Tinnitus & Meniere's Syndromes
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).
Ludwig van Beethoven was born December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. Ludwig's ears were, perhaps, damaged by his father when he was just a boy. It was known that his father would drag the child out of his bed to beat musical genius into him. He developed Tinnitus, which would come and go in varying degrees. By the time he was 31 years of age, the whistle and buzz in his ears was constant. Low speech tones were unintelligible and shouting was unbearable, meaning he probably also suffered from hypercusis. By the age of 47, he was completely deaf and remained so until his death in 1827. I am sure, like the rest of us, he felt positively mad at times. Listen and you will hear Ludwig's music echoing throughout The Captains Lady website.
My ears whistle and buzz continually day and night.
I can say I am living a wretched life.
- Ludwig van Beethovan
Tinnitus Syndrome
Do you experience noise in your ears that no one esle can hear but you? In the old world, 'tinnera' (Latin) meant ringing. Ringing of the ears was a condition associated with witchcraft. When afflicted with this disorder, one can certainly feel as though a demon is inside of them slowly driving them mad!
Over 50 million Americans are affected with Tinnitus. Of these, about 12 million have Tinnitus severe enough to seek medical attention. 7 million no longer lead normal lives. Of these, 2 million are disabled. Up to 400 million people are affected worldwide.
Of these millions, many have been diagnosed as having Meneire's Syndrome/Disease as well. Tinnitus is characterized by internal head noise and Meniere's as ear pressure and imbalance, causing vertigo. Often, people suffer from variations of both.
Over 90% of all Tinnitus sufferers share three things in common, sinus issues, anxiety, and nerve damage of the inner ear. All three of these conditions can all be remedied!
Symptoms of Tinnitus
Typical Tinnitus sounds like the occasional ringing that we hear that goes away after a few seconds, except that it doesn't go away. Variations of Tinnitus include noises in one or both ears that sound like a whistle, whir, roar, click, whoosh or loud humming. Tinnitus noise may be either hard to hear, except when you are in a quiet room, or as loud as a fog horn, making it impossible to understand and communicate with others at all. Tinnitus sounds may even change several times throughout the day and night or over a period of days and weeks.
With Pulsatile Tinnitus ear noise pulsates right along with your heart beat, which can be very disturbing. It often stems from a food sensitivity or environmental allergy.
Typewriter Tinnitus sounds like a clicking or ticking (like typing).
Brain music is another symptom of Tinnitus. It's actually auditory imaging. It is quite startling to discover the pieces of music or conversation you thought you heard in the background were actually just your brain's way of trying to make sense of Tinnitus noise. Hearing partial words when no one is around, whispers you can just barely make out when no one is whispering, or lyrics you can't quite grasp when there's no music playing, are common occurrances for those with Tinnitus. No. You are not crazy.
The Very Real Stress of Tinnitus
Tinnitus, to no surprise, causes panic attacks. Imagine a fog horn, lawn mower, or a the static of a radio blasting in your head every minute of every day of your life, night and day, and not being able to get away from the noise. Others can't hear it and have a tendency to disbelieve it is not such a serious distraction, leaving one feeling misunderstood and isolated. This kind of stress effects sleep and the immune system, which makes Tinnitus worse.
There may be a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear, the side of the face or the head. That ear may feel as though it is under water, which may or may not be related to excess water in the inner ear. These noises and feelings of pressure can make one feel off balance or dizzy, distracted, and very short on patience.
When associated with Meniere's Syndrome, one can expect to experience dizziness and vertigo as well.
Tinnitus causes depression, as you are not able to get away to seek peace and quiet, ever. Depression can also make Tinnitus worse.
Individuals with Tinnitus report startling noise 'surges' while trying to fall asleep. These noise surges may accompany sleep jerks (muscles jumping as they relax) that may also occur simultaneously upon hearing an outside noise, such as a heater clicking on.
Tinnitus usually starts episodically, meaning it comes and goes. Each time it returns it appears to come back worse than the time before until, finally, it stays.
4 Types of Hearing Loss Associated with Tinnitus
Hearing Loss. There are 4 types of hearing loss. It is important you understand that you can have Tinnitus without hearing loss and hearing loss without Tinnitus. The fact that you have both may or may not be related.
