Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus: A Calm, Step‑by‑Step Guide

You can think of Tinnitus as a small alarm that is constantly ringing in your ear. This constant ringing or hissing noise is present whether you are waking up, in the middle of the day, or lying down to go to sleep.

You probably would like to find a herbal remedies for tinnitus, so you don’t have to deal with another pill in addition to what you are already doing. You are probably looking for something that has less potential for side effects and that you can be in charge of your own body.

This guide is informational. Please consult a Doctor, Audiologist or Hearing Specialist prior to attempting any new Natural Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus or using any new products while taking prescription medications.

In this guide we will take it one step at a time, provide you with simple step-by-step ideas on how to use herbal remedies as part of a natural treatment plan for tinnitus. We will teach you about how tinnitus works, how to safely use herbs, 5 natural remedies for tinnitus, and how lifestyle changes can help support your efforts.

Understanding Tinnitus Before Trying Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Understanding the root of the issue before adding any herbal remedy or supplement will aid in your treatment process. Tinnitus is an effect (symptom) of many different causes. This is why there is no one size fits all “cure” for tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be caused by either sudden exposure to loud noise (e.g., music concerts, etc.), or from prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels (e.g., work environment), or it can develop as a result of the natural aging process, stress, ear wax build-up, or other conditions related to the jaw and neck area. Essentially, your brain continues to hear a ringing, buzzing or hissing sound, despite the fact that there is no external source causing the sound.

Herbal remedies for tinnitus can provide relief for the cause of tinnitus in terms of how your body reacts to stress, increases circulation/flow to the affected areas and decreases inflammation. Herbs will aid your body’s internal processes, they are not magical cures which instantly quiet every ring you hear.

What Tinnitus Is and How It Affects Your Daily Life

You are likely to experience tinnitus as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or clicking sound in either ear, but others will typically not be able to hear the sound that is present to you.

The persistent noise of tinnitus can take a toll on you. Tinnitus can:

• Impede your ability to fall asleep.
• Disturb you while attempting to concentrate.
• Leave you feeling edgy, depressed or irritable.

If traditional recommendations such as “just ignore it” and/or “you will eventually get accustomed to it” are unsuccessful, you may begin looking into herbal remedies to alleviate tinnitus. You want the sound to seem less harsh or less disturbing so you can regain control over your life.

Common Triggers You Should Know Before Using Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Herbal remedies for tinnitus have their limitations. If your triggers continue to fire throughout the day even with the very best herbal remedies, it’s going to be a challenge.

There are many triggers that may go unnoticed in the beginning.

Common triggers include:

• Noise like loud music, concerts, power tools, traffic and extended earbud usage
• Ear infections, or failure to remove excess earwax
• antibiotics, some types of pain medication, or water pills
• Stress, high levels of anxiety and/or poor quality sleep.
• Problems with your jaw and/or neck, such as bruxism (teeth grinding).

When you can, reducing your triggers is an important step toward giving herbal remedies for tinnitus a fair shot. Consider herbal remedies as helping agents, but also try to turn down the volume on the causes when possible.

Where Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus Fit Into Your Treatment Plan

Combining multiple methods of Tinnitus treatment is usually most effective. Your individualized plan may include:

• Masking (masking) or Sound Therapy
• Hearing Aids (if you suffer from Hearing Loss)
• Counseling and Sleep Routines to reduce stress
• Blood Pressure and Circulation Checks by a Medical Doctor

You can also use herbal remedies for tinnitus to enhance your overall approach to treating your tinnitus. These remedies can be used to relax your nervous system, improve your circulation or provide relief from muscle tension. Before using any new treatments, it is always important that you consult with your medical doctor and/or an Audiologist; especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on Blood Thinners or Heart Medications and other prescribed medications.

Step by Step: How to Use Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus Safely

Herbal tinnitus treatments can seem mild and harmless, yet they represent an active treatment that will alter how your body functions. Therefore, it is best to approach these herbal tinnitus treatments in the same manner as you do any medication, adhering to dosages, and consulting your physician when using multiple medications or having chronic health issues.

Step 1: Talk With Your Doctor Before Starting Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Firstly, it is advisable to undergo a complete physical examination by your physician, as they will be able to perform a number of tasks including:

• Identify the presence of wax in the ears, an infection, and/or some type of treatable problem within the ears.

• Assess your present treatment regimen and recommend herbal treatments for tinnitus that may be safer for you.

Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus can be very mild and appear harmless; however, they are active medications which can affect the function of your body. As such, it is important to respect their potential impact on your body similar to all medications, to utilize the appropriate dosage, and consult with your physician prior to combining herbal treatments for tinnitus with other medication(s) or if you have chronic health issues.

Step 2: Set Clear Goals for Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

When you begin using herbal remedies for tinnitus, think about what you would like to be different?

Some examples of how easy it could be to create some simple goals include:

• Sleeping by 11pm at night (most nights)
• Reduced anxiety about the ringing at work
• Lowering the volume of the sound from a 7 to a 5 based on your own scale

You should also remember that herbal remedies for tinnitus may not completely eliminate the tinnitus; they may just help you feel as though there is a little less “edge” to the sound or simply make the sound feel less ominous. Write down your goals somewhere (such as a journal or an app) so that you can monitor your progress rather than guess.

Step 3: Start Low, Go Slow With Any Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

There is a reason that it takes time for your body to respond to herbal remedies for tinnitus and that is because it does take time. It means that your body has to adjust to a new way of functioning. Here’s an example of what a calm approach to trying new herbal remedies for tinnitus would look like:

• Try one new herbal remedy for tinnitus at a low dose.

• Continue using that same low dose for 2-4 weeks.

• Only increase the dose if your body reacts positively and your doctor says it is okay.

Don’t try multiple herbal remedies for tinnitus at the same time. If you are going to add 3 new things and something feels wrong, you won’t know which thing is causing it. Changing one thing at a time makes it safer and gives you more clarity on what works for you.

Step 4: Track Your Tinnitus While You Test Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Using a log will give you insight into any patterns in your tinnitus that you may have missed with your memory. The log can either be done in writing on paper or by using your smartphone.

Every day you should log:

• Date and Time

• Which herbal remedy you used and the amount you took.

• How was your sleep? Maybe rate it 1-10.

• How stressful were you feeling? Rate it 1-10.

• How loud was the tinnitus? Rate it 1-10.

Once you’ve been tracking for several weeks you can go back and look at the data to see which herbal remedy correlated with the best sleep, reduced stress levels, and/or a softer tinnitus. This makes decision-making much more objective and much clearer.

5 Natural Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus You Can Discuss With Your Doctor

This section provides you with information on five natural herbal remedies for tinnitus that people commonly use to improve circulation, to calm their nervous system and to reduce muscle tension. Do not consider these items as a shopping list. Consider them as potential options to talk about with your doctor.

Ginkgo Biloba: Popular Herbal Remedy for Tinnitus and Blood Flow

Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) is derived from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree. Of all the herbal remedies discussed to address tinnitus, it has been one of the most frequently studied.

The reasons people take Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus are:

1. To enhance blood circulation to the ears and brain;

2. As some research indicates there may be a small improvement;

while some research finds no benefits.

Commonly available products include capsules/tablets/liquid extracts.

As Ginkgo Biloba is an anti-coagulant (blood thinner), individuals taking Warfarin (Coumadin), Aspirin, or other blood-thinning medications should consult their physician before using Ginkgo Biloba.

Garlic and Onion: Everyday Foods Used as Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Many home treatments for tinnitus and ear-related problems include garlic and onions due to their potential to improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation.

Here are ways to incorporate these foods into your diet:

1. Add extra fresh garlic & onion to your meals;

2. Soft Garlic Capsules – Use them after consulting your doctor;

Both garlic and onion have the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress or create stronger body odor. Both garlic and onion may thin the blood. Always check with your doctor before adding either to your diet if you are currently using blood-thinning medicatio

Ginger and Turmeric: Calming Inflammation With Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Two of the most common cooking spices used by many people today as if they were herbal remedies for tinnitus are Ginger and Turmeric. The two may help reduce inflammation and alleviate dizziness or nausea, both of which commonly occur in conjunction with tinnitus.

Ways to utilize Ginger & Turmeric:

1. Prepare warm teas with ginger and/or turmeric;

2. Take soft gel capsules of either;

3. Cook using either fresh or dried spices;

While both are popular herbal remedies for tinnitus and not proven cures, large doses of either could potentially alter your blood pressure, contribute to bleeding, and impact digestion. Consult your doctor prior to using either as part of your treatment plan.

Hawthorn and Other Circulation Herbs as Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Some people use Hawthorne (a blood flow and heart health herb) when they suspect tinnitus is related to heart rate or high blood pressure.

You will find Hawthorne in various forms including:

• Capsules;

• Tinctures;

• Blended remedies.

