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Exploring the Potential Benefits of Marijuana for Tinnitus Relief

Tinnitus Relief

Imagine having a persistent ringing in your ears that wakes you up in the morning and keeps you up at night. The quality of life is negatively impacted by tinnitus, and there are limited effective treatments available. Researchers are interested in learning if cannabis can help stop the ringing as the herb becomes more widely used.

Tinnitus. You will understand how annoying—or debilitating—the constant ringing can become if you have this condition. While some management strategies have been identified by modern science, there is currently no cure. Learn the cause of this illness, the current therapies, and whether cannabis can help with the ringing. 

To legally use cannabis as a treatment for tinnitus, it’s essential to secure a medical marijuana (MMJ) card. This card grants you authorized access to medical cannabis. If you’re a resident of Delaware, the first step in obtaining an MMJ card is to consult with our qualified cannabis doctor in Delaware. Our medical professionals will evaluate your condition and, if appropriate, provide you with the necessary recommendation to begin your treatment journey.

What Is Tinnitus?

Has there ever been an unexpected ringing in your ears? These peculiar sound bursts disappear into silence after a few brief seconds for a lot of people. At worst, this ringing is referred to as “transient ear noise” and causes only slight irritation. However, this ringing never goes away for other people. People who have chronic tinnitus constantly hear subjective noises in their heads, and many of them go through a mourning process because they will never again be able to experience complete silence.

Despite the fact that tinnitus may seem like a strange and uncommon ailment, over 7 million adults in the UK alone currently suffer from the condition. This enormous number indicates that tinnitus presents a major challenge to global healthcare systems, both in terms of initial treatment and the management of comorbidities, which include low quality of life, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, and hearing loss.

Each person with tinnitus has a different type and degree of the condition. Numerous sounds can be perceived by patients, such as:

 

  • Hissing 
  • Ringing
  • Whooshing 
  • Roaring
  • Static
  • Clicking
  • Pulsing
  • Buzzing
  • Dial tones

Understanding the Causes Behind Tinnitus

While tinnitus is often associated with similar sounds, there are a number of underlying causes. All things considered, tinnitus can be classified into two main groups: subjective and objective. Subjective tinnitus is characterized by sounds that are only perceived by the person who has it, while objective tinnitus allows medical professionals to hear sounds coming from the ear canal.

Many theories have been proposed in an attempt to explain the underlying mechanisms of tinnitus, but the exact cause and pathophysiology of the condition are still unknown. A large portion of this theory revolves around hearing loss brought on by harm to various ear structures.

The central nervous system is the subject of other theories. According to the auditory plastic theory, for instance, harm to the cochlea may increase the activity of neurons in the central auditory pathway. In these situations, the brain itself experiences tinnitus, particularly in regions linked to auditory processing.

Persistent ringing in certain patients may also be explained by somatosensory tinnitus. According to this model, nerve fibers that surround the neck and jaw also extend to the central auditory system. Tinnitus may be caused by pathologies that are associated with these anatomical locations, such as temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

In general, there are probably several distinct causes of tinnitus, such as:

 

  • Age-related loss of hearing
  • Noise-induced loss of hearing
  • Obstructions in the middle ear
  • Head and neck trauma
  • TMD
  • Acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor that develops on the nerves of the inner ear)
  • Ototoxic medications, such as some antibiotics and anti-inflammatories
  • diseases like thyroid problems and Meniere’s disease. 

Modern Strategies for Addressing Tinnitus

As you now know, tinnitus can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild irritation to almost unbearable. But in terms of curing the illness, does science have any answers? While there is currently no cure, researchers are developing therapies to help patients cope with the irritation as well as treatments that specifically target the tinnitus’s intensity. The following are some of the main and more experimental treatments for the condition:

 

  • Pharmacotherapy: A small number of drugs, such as nortriptyline, amitriptyline, alprazolam, clonazepam, and oxazepam, have been shown in randomized trials to be more effective than placebo in treating tinnitus.


  • Cognitive therapy: Some patients find that cognitive restructuring and counseling are helpful in addressing the psychological effects of tinnitus. Among the methods are relaxation training, attention control, and positive imagery.


  • Sound therapy: In sound therapy, non-intrusive sounds—such as those made by streams, waterfalls, and rain—can be utilized to reduce the neural activity responsible for tinnitus.


  • Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) attempts to acclimate patients to the sound of their tinnitus by utilizing neuroplasticity.


  • Electrical suppression: Electrical pulses applied to the cochlea in specific circumstances have been demonstrated to significantly or completely reduce tinnitus.


  • Melatonin: Few studies suggest that melatonin may help some people experience less intense tinnitus.

Can Cannabinoids Provide Relief for Tinnitus?

There are numerous treatment options available to tinnitus patients. However, most of them are only partially effective, and some patients don’t respond well to any of the available techniques. Now that many countries and states have legalized the drug for a variety of illnesses, can medical cannabis help treat tinnitus? Is there a substantial relationship between marijuana and the inner ear?

Before we get into the current body of research on cannabis and tinnitus, it will be useful to talk about the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The proper operation of numerous important physiological systems, as well as the function of the brain and ears, depend on this network of regulatory systems throughout the body.

Having a medical marijuana card is essential if you live in Delaware and want to use cannabis for medical purposes. To obtain an MMJ recommendation, your first step is to reach out to a medical marijuana doctor for thorough 420 evaluations. You can fill out a simple form for obtaining MMJ recommendations on our website. During this evaluation, our doctor will carefully assess your eligibility for a 420 card, determining whether you qualify for this valuable access to medical cannabis.