Courtesy of Dr. Mike Murray.
It is a good bet that you or someone you know has tinnitus (ringing in the ears). A new study published in The Lancet showed that approximately 30 million Americans have tinnitus. Of those, nearly half always have symptoms and ~30% have had symptoms for more than 15 years. Tinnitus can be debilitating. People with severe tinnitus may have trouble hearing, concentrating, working, or sleeping. The easiest way to treat tinnitus is to identify and eliminate the cause especially if it is due to certain medications, e.g. sedative-hypnotic drugs (sleeping pills) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen, or if the tinnitus is due to reversible health issues, such as allergies, high or low blood pressure, tumors, and problems in the heart, blood vessels, jaw, or neck. If, however, the tinnitus is due to damage to the ear drum caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises or music, scuba diving, or other factors, improvements in symptoms through elimination of the cause is minimal. Fortunately, several dietary supplements have been shown to provide at least some help based upon double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in humans even if the tinnitus is caused by ear drum damage. I recommend taking all of them as they are safe. Give this protocol at least 3 months to judge if useful.Â
Melatonin: 3-5 mg at bedtime.
Methylcobalamin (active vitamin B12): 3 mg at awakening.
Magnesium: 300 to 450 mg at bedtime.
Zinc: 20 to 30 mg per day.
With methylcobalamin, zinc, and magnesium the benefits are often due to addressing deficiencies of these nutrients. With melatonin, the benefits are likely due to it acting as an antioxidant as well as improving sleep quality. The best results with melatonin supplementation were seen in a study conducted at the Ohio State University Eye and Ear Institute. In the study, 61 adults with chronic tinnitus were randomized to receive 3 mg of melatonin or a placebo nightly for 30 days, followed by a one-month washout period before switching to the other treatment. Results demonstrated convincingly that melatonin was associated with a significant decrease in tinnitus intensity and improved sleep quality in these patients. Melatonin was most effective in those with more severe tinnitus in both ears and/or those with a history of noise exposure. If melatonin helps tinnitus primarily by improving sleep quality, it is an interesting mechanism of action since tinnitus is often a side effect of prescription sleeping pills. Magnesium also improves sleep quality, that could be how it helps tinnitus as well. If you know someone who is dealing with tinnitus, please forward this newsletter. These recommendations could be life changing.
Comments