Sensorinueural - It's caused by damage to the inner nerves that connect the brain and the inner ear.
Conductive - The inner ear can't process sound correctly, which lessens hearing. Ususally a middle or outer ear problem.
Mixed - A combination of the first wo listed above.
Unilateral - Hearing loss only occurs in one ear. With no signs of damage, it is a complete mystery.
Possible Causes of Tinnitus
Inner Ear Hair Cell Disruption (broken or bent fine hairs of the inner ear, which can cannot hold their electrical charge and leak random electrical impulses to the brain as noise).
Sjogren's Syndrome/Disease (an auto-immune disorder, often associated with AIED)
AIED (Auto Immune Ear Disease)
Lack of ATP (cellular energy)
Auditory Nerve Damage
Candida (yeast infection)
Fibromyalgia may cause Tinnitus due to the brain stem not functioning properly (as a result of tension and stress), which makes Tinnitus/Meniere's worse even if it is not the cause.
Tension Myositis Syndrome can be the complete cause of Tinnitus and Meniere's.
Diseases or Misalignments of the Cervical Spine (the neck). Spinal Stenosis, Arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylosis, trauma or injury can cause turbulent blood flow to the inner ear, caused by a pinching or damaging of nerves leading out of the spine or of the spinal cord resulting in Tinnitus. This is actually called Barre Lieou Syndrome/Disease (see below).
Barre Lieou Syndrome is characterized by headache (especially cluster or migraine), possible ear, dental or face pain, sinus congestion, a sense that your eye is being pulled outward, light sensitivity, hoarseness, loss of voice, Tinnitus, dizziness, vertigo, a feeling of being off balance, vomiting, blurred vision, a tearing of the eyes (lacrimation), facial numbness or swelling on one side of the face, neck pain, shoulder pain, pins and needles in the hand or forearm, poor memory, thinking disorders, anxiety and depression, severe fatigue, muscle weakness, and possible blue coloration of the face due to cyanosis of the face.
Built up plaque in the Carotid Artery or Jugular Vein.
Head/Neck Tumors (rare)
TMJ (now called CMD). View the TCL Ms. Musclehead illustrated report, below.
Blocked Eustachian Tube
Detached Inner Ear Crystals
Otosclerosis (stiffening of the 3 tiny middle ear bones)
A-V Malformation (a malformation of the connections between arteries and veins, which causes 'head' noise).
A high level of Homocysteine in the blood.
Allergies, especially to food allergies, such as wheat gluten or salicylates.
Fluoride
Chlorine
Impacted Ear Wax
MSG (the preservative, monosodium-glutamate)
Caffeine and other stimulants, such as Nicotine
Marijuana
Salicylates are chemicals naturally occurring in plants that ward off disease and insects. They are abundant in today's foods and are also abundantly used in many products as preservatives. In normal amounts they are tolerable. However, people are becoming more and more sensitive to them. Salicylates have the ability to effect the auditory cortex and periphery of the brain (and head) leaving behind Tinnitus, balance problems, dizziness and vertigo. They also cause circulatory problems as they change the width of blood vessels.
Blood circulation/pressure or platelet problems.
Stress, especially ongoing. Emotional and/or mental stress can cause or make Tinnitus worse when emotional tension causes the tiny tensor tympani or stapedius muscle to spasm within the ear cavity. Tinnitus sufferers often share traumatic events (death of a loved one, serious accidents, etc.) in common.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD)
Hormonal imbalance
pH balance effecting blood (and brain) chemistry.
Sleep Disorders, such as Sleep Apnea.
Inflammation, or inflammatory disorders.
Low Blood Pressure (caused by lack of exercise or excess of caffiene, sweets oralcohol).
A misfiring nerve in the face can signal to the brain that the ears are plugged. This is associated with muscle tension or injury to the facial nerve.
Aldosterone is a type of hormone that regulates electrolytes (minerals such as sodium and potassium) in the body. This helps to maintain healthy levels of body fluids and blood pressure. In case studies, those with Tinnitus have been shown to have lowered Aldosterone levels.
Basiler artery migraines are migraines without the usual pain, but they leave you dizzy, achy (neck, shoulder and behind the eye) and may affect your vision. They can also cause Tinnitus.
