Tinnitus and Vertigo: Causes and Remedies, Part 1

First, Raffaella explores what Western medicine has to say about it. Coming soon: Ayurveda and TCM remedies.

Note from Stephanie: Raffaella wanted me to share this article with all of you. I myself suffer from vestibular dysfunction, both frequent dizziness and sometimes vertigo.¹ This first article covers the basics from the Western perspective, and Raffaella will explore holistic treatments in her next entries.

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Tinnitus and vertigo are two of the most common health conditions that affect millions of people around the world.

What causes tinnitus and vertigo?

What do these two conditions have in common, and what are the possible causes?

I will explore these questions, search for some answers and give some pointers on what to do if you are suffering from these conditions based on Ayurvedic Holistic Medicine and my Wholistic Clinic experience.

I will start exploring tinnitus, however due to the amount of information, there will be three parts to this article:

Part 1: Tinnitus according to Allopathic modern medicine

Part 2: Tinnitus according to Ayurveda

Part 3: TCM on Tinnitus

Part 1

Allopathic modern medicine view on Tinnitus

There has been a significant increase in the number of people suffering from these conditions in the past years, I could notice this increase also in my holistic clinic.

Let’s look at Tinnitus

We explore first what National Health Institutions say about it at time of writing this article, then we look at the Holistic view.

The information below is from UK National Health Services, UK:

What is Tinnitus?

“Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that do not come from an outside source. It's not usually a sign of anything serious and may get better by itself.

What causes it?

“It's not always clear what causes tinnitus, but it's often linked to:

• some form of hearing loss

• Ménière’s disease

• conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, or multiple sclerosis

• anxiety or depression

• taking certain medicines – tinnitus can be a side effect of some chemotherapy medicines, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin”.

The information below is from NIH (national Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders) US (https://rb.gy/1jlhe) :

What is tinnitus?

“Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing sound, but some people hear other types of sounds, such as roaring or buzzing. Tinnitus is common, with surveys estimating that 10 to 25% of adults have it. Children can also have tinnitus. For children and adults, tinnitus may improve or even go away over time, but in some cases, it worsens with time. When tinnitus lasts for three months or longer, it is considered chronic.”

What causes it?

“The causes of tinnitus are unclear, but most people who have it have some degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus is only rarely associated with a serious medical problem and is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. However, some people find that it affects their mood and their ability to sleep or concentrate. In severe cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression.”

Possible links?

From NIH (national Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders:

“While the exact causes of tinnitus are not fully understood, it has been linked to the following:

• Noise exposure. Many people experience tinnitus after being exposed to loud noise in a workplace setting or at a sporting event or concert. Tinnitus is also the most common service-related disability among veterans because of loud noise they may have experienced from gunfire, machinery, bomb blasts, or other similar sources.

• Hearing loss. Hearing loss, which can be caused by factors such as aging or exposure to loud noise, is strongly associated with tinnitus. Some people with hearing loss, however, never develop tinnitus.

• Medications. Tinnitus can be a side effect of taking certain medications, especially if they are taken at high doses. Medications associated with tinnitus include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin), certain antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, anti-malaria medications, and antidepressants.

• Earwax or an ear infection. Blockage of the ear canal by earwax or by fluid from an ear infection can trigger tinnitus.

• Head or neck injuries. A head/neck injury can damage structures of the ear, the nerve that carries sound signals to the brain, or areas of the brain that process sound, causing tinnitus.

Less common tinnitus risk factors include:

• Ménière’s disease. Tinnitus can be a symptom of Ménière’s disease, an inner ear disorder that can also cause balance problems and hearing loss.

• Jaw joint problems. The joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull is close to the ear. Jaw clenching or tooth grinding can damage surrounding tissue, causing or worsening tinnitus.

• Tumor-related disorders. A vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) is a benign tumour on a nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain. Acoustic neuromas and other head, neck, and brain tumours can cause tinnitus.

• Blood vessel problems. High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, or malformations in blood vessels, especially if they are in or close to the ear, can alter blood flow and cause tinnitus.

• Chronic conditions. Diabetes, migraines, thyroid disorders, anemia, and certain autoimmune disorders such as lupus and multiple sclerosis are among the chronic conditions that have been linked to tinnitus.”

Treatments for tinnitus

What National Health institution say about what cures it?

From UK National Health Services:

“If the cause of your tinnitus is unknown or cannot be treated, your GP or specialist may refer you for a type of talking therapy.”

“Tinnitus retraining therapy may be available on the NHS for people with severe or persistent tinnitus. It's unclear if tinnitus retraining therapy works for everyone. It's widely available privately."

If tinnitus is causing you hearing loss, hearing aids may be recommended.”

“The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) has more information about self-help for tinnitus. Their free helpline number is 0800 018 0527.”

The link above to BTA refers you to see your NHS GP, it’s a little disheartening!

Here’s what BTA says:

“Tinnitus is a very common condition. Some people do not find tinnitus bothersome, but for some, it can be very distressing. Talking to your GP is a good first step if you are finding it hard to cope with.

There are also things you can do to help yourself. There’s no cure for tinnitus but these tips may make living with tinnitus more manageable. It may take time to find what works for you. This might change over time.”

Their list of Therapies and supplements used for tinnitus is mainly is a list of not recommended therapy and supplement.”

Link to the list: https://rb.gy/429gx

From the NIDCD:

“When tinnitus has an underlying physiological cause, such as earwax or jaw joint problems, addressing the cause can eliminate or greatly reduce symptoms. But for many people, symptoms can persist for months or even years. There are several ways to lessen the impact of tinnitus. Below are some of the treatments that your doctor may recommend.”

Notice how them too do not talk about a cure but ways to  “lessen the impact of tinnitus”

Therapies mentioned includes:

• Sound therapy

• Sound generator

• Hearing aids

• Combination devices

• Behaviour Therapy and counselling

• Medications such as anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications.

 They also go on to say:

“While certain vitamins, herbal extracts, and dietary supplements are commonly advertised as cures for the condition, none of these has been proven to be effective.”

Both UK and US national Institution do not give answers and warn you to stay away from supplements/herbal medicine, and other non-scientific not-approved by government’s treatments and medications.

Mainly tells you to learn to live with it, possibly you could be their Guinea pig in studies where you can try new untested drugs, but do not try anything else!

Let’s have a look what non-National Health related institution and Holistic therapies have to say in part 2 and 3.

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Raffaella’s original article is here:

"Unveiling the Mystery Behind Tinnitus and Vertigo: Discover the Common Causes and Possible Remedies!"

1. Dizziness and vertigo are two terms used to describe different types of balance disorders. Dizziness is a feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness, while vertigo is a false sensation of movement, often described as feeling like the room is spinning. Dizziness can be caused by a variety of factors, such as dehydration, low blood pressure, or medication side effects, whereas vertigo is often caused by inner ear problems, such as benign positional vertigo or Ménière’s disease. It's important to accurately distinguish between dizziness and vertigo in order to determine the appropriate treatment.