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So I have had tinnitus now for about 8 months and it really is beginning to drive me mad now.Been to my gp, ent specialist at the hospital,back to my GP and they just keep telling me there is nothing they can do.It reakky is starting to stop me sleeping and make me feel generally rubbish.
It has been even worse this week with my cold (which has almost gone now). Just wondered if anyone had any experience of it or heard of any traditional medicines etc?
Much appreciated
Louise
I've had tinnitus in one ear for almost a decade now. When I first contracted it, it was very bad. I joined the American Tinnitus Association, saw a few ear specialists, and explored a whole gamut of therapies - herbs, qigong, acupuncture, biofeedback, masking hearing aids, candling, you name it. I had some success with gingko pills for a spell. I also had some success with whiskey. Eventually, I learned to attenuate it, mostly by sheer force of will in zazen. I still have it but it only bothers me when I'm really tired or sick. Good luck. It's a tough handicap and there's no universal solution. HOw did you get it?
Thanks Gene, thats reassuring . Not sure how I got it to be honest,I had a bad ear infection early last year and it seems to have developed since then. I read somewhere about Ginko, so got some but not really been on it for that long.
I have also read about the possibility of msg possibly making it worse and also possiby sugar intake.
The GP said to try white noise on the radio, so may try that this weekend. Its frustrating as its difficult to explain to other people how it is so annoying. I think there is a British Society that I can join upto.
The meditation thing is something I would really like to explore, as I have attention problems too, which I think stem from the constant noise.
Will try the whisky solution tonight!!:p
Thanks
Also avoid aspirin, or any products containing aspirin &/or willow bark derivatives.
Greetings Su Lin,
Do you have elevated blood pressure? That can also cause that ringing sensation.
mickey
Hello Louise!
This what i can tell you about Traditional Chinese Medicine ... this explanation is based on Giovanni Maciocia book: "Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine"
Tinnitus is caused either by a failure of Qi to rise to the ears (Empty type) or by an excess of Qi in the ears (Full type). In order to differentiate betwee the Empty types and the Full types, we need to consider the onset, the pitch, the duration and the reaction to pressure of the tinnitus.
Onset
A sudden onset suggests a Full condition, wich may be internal (Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind) or external (Heat in the Lesser Yang).
A gardual onset suggets a Empty type condition, which may be due to a deficiency of the Kidneys, Lung or Heart.
PitchA loud, high-pitched, ringing noise like a whistle indicates a Full type (Liver-Yang rising, Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind).
A low pitched noise like rushing water indicates a Empty type (Kidney deficiency).
DurationTinnitus of short duration suggets a Full type, is usually due to an external invasion of Wind-Heat affecting the Lesser Yang channels.
Chronic tinnitus of long duration can be Full or Empty type. Is due to either a Kidney deficiency or a Liver pathology (Liver-Yang Rising, Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind).
PressureIf is aggravated by pressing one´s hands on the ears, this suggets a Full condition.
If it is alleviated it suggets a Empty condition.
Tell me about what you feel about the Onset, Pitch, Duration and Pressure ... and then maybe with some more questions i can try to help you ... it will depend on the answers you give.
Hi wow, thanks for that. Here are my answers:
Onset: It was quite sudden. I had a bad inner ear infection in January 05,for which I was put on antibiotics. The pain etc went, but I was left with the constant noise afterwards.I dont remember having it before the infection.
Pitch: A high pitch whistling sound, bit like a kettle whistling. It never changes pitch either.Sometimes there will be an additional high pitch noise that comes and goes, but the whistling is contstant.
Duration: The noise is absolutely constant, never been away since Jan 05
Pressure: Seems to alleviate it a bit when I press my ears. THe noise doesnt go away, but generally my ear feels blocked most of the time, which did seem easier when pressing with my hands.
I have had my ears syringed which did nothing either.
I also feel constantly thirsty, even when I drink around 3 litres of water a day I still feel thirsty next morning, and at the moment am really struggling to get up in a morning to go to work.
Im generally healthy, train 3 times a week in kung fu and do other stuff like cycling.
Really appreciate your offer of help,
Thanks
Louise
ok ... there are some more questions i must do ... but i would like not to do it here ... i will send you a private message with my msn messenger e.mail ... just add me so we can chat a little ...
Su Lin
Don't walk, run to your friendly neighborhood osteopath - while there are certainly no guarantees, this is one area in which cranial osteopathic approach has had repeated success in my own personal experience (doing it, not receiving). Especially given the likely event precipitating onest, ear infection, and that physical pressure on the ear can alleviate it, there is a good possibility that cranial treatment can significantly effect your symptoms. Just be sure to find someone qualified and experienced - maybe contact the British School of Osteopathy in London for a reference to a local DO, or even go to their clininc if you are close enough http://www.bso.ac.uk/mm3clin.htm.
Many thanks for the help, really appreciate it .:)Quote:
Originally Posted by alquimista
Might be worth buying a CD of some sort of new agey background music to play as you go to sleep, like the stuff you generally see in bargain bins at music shops. Nice and soothing but still present enough to distract you from the tinnitus. That is one of the few legitimate justifications for the existence of such music.
There is a product called the wave, it is a german product(Hansaton) that is now available in the USA.
http://www.hansaton.com/cgi-bin/osb....NG=en&E_CNT=en
If your interested i can give the name and contact person you can ask them about it.