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Tinnitus Miracle™ A Unique Easy To Follow 5-Step Plan For Curing Tinnitus Using Proven Holistic Strategies
By Thomas Coleman
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Copyright Notice Copyright © 2010 TinnitusMiracle.com. All rights reserved. All content contained within the “Tinnitus Miracle™” book is the copyright © 20052010 of Higher Ways Publishing, Inc. All literary work contained within "Tinnitus Miracle ™" belongs to, and is the sole property of its author, and has been reprinted with permission. Reproduction, copying, or any other form of use of the content contained within the book is strictly forbidden without express permission from the author personally. If perjury is discovered, the offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Note: The owner of this book is permitted to print one hard copy of this e-manual for personal use. These rules have been established to protect the rights and ownership of the author, and to ensure that the work is upheld as the author’s own.
Notice: This is NOT a Free Book. You do NOT have resell rights of this book. I invested years of research and it took me 6 months to create this resource. If you have purchased this book from anywhere other than TinnitusMiracle.com, including eBay, please report that website to
[email protected]. Thank you.
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Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify information that has been provided in this publication, neither the Author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretations of the subject matter herein. Any perceived slights of specific persons, peoples or organizations are unintentional. The Author neither makes, nor attempts to make any diagnosis or cure, or prevent any disease.
This publication is an informational product based on my own experience and research, and it has not been evaluated by either the FDA or the medical profession, and is not aimed to replace any advice you may receive from your medical practitioner. The Author and Publisher assume no responsibility or liability whatsoever on behalf of any purchaser or reader of these materials. The author is not a doctor, nor does he claim to be. Please consult your primary care physician before beginning any program of nutrition, exercise, or remedy. By consulting your primary care physician, you will have a better opportunity to understand and address your particular symptoms and situation in the most effective ways possible.
As always, before applying any treatment or attempting anything that has been mentioned in this book, or if you are in doubt, you should consult your physician and use your best judgment. If you fail to do so, you are acting at your own risk. You, the buyer or reader of this book, alone assume all risk for anything you may learn from this book. TinnitusMiracle.com, Higher Ways Publishing INC., the publisher and Thomas Coleman are not liable or responsible for any increase in severity of your Tinnitus, or for any health problem you may encounter should you give up medical treatment.
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By choosing to use the information made available on the Tinnitus Miracle website and in this book, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Higher Ways Publishing Inc. and TinnitusMiracle.com from all claims (whether valid or invalid), suits, judgment, proceedings, losses, damages, costs and expenses, of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorney's fees) for which Higher Ways Publishing Inc. and TinnitusMiracle.com may become liable, resulting from the use or misuse of any products sold through the TinnitusMiracle.com website.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION:........................................................................................................ 12 The Story of Tinnitus................................................................................................ 12 My Story .................................................................................................................... 13 What This Book is About..................................................................................... 22 How This Book Is Organized.............................................................................. 23 Why Settle for Less Than a Cure?..................................................................... 26 Chapter One:................................................................................................................ 28 How Your Hearing Works....................................................................................... 28 The Outer Ear .......................................................................................................... 28 The Middle Ear ....................................................................................................... 32 The Inner Ear .......................................................................................................... 36 Maintaining Balance ............................................................................................. 38 The Vestibulocochlear Nerve ............................................................................ 41 How Things Can Go Wrong ................................................................................ 42 Chapter Two:............................................................................................................... 51 Everything You Need to Know.............................................................................. 51 About Tinnitus............................................................................................................ 51 What Is This Noise in My Head? ....................................................................... 51 SIDEBAR: You’re in Good Company ............................................................. 55 Determining Your Tinnitus Type ..................................................................... 56
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The Noises You Hear............................................................................................. 61 What Causes Tinnitus?......................................................................................... 63 Let the Statistics Talk: A Closer Look at Two Important Surveys ....... 74 Today’s Treatments for Tinnitus...................................................................... 79 Chapter Three:............................................................................................................ 89 Diagnosing Your Tinnitus....................................................................................... 89 Comparing Your Symptoms to Others’ .......................................................... 89 The Personality Characteristics........................................................................ 91 That Sufferers Share ............................................................................................. 91 Getting Help: The Tinnitus Consultation and Examination .................... 94 Testing for Tinnitus .............................................................................................. 98 The Emotional Side of Tinnitus ......................................................................101 Things That May Help Your Tinnitus............................................................104 Discovering Your SPADE Levels .....................................................................106 Case Studies ...........................................................................................................112 Chapter Four: ............................................................................................................121 Tinnitus and the Emotional Brain .....................................................................121 The Phantom Perception ..................................................................................121 Is It All In the Ear? ...............................................................................................122 SIDEBAR:
The Three Categories That Cause Tinnitus........................123
Tinnitus and Your Inner Ear ............................................................................125 Tinnitus and the Emotional Brain..................................................................125 The Volume and Frequency of the Sounds You Hear..............................128
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Understanding and Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Tinnitus .................130 Chapter Five: .............................................................................................................132 The 5-Step Holistic Approach to Getting Rid of Your Tinnitus................132 Step 1: ..........................................................................................................................133 Proven Dietary Changes and Herbal/Vitamin Supplementation To Tackle Tinnitus.........................................................................................................133 How Food Allergies May Be Aggravating Your Tinnitus........................134 A Healthy Diet for Someone with Tinnitus .................................................135 Tinnitus Food Savers..........................................................................................136 Tinnitus Food Sinners........................................................................................139 What You Should Be Doing To Help Your Tinnitus .................................141 Herbal Supplements That May Help .............................................................141 What Vitamins You Need to Reduce Your Tinnitus .................................147 How Exercise Can Help......................................................................................148 Step 2: ..........................................................................................................................150 Powerful immune System Enhancenent plan to Reduce Tinnitus.........151 What is the Immune System? ..........................................................................151 How Does the Immune System Work?.........................................................153 How do Blood Cells Work? ...............................................................................155 Building a Strong Immune System ................................................................158 How Does Tinnitus Affect the Immune System?.......................................164 How Can Vitamins Help your Immune System? .......................................165 Foods to Boost Your Immune System ..........................................................167 8 Great Immune Boosters.................................................................................170
