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Tinnitus

Do you hear a ringing noise in your ears that doesn't go away? This

maddening noise, called tinnitus, affects approximately 17% of the

world's population. Many people are so seriously bothered by tinnitus

that living a normal life is not possible. Tinnitus can interfere

with concentration, work, sleep, relaxation, normal communication

with others, and tinnitus can lead to psychological distress. There's

no known cure for tinnitus.

Tinnitus Symptoms

Imagine hearing a ringing noise in your ears or head that sometimes

doesn't go away. This maddening noise, called tinnitus, can range in

volume from a ring to a roar. Some people hear tinnitus as a buzzing,

hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking instead of–or in

addition to–ringing. Each person has a unique version of tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant, with single or multiple

tones and tinnitus' perceived volume can range from subtle to

shattering.

Most people today will experience tinnitus at some time in their

life. You might notice tinnitus after being exposed to loud music or

harsh noises. The noise exposure is over, but there's a tinnitus

ringing in your ears. In America alone, as many as 50 million people

today say their ears ring. About 12 million have tinnitus severe

enough to seek medical attention, and 7 million people are so

seriously bothered by tinnitus that living a normal life is not

possible. Tinnitus symptoms can, in fact, interfere with

concentration, work, sleep and relaxation, normal communication with

others, and tinnitus can lead to psychological distress. Many

tinnitus sufferers become markedly depressed because of the constant

and bothersome noise

See Your Doctor About Tinnitus

Since tinnitus might be a symptom of another health problem, see your

doctor for any condition which may require his/her services. Your

doctor may refer you to an, an ear, nose, and throat doctor. Another

hearing professional, an audiologist, can measure your hearing.

Caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, aspirin, antihistamines, and prescription

or over-the-counter medications can aggravate existing tinnitus.

Although there remains no cure, tinnitus symptoms can be overcome.

RingStop™ is specifically designed to safely relieve and prevent

tinnitus/ear noise symptoms.

Homeopathic Remedies to Reduce Tinnitus

The Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States states that there

are no side effects for the following homeopathic remedies. These

Homeopathic remedies have demonstrated unsurpassed safety for nearly

200 years worldwide

Calcarea carbonica (Calcium carbonate) relieves throbbing and

cracking noises, stitches and pulsing sensations in the ears.

Cimicifuga racemose (Black Cohosh Root) is helpful for tinnitus

symptoms, and for people who are very sensitive to noise, as well as

pain and muscle tension in the neck and back.

Carbo vegetabilis (vegetable charcoal) – This natural remedy is for

ringing in the ears, especially if it occurs during flu or other

conditions involving vertigo and nausea. China (Chinchona

officinalis) (Peruvian bark) helps ringing in the ears and hearing

sensitive to noise.

Chininum sulphuricum (sulphite of quinine) helps relieve violent

ringing, buzzing, and roaring sounds that are loud enough to impair a

person's hearing.

Coffea cruda (unroasted coffee) is for people with tinnitus

accompanied by extremely sensitive hearing and a buzzing feeling in

the back of the head.

Graphites (plumbago) – This remedy is beneficial for tinnitus with

associated hearing loss, and for hissing and clicking sounds in the

ears.

Kali carbonicum (Potassium carbonate) is for tinnitus with ringing or

roaring, accompanied by cracking noises and itching in the ears.

Lycopodium (club moss) is for a humming and roaring in the ears,

along with impairment of hearing and sounds that seem to echo in the

ears.

Natrum salicylicum (sodium salicylate) – This remedy is beneficial if

ringing in the ears is like a low, dull hum, and for loss of hearing

related to bone conduction, as well as nerve interference.

Salicylicum acidum (salicylic acid) – This remedy is indicated for

tinnitus with very loud roaring or ringing sounds, which may be

accompanied by some hearing loss. It may also be helpful if tinnitus

has been caused by too much aspirin.

Nutritional Supplements to Reduce Tinnitus

Specific nutrients can make a difference in tinnitus. Dr.

Seidman, M.D., director of the Henry Ford Health System, Dept of

Otolarynology, Tinnitus Clinic, in Bloomfield, Michigan says that

tinnitus is sometimes caused by impaired blood flow to the ears,

which can happen in two ways. First, the tiny artery leading to the

inner ear can get clogged with cholesterol, causing a kind of stroke

in the ear, Dr. Seidman explains. Second, loud noises can send this

artery into spasm, reducing blood supply to the cochlea. In either

case, an interrupted blood supply can lead to hearing and tinnitus

problems. That's where the antioxidant nutrients come

in. " Antioxidants work by helping to prevent oxygen-caused damage to

cell membranes, " Dr. Seidman says. Antioxidants also help keep

arteries open and free of plaque buildup, experts say. Dr. Seidman

and some other ear doctors suggest that you consider a smorgasbord of

antioxidant nutrients. Some of the beneficial nutrients include:

Vinpocetine is a derivative of vincamine, an extract of the

periwinkle plant, and has been used in Germany to provide support

during tinnitus symptoms.