Sicca Syndrome (dry eyes, mouth, nose) can mimic, or be a part of, Sjogren's Disease (another autoimmune disease, which actually can cause auditory nerve damage, resulting in sensorineural hearing loss (going deaf from nerve damage) and ear fullness, which in turn can cause Tinnitus.
Whiplash. No matter how distant in your past your whiplash occurred, it can be the cause of dizziness, lack of concentration, sleep disorder, face neuralgia (pain), a headache at the top of your head (scalp) and Tinnitus. Whiplash, and the turning/pulling of the neck joints involved, can cause vascular spasms in the brainstem and muscle tension/pain in the head, neck and shoulders.
Drugs - Aspirin (Salicylates), Naproxen and NSAIDs (otoxic drugs).
Electrical energy imbalances in the Body (Disturbed or Blocked Qi) - Traditional Chinese Medicine treats energy flow patterns in the body. Tinnitus is an alarm ringing that a path of energy in the body is not functioning properly, particularly the Gallbladder Meridian.
Thyroid Dysfunction - Hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormone) and hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) can both cause Tinnitus, imbalance, dizziness and vertigo.
Spiritual/Psychological cause of Tinnitus: There is something you do not want to hear or be bothered with, perhaps your own inner voice. As a result, you are covering it up with noise or going deaf to avoid it. Either way, you are not wishing to listen. What is it? What's got your internal 'tea pot' whistling?
Associated Chakra(s): 5th Chakra
Associated Energy Meridian(s): Small Intestine Meridian
Aging & Tinnitus
Tinnitus/Meniere's Disease can be caused by degenerative disks in your neck, whether due to whiplash, arthritic disease or aging. Studies show that 50% of people 50 years and older have some sort of disk or bone degeneration of the neck. Not all people experience pain from these conditions. If the cushioning (cartilage) between the bones in your neck disappear, your bones will automatically develop bones spurs to keep your bones apart. Bone spurs often sound like gravel when you twist your neck from side to side. These bone spurs are often not enough to keep the spinal vertebrae from pinching on nerves and often the bone spurs do this as well. Weak nerve impulses from damaged or pinched nerves can send signals up the spine that have to be descrambled (mostly by the brain), which are not understood, lead to ear noise, feelings of inner ear pressure (which may or may not really be there), a sense of imbalance, and hearing loss. Left untreated, it can lead to problems with walking (balance and gait).
Sleep Apnea & Tinnitus
More and more Sleep Apnea sufferers are saying that they are plagued with ear and head noise while trying to sleep. They also report that their Tinnitus is increased dramatically the mornings after having trouble sleping the night before. This is leading doctors to believe that Tinnitus may have something to due with decreased oxygen levels to the inner ear. The inner ear is especially sensitive to fluctuations in oxygen and cannot send proper signals to the brain for interpretation without it. With the ears being so sensitive to oxygen levels, it is possible that Sleep Apnea is the cause of Tinnitus in those whose oxygen levels drop during sleeping periods. If you have ringing in your ears primarily at night that wakes you up and is worse in the morning, then subsides during the day, Sleep Apnea may be suspect.
Tension Myositis Syndrome & Tinnitus
TMS is a condition where the muscles are deprived of oxygen due to ongoing or suppressed mental and emotional stress. The brain reduces blood flow (which carries oxygen) to certain muscles, which results in painful knots and shrinkage of the muscles involved. If these muscles relate to the ear, and pull on the tympanic muscle of the middle ear, Tinnitus and/or Hyperacusis (noise sensitivity) can be a result. Not getting enough sleep, and not getting enough oxygen as you sleep, can aggravate this condition. Develop good sleeping habits. Breathing exercises are helpful as well.
Ms. Musclehead View the TCL illustrated report of the path tension takes toward creating Tinnitus and Meniere's Syndromes!
The Amygdala & Tinnitus
Studies also show that external sounds presented to one ear at a time caused the auditory cortex (hearing centers), both left and right, to react on both sides. But when there are internal noises being heard only by the client, it shows only one side (the opposite side) of the hearing center to react, which suggests poor brain activity and nerve malfunction in the brain. This might be caused by the amygdala's response to stress with the result being Tinnitus in those who are under a high level of stress in their lives. For more information, please refer to the TCL Anxiety & Phobias web page for information on the role of Serotonin, which, at low levels, may cause Tinnitus in some individuals.