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Herbs for a Healthy Immune System............................................................172 How exercise CAN Help you Get a Healthier Immune System.............173 Step 3: ..........................................................................................................................176 The 4-Point Tinnitus Retraining Program......................................................176 Introduction:
The Treachery of Tinnitus ...............................................176
How the NeuroPhysiological Model Works................................................177 Section One: The Components of the NeuroPhysiological Model.....185 Section Two: The Basics for the Retraining Plan....................................194 Section Three: The 4-Step Retraining Plan to Get Rid of Tinnitus ....197 Step 4: ..........................................................................................................................232 Detoxifying and Cleansing Your Way to Tinnitus Freedom .....................232 Why Cleanse? ........................................................................................................232 General Fasting Guidelines...............................................................................239 the Tinnitus miracle-Three-Day Juice Cleanse..........................................244 During The Juice Cleanse ..................................................................................256 Helping The Organs Of Elimination To Remove Toxins.........................258 Preventing Re-Absorption of Toxins Into The Blood Stream...............262 Colonics ...................................................................................................................270 The Healing Crisis and How To Survive It ..................................................272 Getting Rid Of Parasites – One-Week Program .........................................275 Liver Detoxification ............................................................................................277 Step 5: ..........................................................................................................................280 Using Hypnotherapy to Reduce Tinnitus........................................................280
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Regression Therapy............................................................................................282 Ego State (Parts) Therapy ................................................................................282 Suggestive Therapy.............................................................................................283 Hypnosis Session For Tinnitus Reduction ..................................................284 What to Do During the Program ........................................................................295 Reducing the Impact of Loud Noise ..............................................................299 Trying Habituation Therapy ............................................................................302 Helpful Suggestions for Dealing with Morning Tinnitus........................303 How Stress Affects Tinnitus.............................................................................304 Reducing Stress ....................................................................................................305 Control Your Anger .............................................................................................308 Get Enough Sleep .................................................................................................309 Taking an Active Role in Beating Tinnitus..................................................310 Appendix I:.................................................................................................................312 Alternative Medical Treatments for Tinnitus................................................312 Homeopathy ..........................................................................................................312 Acupuncture ..........................................................................................................316 Yoga ..........................................................................................................................318 Osteopathy .............................................................................................................320 Healing and Fringe Therapies .........................................................................320 Appendix 2:................................................................................................................322 Medications for Tinnitus.......................................................................................322 Anti-Anxiety Medications .................................................................................322
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Anti-Depressant Medications ..........................................................................323 Anti-Convulsion Medications ..........................................................................324 Special Note: ..........................................................................................................325 Appendix 3:................................................................................................................326 Tinnitus Associations.............................................................................................326 The American Tinnitus Association ..............................................................327 Tinnitus Association of Canada.......................................................................327 British Tinnitus Association.............................................................................328 Hope for Hearing Foundation..........................................................................328 H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education & Awareness for Rockers)........................329 The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ................................................................................................................329 Vestibular Disorders Association...................................................................330 American Speech Language Hearing Association ....................................330 American Academy of Audiology ...................................................................331 Links & Other Resources...................................................................................332
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INTRODUCTION: THE STORY OF TINNITUS If you or someone you know suffers from Tinnitus, you will know the havoc it can cause and how it can wreak your life. Beyond just a ringing in the ears, Tinnitus causes severe non-stop noise in the head. Some people have actually gone mad and even committed suicide while trying to stop these “thoughts.”
If you’re reading this book, then you know all about the decibel damage Tinnitus can cause to your physical and emotional well being. No one can truly understand the distress and frustration you are feeling unless they’ve lived with this painful noise themselves. But I can! You see, I’ve experienced exactly what you are experiencing right now – the unrelenting buzz, ring and banging in my head that made me question my own sanity. I too was a Tinnitus sufferer, with the important word here being was.
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MY STORY
I was 29 years old and experiencing life at its fullest. My days were hectic. I was handling responsibilities at work, and coming back home to face homework with the kids; running them from activity to activity; finding quality time for my spouse and all the other stuff modern families have to deal with. The stress was mounting, but still I was in control. Unfortunately, that was about to change.
One evening after work I headed to a local restaurant with some friends for some much needed R&R. After spending three hours in the noisy restaurant, sitting next to the piano player, my head ached as the dins of the evening continued to ring in my head for hours.
The next morning I was surprised to notice that a slight ringing was still left in my ears. Not thinking much of it, I headed off for another busy day at the office. Little did I know that my life was about to take an unexpected turn.
Within a few days, that slight ringing became a noticeable buzz, and it was followed periodically by loud bangs. Before long, the noise that started as a nuisance was beginning to grind on my nerves. My head felt like it was going to explode. No matter what I tried, I could not get away
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from that ear piercing noise -- day or night it was there, and it was beginning to take its toll.
A trip to my general practitioner did no good. He thought maybe it was just a migraine induced by stress. I tried relaxing more, and that helped (a little), but still I couldn’t get rid of that constant buzz in my ears.
Several weeks and several visits later, the doctor began to suspect that something was indeed wrong, and initiated a series of tests to rule out anything serious. After undergoing what seemed like endless round of tests, we finally had a diagnosis: Tinnitus.
“Whew” I thought. “Now we can fix it.” It wasn’t long before my relief turned into panic as the doctor explained that there is no cure, or even much treatment for this condition. I would simply have to learn to live with it like the thousands of other sufferers who are walking the planet.
