Natural Health: What can I do about my tinnitus?

Plus, I get bloodshot eyes quite easily - what can I take to make them less sensitive?

Megan Sheppard: It is essential to avoid using cotton buds as they tend to pack the wax further into the canal Picture: iStock

I developed mild tinnitus after getting my ears syringed about a year ago. I’m prone to a build-up of earwax and need the procedure from time to time. I try to ignore the ringing, but sometimes it affects my hearing. Is there a remedy you could recommend?

Some treatments may help with the tinnitus, although the response varies widely between individuals.

You might first want to look into alternatives for the wax removal procedure. Syringing typically involves the introduction of pressurised water into the ear canal, which can risk damage to the delicate structures inside the ear.

Warm oil can help to prevent earwax from hardening and blocking the ear canal. Even as little as two to three drops of gently warmed olive oil every two to three days may help to soften the wax so that it naturally migrates of its own accord.

It is essential to avoid using cotton buds as they tend to pack the wax further into the canal and may make the tinnitus and hearing issues even worse.

Your audiologist or doctor may also offer manual removal using special tools or microsuction with a gentle medical vacuum device. In the meantime, make sure that you contact your specialist if you experience vertigo or dizziness, pain, significant or sudden hearing loss at any stage, alongside the tinnitus.

Vitamin B12 is one of the most effective natural remedies to help with tinnitus. It is a good idea to first ask your doctor for a complete blood count (CBC) and B12 serum test to determine whether or not you would benefit from a therapeutic B12 dosage.

Some research has found an association between vitamin B12 deficiency and tinnitus, in which case therapeutic supplementation is likely to help relieve symptoms.

If your bloodwork comes back with below normal B12 levels, the therapeutic dosage of vitamin B12 is 200mcg daily.

Check your local health store for Solgar’s 1,000ug B12 nuggets in a range of pack sizes. It is also worth noting that aspirin, quinine (found in tonic water), caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol can worsen tinnitus symptoms in some people.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) with a qualified therapist or sound masking at home using white or brown noise, a fan, or another soft background noise of your choice can help to ‘blend’ in the background tinnitus noise and train your brain to effectively tune out the tinnitus.

I seem to get bloodshot eyes very easily — sometimes it all it takes is a gust of wind. Is there anything I can take to make my eyes less sensitive?

Chances are that you are suffering from dry eyes, which would account for the instant reaction with a gust of wind. This condition means that a simple event can easily create more friction and inflammation on the eye surface than would usually occur.

Other issues that might be at play here are environmental sensitivities or allergies, or an unstable tear film.

The tear film is the thin protective layer of fluid coating the surface of the eye. When it becomes unstable, it can break up too quickly, leaving parts of the eye surface exposed and unprotected.

Lubricating eye drops are often the best first course of action to help with dry eyes and unstable tear film. It is important to choose preservative-free drops (typically sold in single-use vials) as the preservatives may worsen the issue.

You will need to use the lubricating drops (also known as ‘artificial tears’) before you head outside, rather than to treat the eyes after going out in the weather, as they are designed to be protective rather than treating bloodshot eyes after the event.

• NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.