Hyperinsulinemia & Tinnitus
Just like fats and cholesterol, sugar causes the release of adrenalin, a hormone that causes constriction of the blood vessels in the inner ear. Ears are extremely sensitive to sugar, or the lack of it, and it can take days for your ears to recover from just one episode of low blood sugar. So, if you are constantly having sugar problems, you may be constantly plagued with ear noise.
Homocysteine & Tinnitus
Homocysteine is the result of the breakdown of the sulfur containing amino acid (derived from protein), methionine, in the blood. When levels of homocysteine become too high they can cause nerve damage to the ears and other parts of the body. This nerve damage may cause nerve deafness, which leads to ear noise and ringing. It can also cause venous clots (clots in veins), a cause for heart attack and stroke. You do not have to have high cholesterol or high blood pressure to suffer this condition. These vein clots, termed Venous Hum or Pulsatile Tinnitus, can be caused by higher than normal homocysteine levels. Narrowing of a vein or blood vessel can cause turbulent blood flow to the ear. 1 in 100 people are born with a genetic defect that causes high homocysteine levels, but in the majority of cases, it is the acid forming diet at fault.
Nervous System & Tinnitus
Tinnitus may be related to problems in the Central Nervous System (the spine and brain). The Central Nervous System (CNS) is run by the brain. Because the function of the auditory (hearing) nerve is to carry sound, it produces noise when irritated from any source.
Tinnitus may be produced from one or more locations in the body. It may not originate from the ears at all, but from an irritation somewhere else in the body that affects the auditory nerve. As stated already, Tinnitus can be present without hearing loss. And, just because you happen to have hearing loss, it doesn't mean that is what is causing your Tinnitus.
Brain Disorders (Faulty Loops), Acidity, & Tinnitus
Low serotonin levels may cause Tinnitus. Low serotonin levels also cause Depression, which is often listed as a cause for Tinnitus, and is known to make Tinnitus symptoms worse. Yet, anyone with Tinnitus may be prone to Depression simply from the stress of having to listen to 'inner' head noise all of the time. It's kind of 'the chicken and the egg' when it comes to these two.
The brain requires high levels of energy. When there is too much acid in the blood stream, the passage of glucose (blood sugars for energy) is impaired causing confusion, brain fog and the inability for the brain to neutralize acids. Acids from food wastes can build-up in the brain and are often carried elsewhere in the body and deposited. This acid waste in the brain causes cells of the brain to function improperly. When brain fluids become too acidic, the brain's tissues begin to absorb the acids. As acid-washed brain cells die, they break down and create more acid waste. Genetic defects and brain injuries may also cause the brain not to neutralize acids. Tinnitus can be a result of energy imbalances created by a buildup of acids in the hearing center of the brain.
Acid waste inflames the neurons (nerves) causing illness, such as Depression, Bi-Polar Disease, Anxiety Attacks and Phobias. The resulting disease is dependent on which part of the brain is inflamed. In the case of Tinnitus, it is the hearing center (the auditory cortex) is affected. Brain acidosis can cause Parkinson's, Epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder and more. This does not mean that if you have Tinnitus that you will go on to develop these conditions.
When brain acidity causes a misfiring in the hearing centers of the brain, the misfire actually causes a misdirection of energy. This misdirection of energy continues to send a message, but down an incorrect path. This is referred to as a faulty loop. As the brain tries to compensate, internal noises are heard. In the case of Tinnitus, the cells in the hearing center part of the brain and the cells of the inner ears that are work together in sending messages back and forth about what is being heard by way of the body's energy meridians are being rerouted. There's a sever in communication between cells, resulting in ear noise. Researchers, in Buffalo, NY, have pinpointed exact areas of the brain responsible for ringing in the ears.
What Causes Acidity in the Brain in the first Place?
Pain, stress and anxiety, as well as the results of poor nutrition, burn up proteins and minerals the brain needs for proper functioning, the result being this higher level of acid in the brain. Brain acidity increases excess firing in the brain, meaning the brain sends more and more messages as it is trying to compensate for so much acid. Studies show an excess firing in the limbic system (emotional center) of the brain in those with Tinnitis. If you have been eating toxic foods, breathing toxic air, using toxic products, been through a traumatic situation, or an ongoing amount of stress, your brain is toxic.