Vinpocetine improves blood flow in the inner ear and brain, thereby

increasing utilization of glucose and oxygen, and increasing

production of brain cell ATP (ATP is the cellular energy molecule -

adenosine tri phosphate). 2, 3 Research shows that vinpocetine is

particularly protective in cases where fatty plaques clog the

arteries that feed oxygen to the inner ear and brain. Vinpocetine

have been widely researched and used for nutritional support for over

25 years for a variety of health benefits. It has been shown to be a

cerebral metabolic enhancer and a selective cerebral vasodilator. 5

Vinpocetine has also been shown to reduce the cell death that

normally occurs when a brain region is temporarily but severely

deprived of blood flow. 6 This remarkable alkaloid has proven

specific benefits for people suffering ill hearing effects from

antibiotics. The antibiotics used typically for staph and strep

infections are ototoxic (harmful to hearing). Vinpocetine has been

found to help prevent some of the antibiotics' ototoxicity. 7

Vinpocetine reduces vascular resistance in the inner ear and brain,

so that red blood cells are better able to pass through narrow

passages. Better blood flow equals better oxygen delivery

Ginkgo Biloba is a powerful herbal extract with numerous health

benefits. Two studies have found an extract of ginkgo standardized

to contain 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones useful for

people with ear concerns. 8, 9, 10 Ginkgo is a powerful herbal

extract that may increase the circulation of blood to the ears.

Ginkgo has antioxidant activity, improves arterial blood flow and

enhances cellular metabolism. It is known for its age-defying

properties which may support healthy hearing function. Ginkgo biloba

leaves have been used by the Chinese for centuries for health

purposes. Two studies demonstrated that Ginkgo is supportive for

people with tinnitus concerns. 11, 12 Furthermore, a follow-up study

of 137 of the original group of elderly patients 5 years later

revealed that Ginkgo was still beneficial. 13

Ipriflavone is a soy-derived isoflavone (bioflavonoid), but unlike

other soy isoflavones, it has no estrogenic or other hormonal

activity. In one double-blind study with ipriflavone, researchers

found that it was very beneficial for people with certain ear

concerns. 14 Ipriflavone is a nutrient-partitioning agent, which

means that it moves nutrients into building muscle and bone and away

from being stored as fat.

Arginine is an amino acid that increases nitric oxide (NO), an

important neurotransmitter. A team of scientists made breakthrough

discoveries regarding the effects of nitric oxide during the mid-

1990's and in 1998 they were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology

of Medicine. Arginine works by stimulating the release of nitric

oxide which causes vasodilation (dilates blood vessels), improving

blood flow, and it also protects the ear by scavenging free radicals.

15 , 16, 17

Alpha Lipoic Acid – Alpha lipoic acid has shown dramatic effects in

providing support for hearing concerns by taking an antibiotic. At

the Hearing Research Laboratories at Duke University, in Durham,

North Carolina, researchers investigated what positive effect lipoic

acid could have on aminoglycoside (a class of antibiotics) induced

damage to cochlear tissue of the ear. 18 Lipoic acid-protected

animals did not have part of their hearing impaired compared with

animals receiving the damaging antibiotic alone. The researchers

thought that lipoic acid was particularly well suited to protect the

ear because it is widely distributed in both aqueous and lipid

tissues after administration. In addition, it crosses the blood-

brain barrier quite readily, has low toxicity, and has excellent

uptake in neural tissue. 19 Furthermore, lipoic acid is delivered to

both the intra- and extra-cellular environment. 20 Given the

positive safety profile of lipoic acid and the promise of a

significant degree of auditory protection, it makes good sense to add

lipoic acid to your supplement program.

Zinc is involved in a wide array of functions, including helping

to maintain healthy cell

membranes and protecting cells from oxygen-related damage. Some

parts of the body have much higher concentrations of certain vitamins

and minerals than other parts. That's the case with inner ear,

which, like the retina of the eye, has a higher concentration of

zinc. That finding has led some doctors to believe that zinc

deficiency may play a role in inner ear concerns. 21, 22, 23 " We

don't know much about how zinc works in the inner ear, but it's

evident that the cochlea needs zinc to function properly, " explains

E. Shambaugh, Jr., M.D. professor emeritus of otolaryngology

and head and neck surgery at Northwestern University Medical School

in Chicago. " Animals fed a diet low in zinc partially lose hearing

function, and apparently, even the kind of marginal zinc deficiency

often seen in older people causes greater hearing concerns associated

with ear damage from noise or aging. " Dr. Shambaugh estimates that

about 25% of the people he sees with severe tinnitus are zinc-

deficient.