“Live with this constant pounding in my head!” I thought. “How in the world am I going to do that?” After a couple of months, I went to see a doctor (who was also a psychiatrist), and described the unbearable situation I was in. He
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recommended several prescription medications, anti-anxiety drugs, muscle relaxers and a set of anti-depressants.
Needless to say, it didn't help at all.
I travelled from one doctor’s office to another looking for some relief – any relief! The noise was growing worse – some days reaching 70 or even 80 decibels – and I needed help!
My life was no longer my own. I couldn’t work (the loud noise in my ears was making it impossible to deal with my many responsibilities at the office); I was short tempered with my family (after all, they didn’t realize that every little noise they made aggravated an already precarious situation); my health was suffering (I couldn’t eat or sleep normally); and I was becoming more and more depressed. I was reaching my breaking point and I knew it. Something had to be done and it had to be done quickly, or I was going to lose my mind. It was time to take action!
I took a few weeks off from my work. I switched several doctors and complained about the stabbing pulsing sounds and other symptoms I was experiencing. But it seemed that surgery was the only option – this was the only answer I got. Unbelievable I thought, only to later find out
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that in the vast majority of cases, surgeries are completely unnecessary and can often lead to irreversible results.
Deep down, I felt that there must be another option, a healthier alternative.
I stopped taking the prescription medications and muscle relaxers. I was determined to find a natural solution to my problem, despite what my doctors had recommended.
I became obsessed with the subjects of holistic health and nutrition. I wanted to find out everything there was to know about how to cure Tinnitus and prevent it permanently – I was absolutely consumed by this quest. So I started studying - and hard! I bought every book on ear infections, nerve damage, sinus issues, sound therapies, oriental medicine, detoxing, dieting, and nutrition that I could get my hands on.
I spent hours at the library swallowing stacks of books, journals and magazines about Tinnitus, hearing loss, and nutrition and I read every word. I have literally read hundreds of medicine books from cover to cover. My library quickly grew to over 537 health and nutrition books, and I had read every word almost to the point of memorizing them.
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But I didn't just read. I interviewed countless other Tinnitus sufferers and endlessly picked the brains of every doctor, herbalist, homeopath and naturopath... those who were kind enough to lend me a few minutes of their time and fragments of their expertise and knowledge to help me find a solid solution to my Tinnitus.
Book knowledge and interviews is one thing, but it's not the same as knowledge from actual experience. Scientific facts, figures and theories weren't enough.
I tried other types of prescription drugs (anti-anxieties and antidepressants) and took muscle relaxers, vitamins and oriental medicinal herbs daily with high hopes for a change. I bought numerous "white noise" CDs and attended plenty of noise therapies, but to no avail.
I have also tried every Tinnitus treatment known to science and natural health with conviction, desire and hope that it will make a difference. I sincerely hoped that it will finally eliminate my Tinnitus and bring me my life back.
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Over the years I have spent a small fortune trying every type of product and treatment you can think of. I have tried: herbal remedies, Cellfood Oxygen, tonics, habituation, detox diets, vitamin therapy, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, macrobiotics, reflexology, Chinese Medicine, vegetarianism, the Wai diet, magnetic therapy, the mucus-less diet, the blood type diet, psychiatric treatments and what not.
While I did find some minor relief, but it was always temporary and the ringing in my ears came back with a vengeance, and sometimes it became even worse than what it was before the treatments. I just could not sleep. I was stressed, angry and depressed all the time. The extreme sleep-deprivation along with the immense anxiety and stress I was experiencing, took its toll and I even started to hallucinate. I started to see blinding lights in the middle of the day as I was walking or driving, and there were many other weird experiences as a result of the extreme emotional state I was in. My condition had become much more dangerous and frightening than ever, when I almost crashed into a street sign on the way to my doctor.
Tinnitus was now a lot more than a tormenting noise in my ears. It had become a real and meaningful threat to my life. Facing no other choice due to the extreme condition I was in, and its potential consequences, I scheduled a surgery to fix my Tinnitus with high hopes that this was the final resort. I wasn't specifically thrilled by
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the idea, but after my doctor mentioned the success rate of all Tinnitus surgeries and praised their effectiveness at reversing the disease, I decided to go under the knife.
The surgery took about 4 hours, and after I woke up, I felt an amazing relief. Several days after I was released from the hospital, the operation seemed to be working. The volume of the ringing in my ears had decreased and it seemed that there was finally hope for me. I started sleeping better at nights and became the old relaxed fellow my loved ones had known to appreciate and relate to.
But my hopes soon crashed. In less than a month, I started feeling an excruciating pain and pressure in my ears and the ringing in my ears were back - but this time the noise was louder than ever. I seriously felt like my eardrums were about to explode. What a NIGHTMARE I thought! My worst fears had come true. I immediately called my doctor and shouted that my Tinnitus was back and it was even worse. I already knew what he was going to say: that it takes several months to see results and sometimes the condition becomes severe before the patient experiences relief (as I read about the recovery process of Tinnitus surgeries years before) - but this was not a recovery process! I tried with all my powers to convince my doctor that such a loud noise cannot be part of any recovery and that, the surgery had probably failed. But all my arguments fell on deaf ears.
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Three months went by slowly and painfully and by the fourth month, as my Tinnitus condition became worse than ever, I visited my doctor. He apologized in a very formal and polite manner and said he was sorry that the operation did not work, and that he could not help me.
Out of sheer desperation, I purchased additional alternative medicine books on Tinnitus and was amazed to find out that most, if not all of them, offered partial dietary advice along with vitamins and special herbal supplements. These approaches don't work either! I know because I tried them all, and I still suffered from severe Tinnitus.
