Do you hear ringing, repetitive noises in your ears? Does it feel like the ringing never stops? If so, you may have tinnitus. We give the disease a complete general overview here, but just in case you don’t know, tinnitus is a common chronic condition where people hear repetitive sounds that aren’t coming from the world around them.
There are many potential causes for tinnitus and because of this, there are also lots of alternative treatments to ease your symptoms – things like yoga, acupuncture, and of course essential oils. Learning how to apply essential oils for tinnitus is one great way to silence those sounds.
Essential Oils for Beginners
So what are essential oils, anyway? These are concentrated liquids taken from plants. Think of them as a bit like juice, but with much more of the plant still in them than ordinary juices. With a history that goes back centuries, essential oils are used for all kinds of things, from adding flavoring to food to spreading an incredible scent all around your home.
You can get essential oils from all kinds of places. However, it’s important to make sure you’re getting high-quality essential oils. Since you use only a little of them at a time, quality over quantity is incredibly important here. For this reason, reputable brands are king.
Salubelle Doterra is well-known in the US for delivering essential oils that pack a punch. Young Living’s mission is to spread essential oils throughout communities across the US, and they take care that their essential oils work for everyone. Plant Therapy, meanwhile, focuses on preserving as much of the natural goodness of the original plant as possible. They don’t try to pack the punch for the plant; instead, they let the plant do it itself. Internationally, Subtle Energies in the UK make essential oils that revitalize people’s natural wellbeing, while LLIO focuses on a holistic view of health to deliver essential oils that sharpen the mind, perk up the body and open you up to spirituality.
Essential Oils and Hearing Loss
One of the most common causes of tinnitus is hearing loss, whether from aging or from being in noisy environments for a long time. Essential oils for hearing are out there. Learning which essential oils are good for ear infections is important, but is it true that they help? What can essential oils do for hearing loss?
It’s important to distinguish between different kinds of essential oils in order to get to the bottom of this. As different essential oils are linked to different health effects, they need to be talked about individually. Cajeput oil, geranium oil, lavender oil and tea tree oil have all been claimed to be helpful for one kind of hearing loss, while helichrysum oil has been linked to another. Peppermint, melrose, castor, lavender, oregano, bergamot, and frankincense oil, however, have not been linked to hearing loss.
It’s important to note that there hasn’t yet been scientific evidence found that essential oils for ear infection, essential oils for earache, or essential oils for hearing help with hearing loss. However, science changes all the time, and there’s been plenty of anecdotal stories of people who say essential oils have really helped them.
Essential Oils and Tinnitus
Here’s the big one. You want to know how to use essential oils for tinnitus. You want to know how to use essential oils for tinnitus and whether aromatherapy for tinnitus works.
There are a few different kinds of essential oils that have been linked to tinnitus. Cypress oil, ginseng oil, helichrysum oil, juniper oil, lavender oil, lilies oil, olive oil, onion oil, petitgrain oil, rehmannia oil and spotted orchid oil have all been claimed to directly ease tinnitus symptoms. While there hasn’t been much research to confirm most of these claims, there are two oils that have been medically linked to improvements in health. Lavender oil has been found to soothe intense pain in the central nervous system. Since tinnitus is often linked to chronic pain, this could really help quiet the sounds of your tinnitus. CBD oil, meanwhile, has been researched extensively, and the studies that have come out about it suggest that it can soothe tinnitus directly.
Essential Oils and Vertigo
Persistent vertigo has also been linked to tinnitus symptoms. Essential oils for vertigo, according to various sources, include basil oil, bergamot oil, bitter orange oil (neroli), CBD oil, clary sage oil, cypress oil, geranium oil, ginger oil, lavender oil, lemon balm oil, peppermint oil, rose oil, rosemary oil, tangerine oil, and thyme oil. While there hasn’t yet been scientific evidence to confirm these claims, there are lots of stories of them soothing vertigo. We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled to find out more about the possibilities of essential oils for vertigo.
Essential Oils and Ear Infections
But what about essential oils for ear infections? Since ear infections are so common and painful, as well as often being a risk factor for tinnitus, it’s important to know about all your options to soothe them. Lavender oil, olive oil, tea tree oil, oregano oil, basil oil, thyme oil, bishop’s weed oil, peppermint oil, mustard oil, and a sesame/castor oil mixture have all been linked to the easing of ear infections. But is it true? Science suggests the answer is no, as there haven’t yet been studies that have confirmed these oils helping people with ear infections.
Are There Risks to Using Essential Oils?
When you’re looking into how to apply essential oils from tinnitus, you’re going to want to know everything about them. That includes looking into potential side effects and risks from using essential oils.
So are there risks to using essential oils? The short answer is that it depends. Some essential oils affect hormones. As such, if you’re pregnant or nursing, it’s best to avoid them. It’s also important to note that while they may help with ear-related ailments, they shouldn’t be poured directly into your ear. As one medical professional explains, “[essential oils] should never be placed into the ear canal, as the oil can burn the sensitive mucous membranes found within the ear if it is used undiluted”. There are risks associated with specific oils as well. Cumin oil should not be placed on the skin, as it can be the cause of blistering.
As you can see, essential oils should be used with caution. But if you research them properly and follow health and safety guidelines, they could be a huge benefit to your health.
Conclusion
Of course, when it comes to medical decisions, it’s always important to do lots of your own research. Read plenty of different sources, and always consult with your medical provider before making medical decisions. But essential oils can be a great starting point for easing your tinnitus symptoms. Look into aromatherapy for tinnitus today, and learn how these simple strategies can help you live a better, healthier life.
References
- “Essential oils for tinnitus and hearing loss: Will they help?”, Healthy Hearing, accessed 17th March 2021, https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52991-Essential-oils-for-tinnitus-and-hearing-loss-do-they-work.
- “Essential Oils for Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and Vertigo”, American Academy of Audiology, accessed 17th March 2021, https://www.audiology.org/audiology-today-julyaugust-2019/essential-oils-hearing-loss-tinnitus-and-vertigo.
- “Are Essential Oils Good For Tinnitus?”, HealingSolutions, accessed 17th March 2021, https://healingsolutions.com/blogs/learn/essential-oils-for-tinnitus.
- “Can I Use Essential Oils For Tinnitus?”, Eden’s Garden, accessed 17th March 2021, https://www.edensgarden.com/blogs/news/can-i-use-essential-oils-for-tinnitus.