Vitamin A – Like zinc, Vitamin A is found in high concentrations in

the cochlea. " All special sensory receptor cells, including the

retina of the eye and the hair cells of the inner ear, depend upon

Vitamin A and zinc to function properly, " Dr. Shambaugh says. In one

study, low blood levels of Vitamin A were associated with hearing

concerns. 24 Animal studies have demonstrated degenerative changes

in the ganglion cells on a Vitamin A-deficient diet. And in several

studies, people with tinnitus concerns reported substantial health

benefits from Vitamin A supplements.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) – Some practitioners suggest taking N-acetyl

cysteine because it is a major glutathione precursor. Glutathione

has antioxidant activity and may promote healthy hearing function,

and is crucial in possibly protecting against free radical damage.

Magnesium has been found to be protective to hearing function from

exposure to noise. 25 Low magnesium levels can cause blood vessels,

including the tiny arteries going to the inner ears, to constrict,

and when combined with noise exposure, can deplete the delicate

hearing cells in the inner ear of it's energy stores, leading to

exhaustion, damage and death of these critical cells. Noise-induced

vasospasm (constriction of the arteries) is thought to play a role in

tinnitus.

Melatonin – Researchers at the Ear Research Foundation in Sarasota,

Florida performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled

study evaluating the role of supplemental melatonin for people with

tinnitus concerns. They discovered that 47% of those on melatonin

had an improvement compared to 20% of those on placebo.

26 Chinese Herbs – For 5,000 years the Chinese have known that a

balanced, harmonious body is necessary for optimal health and a zest

for life. Ancient Chinese physicians and temple priests studied

nature over thousands of years discovering how to interact with it,

and to cultivate and guide life's sustaining force. Their desire was

to create harmony and order in the body, and to provide the body with

the proper nutrition it needs to heal and regenerate itself. Their

wisdom taught that a balanced body suffers from fewer problems and

sustains more energy and alertness. They also discovered that

supplementing the diet with natural herbal nutrition was one of the

best means of nourishing the body so that an internal balance can be

achieved. Folic Acid is a B vitamin that is involved in every bodily

function that requires cell division. It is used to generate red

blood cells, help wounds heal, build muscle, and produce brain and

nervous system chemicals. Folic acid appears to regulate the body's

production and use of homocysteine, an amino acid-like compound that

in excess amounts can contribute to the buildup of dangerous plaque

in the blood vessels. A Dutch study has recently shown that by

lowering blood levels of homocysteine and improving the ability of

the blood vessels to dilate, folic acid may reduce cardiovascular

risk in those with a family history of high cholesterol. Because the

body can't retain this water-soluble vitamin for long – any excess is

excreted in the urine – many people have a folic acid deficiency.

Vitamin B-12 – Maintenance of blood and nerve function depends on

this important vitamin. According to a 1999 study, auditory

dysfunction is associated with deficiencies in vitamins B-12 and

folic acid, nutrients that promote healthy nerve function and

circulation. 27 Another study has shown a definite connection

between vitamin B-12 deficiency and hearing concerns. 28 A large

study involving 522 patients showed that administering vitamin B-12

along with oxygenation at high pressure to people with hearing

concerns, gave many people beneficial results. 29 Vitamin B-6 – Day

by day, there's probably no nutrient as actively involved in keeping

your system running smoothly as vitamin B6. It functions primarily

as a coenzyme, working along with other enzymes to speed up chemical

reactions in cells. A deficiency of vitamin B6 can cause anemia,

dermatitis, and nervous system problems. Incredibly, government

surveys indicate that one-third of adults are deficient in this key

nutrient. One of the causes of tinnitus may be nerve malfunction in

the brain. Because Vitamin B6 positively affects the nervous system,

it may improve the health of the nerves leading to the inner ear and

thus minimize the discomforts of tinnitus. Vitamin B6 may be of use

in treating chronic dizziness caused by a nerve disorder or decreased

blood flow to the brain or inner ear.

Niacin (Vitamin B3) helps increase blood flow by relaxing and

widening the blood vessels.

Garlic – Probably more research has been done (and more articles

written) about garlic than any other herb. Worldwide, research is

ongoing about the role that garlic may play in maintaining blood

cholesterol, protecting against fatty plaques that clog the arteries,

maintaining blood pressure, and stimulating the immune system.