Not the kind of person who readily gives up, I decided enough was enough. If the dozen or so doctors that I had seen couldn’t offer any help, I would find it on my own. Maybe it was frustration, or maybe it was a sense of self preservation that drove me forward on my quest to treat my own Tinnitus, but I was determined to find a cure for myself and the others like me – and guess what -- I did!
Sure, it took months of reading, studying and experimenting, but I finally found the right combination of treatments that have since eliminated the noise I hear in my ears. I’ve reclaimed my life and you can too!
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After more than 12 years of diligent work and in depth research on a daily basis, after experiencing several eureka moments and after a long process of trial and error and dozens of interviews and self experiments, I applied my years of training to finally uncover the solution to Tinnitus. From all the truths and evidence, misconceptions and lies... the Tinnitus puzzle was finally solved. It took me more than a year to polish and refine my discovery and in the end, I applied it myself with great hopes and passion and to my sheer amazement it worked - after few weeks of following it. It took me a few years with a lot of research to get where I am today. To know exactly what works and what doesn't. Yes, after desperate trial and error, countless of useless treatments, disappointments and agony, a simple holistic system opened the door to my new and much brighter Tinnitus free life. I was also excited to see that my Tinnitus and other related symptoms (such as the minor hearing loss I had) had completely diminished. After years of suffering, I was finally free from Tinnitus! Now, I’m no medical doctor and I can’t promise you that you will find instant relief from your Tinnitus symptoms. But, I do know that there is help out there. Through the years that have followed since my own battle with this horrendous condition, I have uncovered dozens of homeopathic remedies for treating and curing Tinnitus, and I’m going to share them all with you in the pages to come.
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WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT
This is not your standard book on Tinnitus. My guide goes beyond explaining what Tinnitus is (although I do that too). I’ve designed this book to be a road map to recovery, walking you through every stage of the disease from diagnosis and testing to traditional as well as holistic treatment, to help you find your own path toward the freedom from the noise that is disrupting – and ruining – your life.
I’ve been where you are, and that’s why I’ve written this book: to share what I’ve learned with other sufferers to help you overcome your own Tinnitus, and finally find relief from the constant buzzing, hissing, humming, swooshing, screeching, ringing and other sounds that are filling your head and disrupting your life.
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HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED
I’ve organized this book in several sections, beginning with an introduction of the ear and how your hearing works. After all, if you don’t completely understand how your body is intended to function, how can you figure out how best to treat it when things go awry?
Next, I’ll explain to you what Tinnitus is, and what may be causing your symptoms. I’ll also offer some simple lifestyle changes that you can adopt in your daily routine to help relieve some of the noise you are hearing until you can find your own complete cure.
In section three, the guide will focus on the statistics of Tinnitus, and offer you a survey to take, to see the degree of your symptoms so that you can devise a better treatment plan.
Once you know what Tinnitus is; how it is caused and what type of Tinnitus you suffer from, it’s time to look at some basic treatment options that are available. This will help you get started on your recovery journey, while you learn more about diagnosis, triggers and more.
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Some of the traditional and holistic treatments discussed in this section include: · acupuncture · vitamin & mineral therapies · herbs · laser treatments · Tinnitus retraining · ECT · Maskers · Drugs & Steroids · Neuronomics · DTM System · Ear Candling · Hydergine · Hypnotherapy and Biofeedback
Of course, you can’t figure out the right treatment for Tinnitus until you have a solid diagnosis. So that’s what we’ll discuss in the next chapter: recognizing your symptoms; getting tested for Tinnitus; learning the
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role emotions play in treatment and diagnosis; figuring out your individual symptom triggers; measuring the sounds you hear; and more.
As an added bonus, I have also included a section in the book to explain Tinnitus and the Emotional Brain. This section will discuss Phantom Perception; how Tinnitus affects the inner ear and your emotional brain.
Finally, in the last section of the book, I’ll outline my own 5-Step Holistic Plan to Getting Rid of Tinnitus called “From Noise to Silence.” I consider this the most important section of the book since it gives you practical ways to stop the noise in your head once and for all. Here is just a sampling of what you’ll learn in the last section of the book:
Step One: How your diet can increase the severity of your symptoms, and how simple dietary changes and Vitamin supplements can actually decrease the noise levels you hear in your ears and head? Step Two: How to use your immune system to better control (and even eliminate) your Tinnitus symptoms? Step Three: A Powerful 4 Point Tinnitus Retraining Program
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Step Four: The Tinnitus Miracle – Unique Detoxification and Liver Cleansing Protocol. Step Five: Using Hypnotherapy to tune out your Tinnitus. This section includes a unique script for self hypnosis that has proved to decrease the volume, intensity and frequency of Tinnitus and it can help you relax and regain your inner peace as well. While instituting the five step program, you’ll also learn what role stress plays in increasing your Tinnitus symptoms, and how to be more active in beating and combating stress in your life so that you can live without Tinnitus. Other important things you’ll learn include: · how to use sleep and exercise to your advantage · recognizing and eliminating harmful toxins from your environment · reducing the impact loud noises will have on your treatment · treating your Tinnitus using Habituation Therapy
WHY SETTLE FOR LESS THAN A CURE? The odds are, you have heard it over and over again: there’s no treatment for Tinnitus - learn to live with it. I ask: Why? Just because today’s scientists haven’t yet found a “drug” that works to treat all types of Tinnitus, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a way to stop those
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symptoms and live noise free! Tinnitus affects one in ten people. Isn’t it about time they find a relief? I say yes, and I’m going to show you how! If you are ready to take back the control Tinnitus has taken from your life and experience a quieter and calmer existence, than keep reading: you are about to get started on the path toward a whole new life. Still skeptical? Keep reading anyway. After all, what do you have to lose but a little excess noise?