The good news is the brain can repair itself and regrow cells at any time, regardless of genetics, trauma or illness. You can reduce blood acidity of your brain by dealing with stress in positive ways, eating healthy foods, and by engaging in regular exercise. And, one of the best ways to increase brain cells is to learn new things, which, hopefully, you are doing right this minute.
Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED) & Tinnitus
Normally, your immune system attacks only the 'bad guys' (germs, bacteria, viruses and cells from other organisms) in order to keep you from getting ill. However, sometimes, something goes haywire with your immune system and your body can't determine the good guys from the bad guys. It ends up fighting both. AIED is an autoimmune disorder. The immune system attacks your inner ear tissues thinking that there is an infection or some other malady to ward off. What it does is create sensorineural hearing loss (nerve deafness). Symptoms of AIED are Tinnitus, dizziness or being off balance and a feeling of ear fullness. 75% of all those with autoimmune disorders occur in women (probably due to hormones). AIED is usually found to be in occurrence with other autoimmune disorders, such as Sjogren's Syndrome. Antibodies in blood tests, specifically for the ear, do not appear for 30% of all patients who actually have them.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction & Tinnitus
Allergies can cause the Eustachian tubes not to function correctly. Normally, the Eustachian tubes open frequently and widely enough to equalize changes in air pressure. If for some reason your tubes are 'sticky', you could suffer from ear popping noises, vibrations, fullness of the ear and decreased hearing ability. It can cause Tinnitus and balance problems. Sometimes Eustachian tubes are too tiny for your own ears and can't open wide enough to drain all the yuck out (mucus, wastes, etc.) much less balance the air flow (pressure) between the inside of your body and the outside environment. Colds can cause the same problem with Eustachian tubes. If you have a stuffy nose, you probably also have stuffy ears.
Symptoms of ETD can include:
Dizziness, feeling off-balance, light-headedness or suffering bouts of extreme vertigo.
Some hearing loss, or hearing loss that worsens and then returns to the previous level when the tube opens.
Feeling of fullness or clogging in the ear, side of face and sometimes behind the eye on the same side of the head.
Symptoms cannot be relieved by swallowing, yawning, nose blowing or chewing.
If you have Tinnitus already, the noise becomes even more pronounced to the point of not being able to ignore it. If you do not have Tinnitus, you may have it while your eustachian tube is closed.
Hormones, Menopause & Tinnitus
Tinnitus may be related to Menopause. It is not completely understood if Tinnitus is more an age related syndrome or more related to hormonal changes. It appears there is growing evidence linking Tinnitus to a shift in hormones (which affect the brain), as it has been proven that women who are about to begin their monthly cycle, pregnant women, or having had hysterectomies, have greater incidence of Tinnitus, or the worsening of it, during and after these experiences. Menopause is also, for many women, the time of life when symptoms of Tinnitus become bothersome. During menopause, serotonin levels in the brain decrease. Lower levels of serotonin have been linked to Tinnitus.
Tinnitus noise surges can appear just before a sudden bout of wakefulness, or right before a menopausal hotflash begins. Women going through menopause often experience 'electrical shocks'. An electrical shock is experienced much like a sleep jerk, or nocturnal surge, except nothing is jerking. There is just the feeling of something jerking between the muscle and the skin. This can also be felt in the head and often feels as though it is in the brain. This 'jerk' in the brain can cause instantaneous Tinnitus noise surge. Also, as hormones fluctuate, our electrical nerve impulses are not always fired properly. This may be an electrical imbalance heard from an energy meridian, signaling an imbalance.
Headache, Memory Problems & Tinnitus
Tinnitus is often associated with headache and memory problems. Many people do not realize that these symptoms are connected. Therefore, it is important to examine underlying causes for these other two (headache and memory loss) as it may reveal the cause of Tinnitus as well.
