Tinnitus & Meniere's Disease

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, has many causes.  While some causes, such as wax build-up and loud noises, involve external sources, other reasons for the disorder are associated with the the Cranial nerve, the inner ear or the central processing centers of the brain.  One such cause is Meniere's Disease.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Meniere's Disease is a disorder of the inner ear which appears to be the result of the abnormal volume or composition of fluid.   The membrane of the inner ear contains a fluid (endolymph) and is lined with hair-like sensors that respond to movement of the fluid.  In order for all of the sensors in the inner ear to function properly, the fluid needs to retain a certain volume, pressure and chemical composition.   Meniere's Disease results when these properties of inner ear fluid are altered in some way. It is believed that these changes are caused by the following:

• Head trauma
• Viral infection
• Improper fluid drainage, perhaps because of a blockage or anatomic abnormality
• Allergies
• Unusual immune response

In most cases, Meniere's disease affects only one ear but the symptoms, nevertheless, can be debillitating.  A typical episode starts with a feeling of fullness in your ear, increasing tinnitus and decreasing hearing followed by severe vertigo which is often accompanied by severe nausea and vomiting. Such an episode might last two to three hours or more.

There is no cure for Meniere's Disease.  The symptoms may be managed, however, with varying degrees of success.  Motion sickness and anti-nausea medications are used to lessen the severity of vertigo.  A diuretic may reduce the amount of fluid the body retains which in turn may help regulate the fluid volume and pressure in your inner ear.

Dietary changes have been found to be helpful in limiting the frequency of episodes. 

• Eating and drinking throughout the day in approximately the same amounts helps regulate body fluids. 
• Avoiding foods and beverages that are high in salt will limit fluid retention.  1,500 milligrams (mg) or less of sodium each day is recommended.
• Limiting monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is found in some prepackaged food products and prepared restaurant foods.  MSG contributes to fluid retention.  

Lifestyle changes are also encouraged.  Avoiding stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine can ease symptoms.  Caffeine may make ringing in the ear (tinnitus) louder.  Managing stress and anxiety is also believed to help limit the frequency of episodes.

Meniere's Disease sufferers may have intermittent bouts with the disorder but they regularly experience tinnitus.   While Meniere's Disease can not be cured, ringing in the ear may be treated by a natural remedy.

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Understanding Tinnitus And Its Remedies

Tinnitus is sound in the human ear produced without an external source for that sound.   Many people consider it a disease but it's really just a symptom of an underlying neurological response.

Studies by researchers at the University Of Western Australia suggest tinnitus is caused by increased neural activity in the auditory area of the brain where sounds are processed, causing some auditory nerve cells to become overexcited. The basis of this theory is most people with tinnitus also have hearing loss and the frequencies they cannot hear are similar to the frequencies of their tinnitus. Models of hearing loss support the idea that the brain is trying to compensate for the loss of hearing input.  In other words, the brain is trying to make up for the frequencies you cannot hear by making sounds of its own.

Tinnitus is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients, it takes the form of a high-pitched whining, electric buzzing, hissing, humming, tinging or whistling sound.  It has also been described as a "wooshing" sound, as of wind or waves.  Tinnitus can be continous or it can be intermittent.  While tinnitus does not cause hearing loss, to some degree, hearing loss is experienced by most sufferers.

Common Causes Of Tinnitus



1.  Brief, abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal

2.  Foreign objects in the ear

3.  Nasal allergies

4.  Ear infections

5.  Wax build-up

6.  In-ear headphones playing music at high volumes

7.  Side-effect of medications

8.  Natural aging process

There are many other reasons for the condition;  head injury, depression, anxiety, thyroid disease, tumors, Meniere's Disease, fibromyalgia and Lyme Disease are some of the additional causes of tinnitus.

According to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree.  Of these, about 16 million have severe enough tinnitus to seek medical attention and about two million patients are so seriously debilitated that they cannot function on a "normal," day-to-day basis. Some notable tinnitus sufferers include David Letterman, Alex Trebek, Eric Clapton, Steve Martin and William Shatner.

Historically, treatments for tinnitus have involved surgery, drugs and electrical stimulation.  Avoidance of caffeine, nicotine and salt have always been encouraged as a first step.   

More recently, natural remedies for tinnitus have gained acceptance and popularity as alternative ways to treat the condition.  A holistic approach involves vitamin supplements, herbs and the avoidance of certain foods and medications.  But that only scratches the surface.  As with any natural approach to healing, a broad range of treatments is prescribed for tinnitus.

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