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CHAPTER ONE: HOW YOUR HEARING WORKS Before we can even begin to discuss the causes of Tinnitus and how to get rid of it, you must first understand how your hearing works. So, let’s learn more about the workings of the ear…
Although we use our sense of hearing all day, every day, most of us take it for granted until there is a problem. Whether it’s the annoyance of a constantly ringing phone or a sweet whisper from a loved one, hearing is one of the most important ways we experience and interact with the world. Scientists are learning more and more about how the sounds that enter our ears are translated into information that we need to understand the world around us. The process by which sound is captured and funneled into our ears is simply mechanical - it is not a chemical process like the others that are related to our senses of sight, taste and smell. As we will see, each part of the ear has a job to do in collecting and transporting sound to the brain.
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THE OUTER EAR
When we think of our ears, we generally think of the pinnae, which are the visible protrusions of our ears. Some of us may have large ears, others small, but they all serve the same function: to collect the sounds around us and transport them to the inner ear where they are sent as signals to the brain. The shape of our ears is ingenious -the curves of the outer ear, which are made up of cartilage are not simply decorative, they serve to funnel the sounds in the atmosphere into the ear canal. The ear is actually much more than what is visible to the eye.
How sound is Made and Carried To understand the function of the ears, we should take a moment to discuss how sound is created and how it travels. Sound waves are the result of vibrations that travel through our atmosphere - basically the bumping together of particles of matter through the collision of air particles.
Wherever the vibration is made, the sound will be carried, even in water or in earth. However sound cannot make its way through water or earth, as well as it can through air. You probably realized that when you were a kid and tried to talk to your friends underwater in the pool. You found that the sounds were muffled and were hard to hear. This happens
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because the inertia created by the water molecules stifles the movement of sound when it passes through water. In the air by contrast, sound waves are able to move freely and can be heard clearly.
The speed of the vibrations created by an object which is emitting sound, make a difference in the pitch of the sound we are able to hear. A high pitched sound is the result of very quick vibrations; and a low pitch sound conversely, is the effect of slow vibrations. These sound waves are picked up by the outer ear and channeled into the interior components of your ear.
Designed for Hearing Humans have pinnae (the outermost part of the ear) which point forward and have a myriad of curves that catch the sounds that are traveling all around us. Unlike other mammals, human beings cannot move their ears in the direction of sounds. If you have a dog, you have probably seen him perk up his ears and turn them to the side and forward again, attempting to find the source of the noise. Predatory animals as well as their prey use their ears to hunt and to hide, respectively. Human ears are positioned more for communication than for hunting, but you can augment your ability to hear by cupping your hand behind your ear, and this channelizes the sound more effectively. If you have larger than average ears, take heart - you actually hear
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better than your smaller eared friends, because your large pinnae can collect more sound than smaller ones!
Our brains are able to interpret the distance and placement of sound because of the way the sounds reach our outer ears. A sound that is coming from the front of you will be collected and channeled, and then translated differently from those sounds that are coming from behind your back. You are able to place the sound horizontally - whether it is coming from the left or right because the sound waves will actually reach the respective ear faster. If your son is calling you and he is standing to your left, the vibrations he is creating will hit your left ear, before they make it to the right. The information that gets transferred to the brain will alert you that the sound is coming from your left side.
The Ear Canal Measuring roughly an inch in length and about ¼ inch in diameter, the ear canal carries the sound that is captured by the pinnae into the middle ear - to the eardrum. The canal is funnel shaped and sloped to ensure that no water is collected close to the eardrum under normal conditions. It is sized and shaped for maximum efficiency in delivering sound to the middle and the inner ear, and also to keep the area free from infection.
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Earwax Earwax, also known as cerumen, is produced in the outer part of the ear canal to lubricate and clean the interior part of the canal. Earwax should not cause problems for most people as it helps to rid the ear canal from dead skin cells. Earwax also defends the ear against dirt and infection. Many people resort to using cotton swabs to remove earwax and actually end up doing more harm than good when they push the wax back into the ear canal towards the eardrum. When it comes to wax, a hand off approach is best and you should never put anything into the ear canal.
THE MIDDLE EAR
The Eardrum As sound waves travel down the ear canal, they will quickly move through the outer ear and hit what we generally refer to as the eardrum. This tympanic membrane separates the outer ear from the middle ear and serves as the sensory component of the ear. This tiny membrane is not even half inch in size, but it is constantly working and responding to the many air fluctuations that occur in the atmosphere. Every sound wave that enters the ear canal through the outer ear will hit the ear drum and cause a reaction.
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The stiff and rigid piece of skin will be pushed back and forth by the air particles of sound in relation to their pitch, volume and even distance. A high pitched sound will vibrate the tympanic membrane very quickly; a loud sound will vibrate it for longer intervals to represent the intensity of sound. The eardrum is the beginning of the interpretation of sound waves into information for the brain to process.
In situations where there are competing levels of sound, the eardrum will help you to focus and concentrate your hearing on higher pitched sounds, and essentially drown out the louder and lower pitched sounds. This would come into play if you are on the playground with your kids and you are trying to carry on a conversation with your friend. Your eardrum helps you zero in on what your friend is saying and relegate the playground noise to the background. When auditory conditions are less than optimal, the eardrum will actually protect you from loud and harmful noises. A very loud low pitched sound will cause the tympanic muscle to contract sharply and not vibrate in its normal way, thus lessening the amount of sound that will travel to the brain.
The Ossicles So far, sound waves have traveled through the air. First, a sound was collected by the pinnae and pushed into the ear canal; second, the eardrum reacted to that sound by vibrating according to the pitch and volume. The next section of the middle ear will do the work of
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amplifying that sound so that when it reaches the fluid of the inner ear, it can stand up to the increased inertia that awaits it. The Ossicles are a series of bones that react in conjunction with the vibrations created by the eardrum. If you can imagine a set of dominoes - with each one tipping over the next, you will have some idea of how these bones work in conjunction with each other to transfer the vibrations from the ear drum into the inner ear.