Environmental Allergies & Tinnitus
Pulsatile Tinnitus can be caused by allergies. Foods, pollens, pet dander, house-hold molds, drugs, cat saliva (proteins within it) and dust mites rate high on the list for household allergens. Pay attention to the weather. Some people have more problems in damp weather (especially those with arthritis related Tinnitus) and pollen counts (for allergy related Tinnitus). Check for signs of mold in your home. Could you have an allergy to your pet, or your pet products, such as the brand of cat litter you are using? Avoid Fluoride Toothpastes. Use all natural toothpastes instead, or use Baking Soda.
All-Natural Therapies for Tinnitus
If hearing loss is the cause of your Tinnitus, then a hearing aid may work well for you by amplifying normal sound, which in turn may decrease the sounds of Tinnitus and cause it to be less noticeable. The problem with most devices is that they cannot always mimic the highest pitches of Tinnitus.
Many will tell you that increasing their hearing with hearing devices also increased the sound of the Tinnitus. For these folks, it is not that hearing that has been lost. It is that the noise of Tinnitus preventing one from being able to comprehend what is being heard. This is true in most cases. When the Tinnitus is quieter, there is no trouble understanding others or even hearing them from another room. But when the Tinnitus is at it's normal level, which is quite distracting, it can be quite impossible to understand, at all, what the person next to you is saying.
Certain hearing devices can help to mask the noise of Tinnitus, by the use of White Noise. White Noise masks certain sounds. In the case of Hyperacusis, where one or both ears have highly sensitive hearing, Pink Noise can be used (see below), which tones down certain frequencies, or pitches. This might be an option for someone with Tinnitus with no hearing loss. If you have Hyperacusis, and you have a sudden 'attack' of loudness in response to noise in one or both ears (due to a loud sound or environment), remove yourself from the scene or, if you can, reduce the noise that caused the 'attack' in order to calm your ears for a few minutes, then try again. For more on Hyperacusis and the physical explanation for it read TCL illustrated report, Ms. Musclehead, (above) that connects Hyperacusis to Tension Myositis Syndrome!
Try listening to low volume radio static to see if you could find a matching sound vibration to mask your Tinnitus. Tune in between stations on a radio and see if you can mask your head noise. You still hear noise but at least it does not seem to be coming from inside your own head.
Bio-feedback is an option for Tinnitus caused from Central Nervous System Disorders and Stress. It consists of exercises that teach you to control the various parts of your body and to relax the muscles within them. When you can accomplish this type of relaxation, Tinnitus often subsides. There are several biofeedback tools on the market. The Captains Lady offers The Aura Energy Self-Test, which often reveals low energy in the 5th chakra (see above under 'Associated Chakra').
Listen to Pink Noise. For more information on a Pink Noise CD, visit the Hyperacusis Network online. Of course, this is no cure, but it may help you to sleep at night.
Try listening to Beethoven's Senata to help tone down and mask Tinnitus pitches. Try listening to Asian instrumentals. Pitches and instruments change more often throughout the music more and yet the music remains delicate.
One possible option is neck traction to help widen the spaces between the vertebrae (bones), although this should be supervised by a physical therapist, as improper usage of traction devices can cause muscle tension, which can lead to Tinnitus and Meniere's syndromes.
Stretching exercises help to strengthen the muscles in the head, neck and shoulders. To stop using normal movement, such as turning your head from side to side, or up and down, will create more problems if your Tinnitus is muscle tension related. "Use them or lose them..." is the motto here. Trigger Point Therapy can be of benefit also.
Avoid keeping the neck and jaw in a hyper-extended position, such as when bike-riding. Try not hyper-extend the neck when you reach up high for something. Use a step stool instead. As a general rule, use good posture. If your Tinnitus is related to tight muscles in the neck and jaw, sticking your neck out or sitting in a hunched position with your jaw in a forward position is likely a major cause.
Good posture in bed. Purchase a good mattress and pillows to help correct posture while you are sleeping.
Avoid sitting in one position for too long a period of time. This creates tension in the body and the mind. It is also bad for blood circulation. Without proper circulation, oxygen is cut off from parts of your body. This creates pain and more tension. Tension can, both, cause and make Tinnitus worse.
Tinnitus may be caused by poor circulation and 'stuffiness" of the muscles surrounding the ears. Try rubbing Tiger Balm (natural deep-heat rub) behind your ears. The heat encourages circulation. Then, massage the side of your head and neck in downward strokes. It may relieve stuffiness. Also, try blinking your eyes really tight a few times. Does your Tinnitus noise get louder as you squeeze your eyes shut? This points to tight muscles being part of the problem.