Because Hawthorne interacts with certain heart, blood clotting, and blood pressure prescription medications, you should only use it under close supervision of your doctor as part of a natural treatment for tinnitus.

Chamomile, Lemon Balm, and Calming Herbs for Stress Related Tinnitus

Stress and anxiety can make tinnitus sound louder and more noticeable than normal, especially at night. Calming herbal remedies may help to calm the “alarm” associated with the sound of tinnitus.

Potential calming herbs include:

• Chamomile;

• Lemon Balm;

• Passion Flower;

If recommended by your doctor, you may drink a relaxing tea prior to bed, ingest a liquid extract, or consume a capsule prior to bedtime. However, these herbs can induce sleepiness and interact with other sedatives, antihistamines, and anxiolytics. Individuals allergic to plants should be cautious when consuming chamomile.

Supporting Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus With Simple Lifestyle Changes

The most effective way for herbs to be successful is to consistently do the same routine every day (i.e., get regular sleep, reduce stress, use some form of hearing protection). The smaller you are able to make each habit, the better it will help your body respond to the herbs rather than always being overwhelmed by the constant new triggers.

Although it may take time to see real results from using herbs, doing little things on a consistent basis helps create small successes that eventually build into feeling less controlled by the noise and more in control of how you spend your days.

Protect Your Ears So Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus Can Work Better

Long-term exposure to excessive sound levels will continue to irritate the ears even if you are trying herbal remedies for tinnitus.

You can:

• Turn down the volume when listening to music or watching television
• Use earplugs at concerts, when using power tools etc.
• Remove ear buds frequently and take a break from being in a high noise environment

Reducing your exposure to excessive sound levels has been identified as one of the most effective long term natural ways to treat tinnitus.

Use Sound, Relaxation, and Sleep Habits Alongside Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Sounds of tinnitus are usually most loud when it is in quiet spaces. Gentle sounds and soothing routines may be helpful in making your brain relax.

Some things that you could do:

• Use a sound machine, a fan, or soft music at night
• Take deep breaths using the slow belly method (5-10 min)
• Drink a warm relaxing tea before bedtime; try a tea such as chamomile
• Maintain regular sleep hours

Combining gentle habits with herbal tinnitus treatments will send a clearer message to your brain about feeling safe, although the sound may never completely go away.

Key Takeaways

• Since Tinnitus is a symptom, and symptoms have many causes – there is no single “cure” for it.
• Some herbs can help promote blood flow to the ears; some can calm down the nervous system and reduce the physical tension that can contribute to tinnitus; however, these herbs will not address tinnitus quickly.
• Before you start using herbal remedies, it is very important to consult with your physician. Especially if you are taking any prescription medications (including blood thinners) and/or other supplements.
• When starting an herbal remedy for the first time – begin with one (1) herb, at a very low dosage and gradually increase the dose. Make changes to only one aspect at a time.
• Begin by defining what success would look like for you – in terms of your tinnitus. For example, do you want to be able to fall asleep easier? Do you want to notice a small reduction in the perceived volume of your tinnitus?
• Keep track of all of the following things – including your tinnitus, the amount of stress you are experiencing, how well you are sleeping and what you are doing in terms of herbal remedies. This will allow you to identify real patterns in your data – rather than simply guessing.
• There are many different herbs that have been reported to potentially provide relief from tinnitus, including Ginko Biloba, Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric, Hawthorn Berry, Chamomile and Lemon Balm. However, each of these herbs has potential side effects – and could potentially interfere with the way in which you are prescribed medications.
• The most effective way to use herbal remedies to alleviate tinnitus is to combine them with ways of protecting your hearing, reducing stress and using sound therapy.
• Developing good, consistent daily habits will allow you to develop a greater sense of control over your tinnitus over time.

Conclusion

Herbal remedies to help tinnitus symptoms along with other natural herbal remedies to aid tinnitus symptoms may be used as supportive therapies, however, these will work best when combined with all aspects of your comprehensive treatment plan.

Using gentle approaches such as understanding your triggers, talking to your Doctor, starting at a low dose and gradually increasing the dose over time, tracking your improvements, etc., provide you a consistent approach rather than a series of trials and errors. In addition to herbs, sound therapy, stress management and ear protection; all may be used together as complementary treatments.

While managing tinnitus symptoms may seem overwhelming; it is possible with the use of patience, curiosity and taking small consistent steps. Tinnitus can become something that you have control over, rather than having tinnitus controlling you.