidant and free radical scavenging abilities, and can increase the production of nitric oxide and neurotransmitters beneficial for nervous system function. Supplements available in the market, such as Tinnitus Control, contain zinc, garlic, and ginkgo extract that work together to improve immunity and blood circulation. Subscribing to ear health supplements and accompanying homeopathic drugs such as the one mentioned above, are highly recommended as many users have attested to its efficacy. More importantly, such medication works as simply as popping in a pill and continuing with your daily activities, tinnitus-free.