Garlic thus provides support for hearing function.

To: Hearing References:

Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweeden: Ab Arcanum and

Beaconsfield, UK; Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd, 1988, 181.

E. Karpaty & L. Szpomy 1976 Arzneim forsch (drug research) 28, 1908-

12.

Szobor and M. Klein 1976 Arneim Forsch (drug research) 28, 1984-1989.

B. Vamosi et al 1976 Arzneim Forsch (drug research) 28, 1980-84.

F. Solti et al 1976 Arzneim Forsch (drug research) 28, 1945-47.

D. Sauer et al 1988 Life Sci. 43, 1733-39.

Nekrassov V, Sitges M. 2000 Jun 23, Brain Res 868 (2), 222-9.

Meyer B. A multicenter, double-blind, drug versus placebo study of

Ginkgo Biloba extract in the treatment of tinnitus. Presse Med 1986;

5:1562-4 [in French].

Meyer B. A multicenter randomized double-blind study of Ginkgo Biloba

extract versus placebo in the treatment of tinnitus. In Rokan (Ginkgo

biloba): Recent Results in Pharmacology and Clinic, ed. EW Funfgeld,

New York: Springer-Verlag, 1988, 245-50.

Holgers K, Axelsson A, Pringle I. Ginkgo biloba extract in the

treatment of tinnitus. Audiol 1994;33:85-92.

Abdulla S. Pills may replace ear-muffs for protection against

damaging noise. Lancet 1998;351:1411.

Coles R. Trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGB) for tinnitus and

hearing loss. Clin Otolaryngol 1988;13:501-502.

Meyer B. Tinnitus-multicenter study. A multicenter study of the ear.

Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac 103(3):185-8, 1986.

Sziklai I, Komora V, Ribari O, Acta Chir Hung 1992-93;33(1-2):101-7.

AF, T, Nitric oxide contributes to control of effusion

in experimental otitis media, Laryngoscope 2001 Feb;111(2):301-5.

Popa R, Anniko M, Takumin\da M, Otoprotectant minimizes hearing

defects caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A, Acta Otolaryngol

2000 Mar; 120(3):350-8.

Tabuchi K, Kusakari J, Ito Z, Takashashi K, Wada T, Hara A, Effect of

nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on cochlear dysfunction induced by

transient local anoxia, Acta Otolaryngol 1999 Mar, 119(2):179-84.

Conlon BJ, et al., Hear Res 1999 Feb:128(1-2):40-44.

Packer L, and Tritschler JH. Free Racid Biol Med 1996;20(4):625-626.

Panigrahi M, et al., Brain Res 1996 Apr22;717(1-2):184-188.

Ochi K, Ohashi T, Kinoshita H, Akagi M, Kikuchi H, Mitsui M, Kaneko

T, Kato I, Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho, The serum zinc level in

patients with tinnitus and the effect of zinc treatment, 1997 Sep:100

(9):915-9.

Preliminary report (French). Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg 41(3):498-

505, 1987.

Paaske PB, Kjems G, Pedersen CB, Sam ILK. Zinc in the management of

tinnitus. Placebo-controlled trial. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol

1991;100:647-9.

Arch Otorhinolaryngol 234(2);167-73,1982.

Attias J et al: Oral magnesium intake reduces permanent hearing loss

induced by noise exposure. Am J Otolaryngol 15(1)26-32, 1994.

Rosenberg SI, Silverstein H, Rowan PT, Olds MJ. Effect of melatonin

on tinnitus. Laryngoscope 108(3):305-10, 1998.

Houston, KD. 1999, Am J Clin Nutr 69, 564-71.

Shemesh Z, Attias J, Oman M, et al. Vitamin B12 deficiency in

patients with chronic tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss. Am J

Otolaryngol 1993; 13:94-9.

Murakawa, T., et al., 2000, Nippon Jibinkoka Gakkai Kaiho, 103(5),

506-515. This article is adapted from the Consumer Guide by Dr. Bob

and reprinted with exclusive permission from Natural Care.

tintinitus, tinninitus, tenitis, tinnitis, tennitus back to top

All my Info derives from internet sources. Where I voice opinions,

these are my own opinions.

It is my belief that knowledge is power and that people with MS, or

any other disease for that matter, should have the option to be

actively involved in their own healthcare. They should not to be

dictated to by an " expert " who may, for a number of reasons, not

fully involve the patient in the decision making process. What I do

by utilizing vitamins, minerals, supplements is my choice , and would

be your choice as well.

el

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