As we have already discovered, the middle ear is an air filled space that is occupied by three tiny bones: the malleus, the incus and the stapes. Commonly referred to as the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup respectively, these bones, although very small, do the big job of moving sounds into the inner ear. When the eardrum vibrates, it transfers that energy to the malleus, which is actually connected to the eardrum. The malleus moves back and forth, side to side; and this in turn moves the next attached bone, the incus. The incus takes that energy and transfers it to the stapes. The stapes is positioned to impact the cochlea, which make up the fluid filled chamber of the inner ear.
Amplification takes place in the middle ear because the bones are perfectly designed to work together, and their interaction increases the forces of pressure on the cochlea as they bump up against each other. The size of the eardrum in comparison to the size of the bones helps this amplification process. Because the eardrum is larger than the Ossicles,
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the energy can be actually multiplied as it is conducted through these bones. The smaller parts sustain a greater impact, and therefore pass on more energy to the next component than the eardrum would on its own.
The Eustachian Tube Anyone who has ever suffered a head cold knows that the ears are connected to the nose, and this connection occurs in the middle ear through the Eustachian tube. A small tube leads from the middle ear to the Nasopharynx. The tube supplies the counter-pressure of air to the eardrum, making the air pressure on both sides of the small drum equal. It also helps to clear the middle ear of congestion and in doing so, prevents any infection. If you have felt the sensation of popping in your ear, it is the effect of air pressure on the Eustachian tube versus the exterior pressure of the ear canal.
When you yawn, chew or swallow, you usually hear a small clicking sound in the ear - this is the pressure equalizing between the Eustachian Tube and the ear canal. If you have flown in a plane, you may have experienced popping and clogging of your ears - maybe you chewed gum or tried to yawn to rid yourself of this annoying sensation. You were letting the interior pressure that is provided by the Eustachian tube through the Nasopharynx to rise to an equal level with the exterior pressure that was passing into the ear canal. If this cannot be achieved,
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as is the case with a person who flies when he or she has a cold or sinus congestion, it can be very painful and can even cause the eardrum to burst.
THE INNER EAR
As we continue our journey into the ear, let’s revisit what we have already discussed. Sounds created by compression and rarefaction in the atmosphere are collected by our ears - namely the pinnae or external protrusion of the outer ear. This sound travels down the funnel-like ear canal until it reaches the ear drum. This tympanic membrane vibrates in response to the moving air particles that make up sounds waves. This vibration puts into motion the Ossicles - the tiny bone structures that transfers the mechanical energy of sound and amplifies it as it passes through each in turn: the malleus, the incus, and the stapes. Once the stapes receives the amplified vibrations, it impacts the cochlea and brings us to the inner ear.
Up to this point, all sound has been traveling through air, which we know is much easier than traveling through water. But at the inner ear, sound will encounter fluid for the first time and the way in which it travels to the brain changes dramatically. The inner ear is commonly referred to as the labyrinth due to the shell-like cochlea that makes up
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the space. Much of the work of hearing is done in the inner ear, and it is the last stop for sounds as they make their way to the brain in the form of information.
The scala tympani, the scala vestibull, and the scala media are the tubes in the inner ear, and they are curved together into a shape that appears like the shell of a snail. These tubes are separated by extremely thin membranes that move the sound along the tubes, and move the pressure that is created when the stapes moves against the cochlea as a whole. The basilar membrane is made up of tiny hair cells – there are tens of thousands of them, which react to differing frequencies in the sound that is being pushed through the cochlea. The hair cells identify resonant frequencies in the sound waves that are transferred through the cochlea. These create electrical impulses that are transported to the brain and interpreted as recognizable sounds.
Scientists are still working on a thorough understanding of just how the brain is able to interpret these electrical pulses into language, music, or just plain noise. The ear is a complicated and sophisticated system, which takes an external stimulus and uses mechanical energy to transfer that information to the brain. As we learn more and more about how we hear and what we hear, the ear appears even more remarkable!
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MAINTAINING BALANCE
There is more going on in the ear than just hearing, though that one activity is amazing in itself. The ear is part of the body’s mechanism of balance that involves sight, input from the muscles, and the vestibular system of the inner ear. The vestibular system is the central command of balance in our bodies, and if things aren’t functioning correctly in this small part of the inner ear, it can mean big trouble for our whole body. It’s hard to imagine that an area so tiny could control so much! But, the inner ear is responsible not only for hearing, but also for maintaining balance.
The vestibular system There are three semi-circular canals in the inner ear and these, along with the utricle and the saccule make up the vestibular system, which controls balance and gives us a sense of our body’s position.
If you have ever spun around to make yourself dizzy (or watched someone else do it), you were witnessing this system at work. The fluid in the semi-circular canals act in response to our movements: in this case the spinning. When you stopped spinning, the fluid kept spinning for a moment or two, or longer. If you were spinning for a long time, it gave you that “off-balance” feeling. You essentially played a trick on
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your vestibular system to make yourself dizzy, and your muscles responded to that trick by functioning incorrectly, and this is what made it difficult for you to stand or walk. Basically, your vestibular system was giving your brain the signal that you were still spinning, when in fact, you had stopped.
Let’s take a closer look at what happens in the inner ear with regards to balance to get a better understanding of the importance of this function.
The utricle and saccule determines the position of your head all the time, every moment of your day. As you turn your head from side to side, these two fluid filled cavities send signals to the rest of your body to adjust and adapt to the changes. We are designed to keep the head in line with the body, and these two do the work. They contain not only fluid, but also tiny hairs that are suspended in a jelly like substance as well as crystals or chalky substances that interacts with the hairs in the utricle and saccule. These crystals get pushed up against the hairs that are dependent on the movement perceived by the inner ear.
