August 2009


Simple Cure For Tinnitus
Article By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.
E-mail: dr.jimhow@gmail.com 

  Annoying ringing noises (tinnitus) in the ear are a problem for many persons. A wide variety of solutions have been brought forth for this condition and none have turned out to be entirely satisfactory. Tinnitus afflicts about 40 to 50 million persons in the USA (about 15% of the population). Of these 50,000,000 persons with tinnitus approximately 2,000,000 persons have a disabling form of the condition that imposes severe limitation on the lifestyle of the victims.

What Causes Tinnitus?
Hearing loss is closely associated with tinnitus but is not a cause for tinnitus. Traditional therapy for tinnitus has involved substitution of a less irritating noise usually in the same tonal range which "masks" the uncomfortable sound. Hearing loss does not cause tinnitus and tinnitus does not cause hearing loss. Exposure to occupational and environmental noises especially sharp explosions appear quite important. In two percent of cases the cause appears to be related to carotid artery narrowing (arteriosclerosis). Many cases have no clearly identifiable causation.

General measures to improve overall health such as quitting smoking, eating fresh organic fruit and vegetables, consuming organic meat, chicken, and fish, avoiding the sludgy blood flow associated with high fat diets which can actually decrease the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the inner ear, becoming physically active, getting sunlight, Vitamin D, Omega 3 fatty acids, removing toxic metals by chelation, and taking multivitamins, nutrients and minerals can prove beneficial to hearing and tinnitus but is unlikely to cure the problem..

Many patients with tinnitus are found to have out of control inflammatory processes. This includes purulent ear drainages, infections, and chronic fluid drainage from the ear. The potent enzyme preparation Wobenzyme N formulation (trypsin, chymotrypsin, bromelain, papain, pancreatin and the bioflavinoid rutin) has produced good results in tinnitus. This works quite well in safely reversing the inflammatory component in tinnitus resulting in disappearance of tinnitus. Increase in the severity of tinnitus when taking therapy can be a valuable clue the therapy will ultimately prove beneficial. The temporary increasing severity of the tinnitus proves the therapy is actually influencing the underlying condition which caused the tinnitus.

Cases of tinnitus reflecting auto-immune damage to the ear also can respond to high doses of enzymes. The dosage used was 10 Wobenzyme N three times daily. After a few weeks of therapy the severity of the tinnitus may begin to subside.

Patients suffering from tinnitus for as long as 17 years have made complete recoveries using Wobenzyme therapy. Other potent enzyme therapies (Vitalzym X, Nattokinase, Lumbrokinase {Boluke} could also be expected to be beneficial as they are all capable of blocking inflammation when used in high dosage. My preference among these is Vitalzym X which contains the potent enzyme serrapeptase, protease, papain, bromelain, amylase, rutin (protects against capillary blood vessel fragility), and amia (potent natural source of Vitamin C). Eight to 10 Vitalzym X three times daily should be adequate therapy.

Low glycemic foods will prevent damaging hypoglycemic reactions resulting from high sugar intake. During hypoglycemia adrenaline is released. This produces vasoconstriction of arterial blood flow to the inner ear which can provoke a "tinnitus crisis."

Other Valuable Supplements
The cochlea has high amounts of Vitamin A and all sensory nerve cells need Vitamin A. Lack of Vitamin D can produce a bony growth in the cochlea called otosclerosis which causes hearing loss. Supplementation with Vitamin D, and equal amounts of calcium and magnesium may reverse this hearing loss.

Zinc sulphate (50 to 100 mg) may help hearing in persons depleted of zinc. A 1984 study in Clinical Ecology revealed that many elderly patients with progressive deterioration of hearing had zinc deficiencies. One fourth of those with tinnitus noted reduced symptoms with occasional complete clearing of symptoms after zinc supplementation.

Gingko biloba (24% Standardized 60 mg twice daily) has the ability to increase cerebral blood flow. This results from decreasing the viscosity of blood so blood flow speeds up and the volume of blood being delivered actually increases. More oxygen and nutrients are supplied. Usage with anticoagulant therapy should be monitored by an experienced clinician.

Summary
A simple therapy primarily involving high doses of potent enzymes has been found to be quite effective in curing tinnitus by German ENT specialist Dr. Michael Schedler. This should be supplemented with dietary changes and proven nutrients to achieve the best results.

Footnotes:

1 - Schedler, Michael, M.D. Tinnitus article published in German Medical literature is in process of being translated into English.

© 2009 Dr. James Howenstine - All Rights Reserved