Get fitted for hearing aids if you can use them. An audiologist can tell you if a hearing device might help to mask the noises in your ear.
Take a deep breath and then hold your nostrils shut. Gently (while using some pressure) exhale by blowing the air through your tight nostrils. The idea is to force the ear to pop. Don't do this too forcefully, too fast or too often. If your ear does not pop, chances are it won't by continuing to try. Try this only once or twice a day.
Try blowing up a balloon, or rubber glove or a ball or whatever else you can think of. The action may stimulate your eustachian tube to open.
Use imagery. Imagine walking a tight-rope and getting across to the other side successfully. You can use what ever you like to balance, such as a cane, a chair or a pole.
Don't take Aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood and improve circulation, but Aspirin is on the list for causing Tinnitus. So, if you do not usually take Aspirin and it has not been the cause of your Tinnitus, it may help to reduce Tinnitus noise if poor circulation is the problem. If the Tinnitus worsens temporarily, then you know not to use Asprin again.
You might try an over-the-counter diuretic as long, as you are not restricted from diuretics, to help reduce fluid build-up in the inner ear. Fluid can build when the tube is closed, causing vertigo.
Take an over-the-counter nasal decongestant for sinus and/or allergies. Allergies are often the cause of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. That sticky stuff that makes you have to clear your throat is the same stuff that gets caught in your Eustachian tube. It gets gummed up in there and your tube can swell around it. The same goes for sinus tubes. Take as directed. One brand you might try is Mucinex, which reduces mucus build-up.
Invest in an Earpopper, little gadget that helps to open the Eustachian tube. Another thing that might help open the Eustachian tube is to gently pull upwards on your ear lobe like someone is leading you by your ear. This sometimes works a muscle that helps the tube to drain.
Sinus irrigation is another thing you can try, if you feel you are congested. Some folks use what is called a Neti Pot. It is a little container with what I call a nostril spout on it, like a little watering can. It might burn like crazy. Some people don't seem to have had this reaction. Still, you've been warned.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
The goal of TRT is to train the subconscious parts of your brain to ignore the sound of your Tinnitus. William Shatner (Captain Kirk) says TRT saved his life. TRT is rather expensive and, from what I have been told, is not covered through insurance plans. First visits range from $180 - $240. Hearing devices can cost from $950 to $2700 per ear and follow-up and counseling visits are from $75 - $150. The Seattle Hearing and Balance Center offers Tinnitus Retaining Therapy.
What Doctors Doing for Tinnitus
Medical professionals are treating Tinnitus with antidepressants, muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants. A popular anticonvulsant is Neurontin (gabapentin), which is also used for diabetic neuropathy, menopause, hypothyroidism, migraine and Burning Mouth Syndrome.
They are also using Klonopin. Both, Nuerontin and Klonopin, slow down electrical activity in the brain. These leads me to believe that one of the key causes for Tinnitus is over-stimulation, which is experienced by Highly Sensitive Women.
I encourage you to look up the side effects before trying these drugs for Tinnitus. There is currently no specific drug or herbal remedy that will remove Tinnitus completely and forever. If you run across something that takes your Tinnitus away, please contact The Captains Lady at once.
Meniere's Syndrome
Symptoms of Meniere's Syndrome
Meniere's Syndrome is a term for anyone experiencing bouts of dizziness and vertigo in varying degrees of continual or episodic intensity. There may, or may not, be an apparent cause. Meniere's may, or may not, also involve Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and all or any of the symptoms already discussed under 'Tinnitus'. There can be a feeling of pressure in the ear (usually on one side of the head), sometimes a coinciding head, neck or shoulder ache, as well as some changes (blurring) in the eye on the same side of the head. Meniere's is sometimes referred to as a migraine without the pain.
