CBD Oil for Tinnitus

Tinnitus affects more than 50 million people in the US. That ringing in your ears that no one else hears? Medical professionals and researchers have not found a cure, but there are Audiologists who specialize in management treatment of tinnitus. One area in which some find relief is CBD oil for tinnitus, also known as cannabidiol.

CBD Oil for Tinnitus: Why is CBD so popular now?  

The reason why CBD is so popular now is due to anecdotal health claims on its positive effect and relief brought to various ailments. The popularity of CBD oil can also be attributed to the passage of the US Farm Bill in 2018, legalizing industrial hemp and legalizing medical and recreational cannabis at the state level. CBD oil for tinnitus is part of this development and more and more tinnitus sufferers are finding relief with this alternative.

CBD Oil for Tinnitus – What exactly is CBD oil?

Cannabidiol is just one of the numerous chemical compounds that can be extracted from the leaves, buds and the flower of the Cannabis plant, also known as hemp or marijuana – depending on the strain. A hemp plant is quite similar to a marijuana plant but contains lower to negligible levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active chemical that triggers a psychoactive high in marijuana users. To be clear, CBD is different from THC; users of CBD do not experience being “high” and THC is not found in CBD oils. CBD can also be made into sprays, gels, tinctures and oils.  CBD oil is now popular as an alternative to medicine and in this article, we will be looking at CBD oil for tinnitus.  CBD oil has made a ripple in the health and wellness industry as a treatment for a variety of conditions and disorders, including anxiety and headaches.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is an oil extracted from the Cannabis Sativa plant, popularly known as the hemp plant. Most people confuse marijuana with CBD oil for tinnitus, but in reality, they have a very clear difference. Marijuana contains THC, a psychoactive compound, and CBD oil does not have this component.

Why is ear wax removal important?

When a blockage in the canal occurs because of wax and you try to remove yourself, you can do more harm than good. The canal skin along the wall is very thin and giving yourself a blood blister is very easy. Have a professional do it with the proper tools who can see down the canal and see what type of wax is produced and determine the best way to remove.

What Are Some Effective Treatments and Relief Remedies for Tinnitus: CBD Oil for Tinnitus

Since there is yet to be a medical cure for tinnitus, doctors and audiologists have come up with relief remedies for tinnitus such as hearing aids, sound masking devices, customized or modified sound machines, antidepressant or anti-anxiety drugs, exercise, behavioral therapy, dietary and medicinal monitoring, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and Progressive Tinnitus Management. The use of CBD oil for tinnitus has also been getting a lot of attention because of the positive effects it has given to tinnitus patients.

Can Cannabis or CBD Oil Really Ease the Effects of Tinnitus?

Scientists involved in medical research for CBD oil have discovered two receptors in the brain referred to as CB1 and CB2. These receptors respond to the presence of CBD. Additional medical research also shows that the said receptors may play a big role in hearing and balance. This information has led some theories that CBD might help people with hearing loss and hearing disorders such as tinnitus.

There’s also evidence that CBD oil might help aid stress. In a study published in 2015 in an issue of Neurotherapeutics, it suggests that CBD oil is effective in reducing anxiety behavior related to OCD, SAD and PTSD disorders. According to research, CB1 and CB2 may play a significant role in hearing and balance disorders, including tinnitus. However, this research is fairly limited and the results are also mixed. In a study conducted in 2015, researchers used CBD to treat lab rats which resulted in the worsening of the rats’ tinnitus symptoms. On another note, CBD has been used to treat and is still continued to be used to treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy.

How well does CBD oil work for tinnitus?

A tinnitus patient may tend to have high levels of mental stress because of the constant ringing in the ears, hence, any remedy that can help with stress relief is highly welcome. While some would say that using CBD oil for tinnitus might just be a hype or anxiety craze, a lot of tinnitus patients who have tried think otherwise. Most people take CBD oil for tinnitus through the sublingual methods, letting it absorb under the tongue. Some also swallow the oil and feel an impressive wave of calmness washing the anxiety away. Some patients who have tried CBD oil for tinnitus observed a feeling of calmness without needing any sedation or feeling high.

CBD Oil for Tinnitus Relief

A patient suffering from tinnitus may also see an audiologist who specializes in the disorder. Audiologists can offer solutions, such as recommending hearing aids with tinnitus masking, if a hearing loss is present, ear-level sound machines if not but both have features to offer some sort of relief. For those who have severe tinnitus, an audiologist can help with making a plan and counsel. However, if you or someone you know is willing to explore more natural alternatives, CBD oil for tinnitus relief is a popular choice and is currently getting a lot of interest from both patients and people in the medical practice.

How to use CBD oil for tinnitus?

One of the main foundations of tinnitus is that it is a form of sensory epilepsy that may sometimes be triggered by nerves over firing in an area that processes information from the ear. Because of this, antiepileptic drugs have been explored as a potential treatment option. In line with this, there is also increasing evidence that suggests cannabinoid drugs can also have antiepileptic effects.  

If you are interested in using CBD oil for tinnitus, it is important that you work with an Audiologist or Medical Doctor who specializes in this area to discuss and evaluate your options and treatment plan. A Doctor of Audiology who specializes in tinnitus in conjunction with a Pharmacist can discuss with a patient if CBD oil for tinnitus will interact with any medications currently being taken, such as blood thinners. If you or someone you know starts taking CBD oil for tinnitus, watch out for side effects like drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth and diarrhea.CBD oil for tinnitus treatment methods may also include Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM),  Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) or a combination of sound therapy, hearing aids, relaxation techniques, behavioral therapy and counseling.

How much CBD oil is safe to take for tinnitus?

CBD started to become extremely popular in the wellness industry around 2018, with companies in the U.S selling the chemical compound in various forms. CBD oil claims to treat a multitude of conditions including body aches, pain, anxiety, headaches, depression, tinnitus, acne and insomnia. 

Currently, the only FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration)  CBD medical-grade drug is the product called Epidiolex, which has been proven to treat two rare forms of brain seizures or epilepsy.

It is worth noting that the commercial market for unregulated products varies greatly in quality. For example, products that claim to use hemp seed oil actually do not have any traces of CBD. Meanwhile, medical-grade CBD is still considered to be illegal in some state dispensaries where marijuana has already been legalized either for CBD, THC or both.

CBD Oil For Tinnitus and its Legalization

The legal status and availability of marijuana vary from state to state in the U.S. Some states in the U.S., such as California and Arizona, have legalized medical marijuana as long as the certification or prescription is from a medical professional. In November of 2020 Arizona did pass a ballot measure to legalize recreational use of Marijuana and its components which will go into effect on January 3, 2021.  On another note, hemp-derived CBD oil for tinnitus is legal in all 50 states and does not need a prescription coming from a medical professional.

CBD Oil For Tinnitus: Consult Your Audiologist

In general, CBD oil for tinnitus is a safe product to use. However, a person may experience some side effects such as irritability, nausea, dry mouth and fatigue. In addition, CBD oil for tinnitus may also interact with blood-thinning medications so it is highly suggested that you consult with an audiologist or your physician first before using CBD oil for tinnitus.

If you or someone you know suffer from tinnitus, it would be best to go to an audiologist for a thorough medical hearing evaluation of your tinnitus, hearing history and hearing ability. Audiologists can provide solutions to alleviate tinnitus such as tinnitus maskers, using hearing aids with tinnitus masking features if hearing loss is also present, an examination of exacerbating factors or referral to other appropriate healthcare providers for other symptoms and issues related to tinnitus.