Tinnitus is a physical condition, experienced as noises or ringing in the ears or head when no such external physical noise is present. Tinnitus is usually caused by a fault in the hearing system; it is a symptom, not a disease in itself.

It can vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal or whine, and you may hear it in one or both ears. When the ringing is constant, it can be annoying and distracting.

Tinnitus has many causes - almost everything that can go wrong with our ears can produce tinnitus as a symptom .It may be as simple as wax against the earddrums, or as serious as a tumour on the hearing nerve. Meniere's disease and a stiffening of the middle ear bones can cause tinnitus . However a major cause is exposure to excessive noise e.g. chain saws, machinery, rock concerts.

Most tinnitus comes from damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. The health of these nerve endings is important for acute hearing, and injury to them brings on hearing loss and often tinnitus. If you are older, advancing age is generally accompanied by a certain amount of hearing nerve impairment and tinnitus. If you are younger, exposure to loud noise is probably the leading cause of tinnitus, and often damages hearing as well.

Tinnitus may also be caused by allergy, high or low blood pressure (blood circulation problems), a tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, injury to the head or neck, and a variety of other causes including medications such as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, sedatives, antidepressants, and even aspirin.

Self Help:

1. Reduce the noise source or protect your ears with earplugs, or ear muffs. Leisure noise can also be a hazard, e.g. rock concerts, boom boxes in cars and misuse of a Walkman - never play it loudly.
2. Relaxation therapy - focus your energies away from the tinnitus , stress and fatigue only undermine you. Minimise them by rethinking your lifestyle. Hypnotherapy from a qualified practitioner may help. Also good - sports, hobbies, yoga, t'ai chi, reflexology or massag.
3. Monitor medications. Some common medications cause tinnitus as a side effect or make your existing tinnitus worse. Take special care with medications for arthritis, rheumatic diseases, some antibiotics, and anti-depressants. Also aspirin.
4. Reduce caffiene and alcohol and alcohol as they can temporarily worsen tinnitus for some people. Avoid quinine - as in tonic water. Nicotine and marijuana too. Smoking narrows your blood vessels which supply vital oxygen to your ears and their sensory cells.

There is always another level of healing, maybe you would be wise to consider what it is that you are blocking out, what don't you want to hear??

My mix includes the herbs Fenugreek, Horsetail, Comfrey, Mugwort, Hypericum and Sage along with the Bach Flowers Impatiens, Agrimony and Rescue Remedy. Together these herbs will support and strengthen the bones and nerves involved with well balanced and comfortable hearing.

Rescue Remedy