Possible Causes of Meniere's Disease
Fluid in the Inner Ear, High Blood Pressure, Low Blood Pressure, Head injury, Ear Infection, Candida, Allergies, Salicylates (see under "Tinnitus '), MSG (a salicylate), Decreased blood flow to the brain or the inner ear (for whatever reason), Cardiac Arrhythmias, Nerve disorders, Arthritis (and other bone disorders, especially of the neck), Allergies, OTC Drugs (over the counter), Basiler Artery Migraine (see above under 'Tinnitus'), Tension Myositis Syndrome, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, and the following prescription drugs: Diuretics, Tranquilizers, Antidepressants, Thyroid medication and antibiotics.
Acid Reflux may also be a cause, as reflux splashes into the esophagus, irritates the adnoids causing blockage. If you have to clear your throat often, especially after rising in the morning, take it as a sign that acid reflux is a problem for you. Place something under your bed so you are sleeping with your head raised a bit, keeping stomach acid in your stomach instead of your throat.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
This is the most common cause of dizziness from an inner ear problem. Dizziness is caused by dislodged salt crystals (also called calcium crystals) in the inner ear fluid. They move through the fluid of the inner ear during certain head movements causing dizziness or vertigo. Head trauma or whiplash injury, aging of the inner ear, Meniere’s Disease, Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), vestibular neuronitis, and labyrinthitis are common causes of this disorder. It is considered idiopathic, meaning medical science does not know the cause.
"A person with BPPV frequently will awake with vertigo. This occurs when rolling over in bed or sitting up, or looking up on a shelf. It may wake the person from sleep by turning over while asleep. Movement of the head will make the dizziness worse. The vertigo will usually stop after 30-60 seconds if the head is kept still. Symptoms occur while lying down in bed, rolling over, looking up on a shelf, downward to the side or when lying back to have one’s hair washed. Symptoms are generally not constant and improve throughout the day if the provoking position is not performed. Symptoms include attacks of vertigo, disequilibrium, unsteadiness, nausea, disorientation, and occasionally a "spacey" or detached feeling.
As a rule, BPPV patients do not experience hearing loss, ear fullness, or head noise. If these symptoms do exist, it is likely that a second inner ear problem exists."
Dennis I. Bojrab, MD
Michigan Ear Institute
What Causes the Sensation of Dizziness?
Our eyes constantly focus on moving scenery and our ears help orient our body to movement. When there is a dysfunction, or dis-ease, in either, conflicting signals are sent to the brain. The eyes and ears are not telling the same story. The brain is confused. The result is anything from slight imbalance to a whirling, falling sensation as the brain tries to unscramble the message and send an appropriate 'picture'. Muscle tension may also cause a feeling of imbalance and dizziness, even vertigo. In the case of Meniere's it feels more like the room is spinning. With muscle tension, it feels more like you are spinning. This makes it easy to understand how muscle tension and Meniere's can spell disaster! If you are suffering from dizziness and/or vertigo, please visit the TCL Dizziness & Vertigo web page for detailed explanations of the 5 different types of dizziness, as well as home tests for dizziness.
Spiritual/Psychological cause for Meniere's: There may be a refusal to see things as they are, therefore what you see is distorted. Fear is a part of this picture.
Associated Chakra(s): 5th Chakra
Associated Energy Meridian(s): Small Intestine Meridian
Meniere's Triggers
Stress, allergies, colds, flu, acid reflux, weatherchanges, fluctuating hormones, dental work, muscle tension.
All-Natural Therapies for Meniere's Syndrome
Drink 6-8 cups of pure water each day to help flush out any sticky ear fluid.
Acunpuncture may help reduce Tinitus and Meniere's symptoms by reopening the energy pathways of the kidney and liver meridians of the body. This is not to say you have kidney or liver problems. Ear problems can be a sign of a blocked energy pathway in the body. Acupuncture serves to remove energy blockages in the body's electromagnetic energy field, which can reduce physical symptoms. Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC), often combined with the use of certain combinations of herbs for over-all health.
Neuromonics is a company that has a device that can retrain the signals in the brain to cancel out Tinnitus noise. This is a 6-month process and may not be covered by all insurances. For more information, visit Neuromonics or call Harbor Audiology & Hearing Services in Tacoma, at 253-473-4394. Their email address is harboraudiology@comcast.net.
For more specific remedies for Tinnitus/Meniere's, there's the TCL e-book, All-Natural Tinnitus & Meniere's Remedies,which includes The List of Tinnitus Causing Drugs!