The three semi-circular canals serve much the same purpose, but they sense movement, rather than the head position. They are in perpendicular position to each other so that they are able to detect all types of movements, and send the necessary signals to the brain to
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maintain balance throughout the body. They also contain hair cells that act in response to the movement, and generate the information that is carried to the brain, and then to the muscles in your body to keep you from feeling dizzy.
The Other components The inner ear is like home base for the system of balance we rely on every day, often without even thinking about it. The other components that work in conjunction with the inner ear are also essential to maintain balance and interpret the signals that originate in the inner ear.
Sight is an important factor in maintaining balance. Signals the inner ear is sending about head positioning and movement will generally be aligned with the signals your eyes are sending. It is primarily because of this that we see what we feel. In some situations however, there is a mismatch, and this can leave you feeling queasy and nauseous, or it can also give you a terrible headache. Consider the plight of the child with car-sickness. Sitting in a car may not look like movement in the way we normally think about it. In other words, the child isn’t running or spinning, or playing, but his body, particularly the inner ear, is sending signals that he is in movement. If he is looking down and reading while riding in the car, his eyes will signal that he is still, but his vestibular
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system is responding to every curve in the road. The sight doesn’t match the feeling and he will end up not feeling so good.
The cerebellum is the portion of the brain that is connected to the vestibular nerve, which transmits signals regarding balance to the brain. When a sudden loss of balance (such as missing a step on your way upstairs or stubbing your toe) occurs, the brain gets an instant message that there is danger to the system of balance. Involuntarily, you will move an arm or shift your weight to the other foot to keep your balance and avoid a fall. This is your vestibular system at work.
Your muscles are the final component in the system and when everything is working correctly, they receive the information from the brain to keep your body in line. Picture a child walking along a wall or a beam: the child will effortlessly know when to put a hand out to the side or how to correct his/her posture to keep balance and stay on the line. Now, picture an inebriated adult trying to pass a sobriety test. The person’s brain function is impaired by alcohol and the messages from the brain to the muscles are slow and fuzzy. No matter how much he/she tries, the person will be unable to walk a straight line by putting one foot in front of the other.
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THE VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE
The nerve that takes the information, both auditory (sound) and vestibular (balance) to the brain is known as the Vestibulocochlear nerve. One of the 12 cranial nerves, this sensory nerve is responsible for the transmission of information about the sounds that enter the ear canal and the movement of the head or body.
Just imagine yourself on an amusement park ride, such as a roller coaster. Your ears are in overdrive as the sounds of the screams around you, and maybe your own are entering your ears. At the same time, your vestibular system is working hard to make sense of all the input it is receiving in terms of both head position and movement. Your eyes are probably sending mixed signals to your cerebellum, and you will feel that jump in your stomach when you are going over each hill on the coaster. Your Vestibulocochlear nerve is taking all this information and passing it on to your brain, which in turn is making sense of it all and sending its own information to the muscles to compensate for all the competing signals it has been given.
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HOW THINGS CAN GO WRONG
We’ve talked a lot about how your ears work, how they allow you to collect and interpret sound, and even how the fluid in your ears can help you maintain balance. Most of this happens every day, every minute of every day, and without much notice. You may remember certain sounds you have heard, your baby’s cry, your mother’s voice on the phone, or your children’s laughter, but you won’t be thinking about the mechanics of hearing or balance too much, unless there is something wrong and only when it is not working as it should.
There are many factors that influence your ability to hear and hear well, and your sense of balance. Even the smallest thing, like an overabundance of earwax can undermine your hearing. Of course, there are also serious hearing and balance problems that need to be treated medically. Let’s take a look at the most common hearing and balance difficulties.
Swimmer’s Ear This has been named swimmer’s ear because it generally occurs when the ear has been exposed to water or humidity for an extended period of time. This condition is also known as acute external otitis because it is an infection of the ear canal. When the ears are frequently submersed
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in water, the production of cerumen, or earwax and its acidity (that normally protects the canal) are diminished. This leaves the ear canal vulnerable to bacterial infection.
While swimmer’s ear is not generally serious, it should be treated by a physician to avoid a chronic condition or even cellulitis, which is a deep tissue infection that can become very serious. A person with swimmer’s ear will experience pain, especially when the outer ear (pinnae) is touched or moved. A reduction in hearing is normal as the sufferer will hear sounds in a muffled way, because the sound funneling capability of the ear canal is diminished. Usually treated with a topical ear drop, swimmer’s ear is a common, but usually not severe condition of the ears.
Earwax Impaction One of the most common causes of a decrease in hearing is the overabundance of ear wax in the ear canal. Some people just produce more earwax (a condition that is medically known as cerumen) than others and their ears do not easily rid themselves of the skin cells and other foreign matter that the earwax collects. Also, many people mistakenly use cotton swabs in an effort to remove troublesome earwax, unknowingly making the problem worse by pushing the wax back into the canal to the ear drum. Your doctor will tell you that you should never put anything into the ear canal. You should rather use a
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washcloth on the external portion of the ear. This should be enough to keep your ears clean.
There are many over the counter remedies that can help in earwax removal. Most of them depend on a combination of peroxides and oils to soften and remove the earwax slowly. If the problem becomes too difficult to handle, a doctor should be consulted to thoroughly remove the impacted wax. Many people with this problem don’t even realize that their hearing has been impaired by it until they have the wax removed.
Ear Infection Otitis Media, or a middle ear infection, seems to be part of childhood, and indeed, this is one of the most common childhood illnesses. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that three out of four children have had at least one ear infection by the age of three. Untreated, ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss. Many children who suffer from chronic ear infections will experience some loss of hearing. The first line of defense against ear infection will be the use of antibiotic. When a child either becomes resistant to the medication or simply continues to suffer with ear infections regardless of treatment, a myringotomy is performed. This procedure, done under general anesthesia, involves the placement
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of drainage tubes in the ear canal that removes the fluid build up associated with frequent ear infections.
