Tinnitus and cannabis

You may have heard that cannabidiol (CBD) can help treat a variety of conditions, such as’insomnia, the chronic pain and the’anxiety. Some people even claim it helps relieve tinnitus.

But does the research really bear this out? Read on to find out.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus occurs when a person hears ringing or other noises in the ears that are not caused by an external source. Tinnitus is more common in the elderly, but can affect anyone.

Although tinnitus varies in severity, for some people the constant buzzing, rumbling or ringing can cause extreme distress.

Tinnitus is considered a symptom, not a disease in itself. Potential causes include:

• age-related hearing loss
• regular exposure to loud sounds
• high blood pressure
• hypercholesterolemia
• middle ear muscle spasms
• excess earwax
• lesions of the middle or inner ear
• medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics, cancer drugs and diuretics
• head and neck injuries
• temporomandibular joint disorders
• Meniere's disease
• tumors of the ear or auditory nerve

How is tinnitus usually treated?

Treating tinnitus usually involves treating the underlying cause.

Your doctor may recommend that you remove excess earwax and stop taking medications that may be causing your tinnitus. Some medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants, can help reduce ear noise.

Unfortunately, it's sometimes difficult to determine the cause of ringing in the ears. If your doctor can't find the reason for your tinnitus, or if treatments for the underlying cause don't work, you may need to manage your tinnitus by blocking irritating sounds with a white noise machine.

If your tinnitus is due to hearing loss, the use of a hearing aid or cochlear implant can help.

What is CBD?

CBD is a cannabinoid from the cannabis plant that doesn't give you a high like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). There are three different forms of CBD:

• the isolate
• full-spectrum
• broad spectrum

The Full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD contains other cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant. Full-spectrum CBD also contains a small amount of THC (less than 0.3 % for federally legal products). CBD isolate is pure CBD.

However, it is important to know that any CBD product may contain traces of THC and be detected by a screening test drugs.

You can buy CBD in various forms, such as candies, oils, capsules, creams and lotions.

Can CBD help treat tinnitus?

Research on CBD for tinnitus is mixed.

A study conducted in 2015 on animals has suggested that a combination of CBD and THC may actually worsen tinnitus.

A more recent review of 2020 studies concluded that there is insufficient scientific evidence, either in animals or humans, to confirm that cannabinoids can help relieve tinnitus.

However, another 2020 review suggested that, because CBD has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, it could help with hearing loss and tinnitus. But more research is needed, especially human studies.

And while CBD may not be a cure for tinnitus, it can help alleviate its side effects, such as anxiety- and stress-related insomnia.

Potential benefits of CBD for tinnitus

CBD may help more indirectly than directly when it comes to conditions affecting the auditory system:

• Alleviate tinnitus-related anxiety. CBD can be an effective tool for managing the anxiety people may feel as a result of their tinnitus. By helping to calm this anxiety, CBD can make tinnitus more manageable for some sufferers. CBD can also be useful for managing tinnitus-related stress and insomnia or sleep problems.
• Managing ear discomfort. CBD can also be used to manage pain, such as discomfort resulting from injury or inflammation of the ear, which can cause tinnitus.
• Complement tinnitus medication. A CBD supplement may allow a person to reduce their consumption of prescribed tinnitus medications, such as anxiolytics, antidepressants and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, which may relieve the pain associated with an ear injury but may contribute to tinnitus

In any case, if you are taking medication, you should seek advice from your doctor before using any of these products.’buy CBD, cannabidiol can interact with certain medications.