Tinnitus is the medical name for hearing an often high pitched noise or ringing in either one ear both ears or the head. The noise comes from within the head or ear itself rather than from an outside source. People with tinnitus can experience different types of sound, including ringing, buzzing, humming or whistling.

There are a number of possible reasons for the cause of ear ringing or tinnitus. In many cases a long-term fungal or bacterial infection may be at the root of the problem. It is also possible that the ear membrane has been damaged at some stage, with the result that there is an air imbalance (excess vata) in the canal. It is also commonly seen among women who are over 40 and men over 45 years old due to the hormonal imbalances seen in menopause or andropause. Other possibilities include dryness and/or weakness of the ear canal, or a deficiency of iron in the cranial nerves.

Tinnitus relief may take a while to achieve due to the nature of the condition however Ayurvedic tinnitus treatment is available and is effective. Changes in the symptoms can be expected fairly quickly but complete healing from tinnitus can take from 3-12 months. To target the tinnitus symptoms successfully the practitioner first needs to ascertain the root cause of the condition. For example a long-term itchiness, possibly with dryness, or a gluey or crusty deposit will point to a bacterial or fungal issue. In such cases herbal oils and powders are used. With glue-ear a kapha reducing diet may be recommended and certain items, for example milk and banana, should be avoided. If there is bleeding this is treated as a pitta/vata imbalance and if there is whistling this is regarded as entirely a case of excess vata. In the former case spices need to be cut out of the diet and in the latter foods to avoid will include bitter and astringent items. Many ear, nose and throat problems are associated with iron deficiency, and this too may require attention. If the tinnitus is due to the hormonal imbalances mentioned previously then a rejuvenation program will be a strong recommendation.

Other treatments that can often be very helpful in providing tinnitus relief include Ayurvedic detoxification (Panchakarma). Yogic postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (Pranayama) help to stimulate the blood circulation in the brain, pacify vata, and balance the hormone levels in both men and women.

Depending on the cause and severity of the symptoms the duration of the treatment for this condition can typically be anything from three months to a year but the initial indications of improvement can be much faster.

Call us on 1300 552 260 for a free 10 minute consultation at Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Centre, Sydney.