Tinnitus can be hard to treat. Therapies have different outcomes. Essential oils are natural remedies which can reduce the symptoms. These should not be confused with perfume oils which can be burnt to make a room smell nice. Essential oils come from parts of plants like leaves, roots, flowers and bark.
Although they are called oils, they do not feel oily when you touch them. Essential oils are see through, but some may have a little colour to them. They have been used for centuries for healing purposes. You should always use carrier oils when applying essential oils because they are very strong. The most popular carrier oils are castor, jojoba and sweet apricot kernel oils. Using carrier oils stops the powerful essential oils from burning your skin. You could also use olive oil or coconut oils as a carrier too.
The following essential oils have been used to help calm the symptoms of tinnitus.
Helichrysum
This is the most popular essential oil for tinnitus. It works the best too. Helichrysum helps the noise of tinnitus sound quieter. The oil has been used in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years for its medicinal purposes.
The oil can help to reduce inflammation and help to remove toxins for the body. Many people believe tinnitus is caused by damage to the nerves from infection or inflammation. So, these can be healed or reduced by helichrysum oil.
The oil can be used in many ways to treat tinnitus. Using a carrier oil, apply a few drops in your ear lobes, on the bones behind your ear on your neck and inhale. All of these should help to relieve the ringing in your ear. You should never put an essential oil deep inside your ear.
Lavender
Lavender oil is used for the relief of tinnitus. It is also known for making a person feel calm, comfortable and less tense. All these feelings are linked to tinnitus especially if it is intense. Lavender oil also has a sweet smell which can help you relax and make you feel sleepy.
Lavender oil is also known to reduce congestion in the nose and airways. It can also reduce stress levels and improve blood flow. The improvement in air and blood circulation and the reduction in tension can help to relieve the stress of the ringing in the ears caused by tinnitus.
Juniper
Juniper oil has many benefits. It comes from the needles, wood and powdered fruits of juniper. As well as smelling nice, juniper has a lot of health uses. One of its uses is it can get rid of nasty toxins from the body. If tinnitus is caused by blood flow problems, then juniper oil can help get rid of the ringing.
Green basil
Green basil may not seem like an obvious essential oil but it has good health properties. It works on the smooth muscle in the body which means it is an effective treatment for tinnitus. Green basil is good for calming down the throbbing or pulsing feeling tinnitus can cause.
Petitgrain
The petitgrain oil comes from the leaves of the bitter orange tree. It has a nice smell which is soothing when going through physical or emotional changes. Just like green basil, petitgrain works on the smooth muscles in the body. This means it is good for tinnitus which has a pulsating or throbbing sensation.
Petitgrain is good for making you feel calm and helping you to feel relaxed. It is especially good if the tinnitus is causing other problems like anxiety or stress.
Cypress
Cypress is thought to be one of the best essential oils for treating tinnitus. It is used to improve blood circulation and calm the nervous system. Tinnitus which sounds like a pulse can be treated with cypress oil. The pulsing can be caused by poor circulation which cypress oil is good improving.
Tips for Using Essential Oils
Essential oils are a good alternative treatment method for tinnitus. You should never just put pure essential oil into your ears as this can be painful or can harm the inside of your ears. You can use pure essential oils, just not directly in your ears.
Massaging essential oils is probably the best way to treat the symptoms of tinnitus. You can apply them:
- Behind the ear
- Over the neck
- On the ear lobe
Apply the oil up to 3 times per day. Remember it may take a while before you see any results, or you may need to try other oils depending on the cause of your tinnitus.