Middle ear infections are rarely a problem for adults, but they can still happen. This treatable illness should not lead to long-term hearing loss if it is diagnosed on time and treatedappropriately.
Meniere’s Disease A serious condition of the inner ear that affects both hearing and balance, Meniere’s Disease affects about half a million people in the United States. Commonly attributed to an imbalance in the fluid in the inner ear, which is responsible for hearing and to maintain balance, this disease is most common in middle aged people. The main symptoms of Meniere’s Disease are vertigo, loss of hearing, Tinnitus and aural fullness.
Vertigo is the term for the sudden feeling of a loss of balance that is inconsistent with your actual surroundings. Tinnitus (which we will revisit in the next section) is the sensation of ringing in the ears. Aural fullness refers to a blocked feeling in the ear canal. With Meniere’s Disease, the symptoms are generally one-sided in respect to the hearing problems. The disease can cause lifestyle complications as the sufferer would be battling hearing loss and dizziness. It also shares some
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symptoms with other more serious conditions such as high blood pressure, or heart disease, and so a doctor should be consulted to rule out other serious conditions and to treat the illness.
Common treatments for Meniere’s Disease include anti-nausea medications and diuretics, as well as lifestyle changes such as reducing salt intake and avoiding caffeine. In severe cases, surgery may be the only option to regain balance.
Tinnitus Of course Tinnitus is the reason why you’re reading his book, so let’s take a quick peek at the condition. Commonly experienced as a ringing in the ears, Tinnitus is a condition that affects many people, and the causes can vary from something as simple as ear wax blockage or stress, to the serious condition of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. A person with Tinnitus will complain of ringing, whistling, buzzing or other persistent noise, in the absence of a source of this noise. For some people it is a constant sound, for others it comes in short spurts. In either case, it is an annoyance and can be a signal of underlying problems in the ear or elsewhere. Subjective Tinnitus is the condition where only the person suffering with the condition can hear the sounds; and objective Tinnitus can be heard by a doctor when examining a patient.
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Some of the causes of Tinnitus include: · Earwax buildup · Age related hearing loss · Extended exposure to loud noises · Inner ear damage · The presence of tumors in the head and neck · High blood pressure · Hardened arteries · Use of some medications such as antibiotics and diuretics as well as aspirin
Tinnitus can develop in people of all ages, but is most common in men over the age of 65. You are also at risk of developing the condition if you have been repeatedly exposed to high noise levels over a period of time, such as working on a construction site without ear protection.
There are few medications that can safely and effectively treat Tinnitus lifestyle changes and ear wax removals are good first steps toward alleviating the symptoms of Tinnitus. Changes in medication or addressing such issues as high blood pressure may help, as well as a thorough cleaning (by your doctor) of the ear canal. Hearing aids may
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be of assistance, as well as white noise machines that help to mask the constant noise occurring in the ears. Doctors have found that certain anti-depressants may help with Tinnitus, but the side effects make them a last resort. Prevention may be the best defense against Tinnitus, of course if you don’t have it already. Protecting the ears from loud noise, whether you are using the lawnmower or going to a concert, will go a long way toward ensuring your auditory health in the future. Keeping your cardiovascular system healthy is another indirect way to protect yourself against a myriad of illnesses, even those that are not directly associated with the heart.
The Amazing Ear From the outer ear to the inner ear, this small sensory organ does a big job, and one we usually take for granted as long as everything is working as it should. On taking a closer look however, it should amaze us when we find just how perfectly and ingeniously our ears really function. As you are reading this, your ears are responding to the sound waves in the air around you - maybe you have the radio on and music is playing, or maybe someone in your family is talking on the phone. You are able to make sense of that input even as you are able to concentrate on reading this article.
Your ears collect sound and transfer it as mechanical energy to the brain, where it is translated and understood as language, music and
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sound. You are able to tell the difference between people’s voices and even tell if your best friend has a cold when you are talking to her on the phone. The human ear is an amazing organ that is able to control both sound and balance and keep the entire body on an even footing.
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CHAPTER TWO: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TINNITUS If you suffer with Tinnitus, you’re not alone. Nearly 66 million people in the U.S. alone will experience some degree of Tinnitus in their lifetime. For most, the sudden onset of noise in their ears will go away relatively quickly. Unfortunately for one in 10 people, it will not. If you are indeed one of the unlucky ones who find the noise in your head continuing to grow worse, you will need to learn more about this crazy condition. You will need to know why this buzzing and ringing in your ears appear out of nowhere and drives you crazy day and night without end.
WHAT IS THIS NOISE IN MY HEAD?
To truly understand Tinnitus, you must understand how the ear works. That’s why we took so much time to discuss your hearing in the last chapter. Here are the basics: sound is carried though the ears like a moving wave. When this wave hits the eardrum, it makes it and the tiny bones throughout the ear vibrate. These vibrations create sound. If
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something interferes with normal vibrations, the brain may think it hears sound when it doesn’t. This is Tinnitus.
A lot of things can cause this breakdown between your ear and your head, but for now, we’re only going to talk about the three main causes of Tinnitus:
1. Brain Lesions Now before you panic, it is important to understand that the brain lesions we are talking about here are not deadly. These lesions just cause Tinnitus. Such brain lesions do not (and will not) cause other malfunctions within your body.
It has been estimated that more than 90 percent of people suffering from central Tinnitus -- which originates from the brain and not the ear – will have side to side perfusion asymmetries involving the medial temporal lobe system when scanned by advanced SPECT imaging.
Most neuroscientists believe that it is this area of the brain where memory and stress meet, and this is the area that is probably linking emotions and the memory – including the memory of sound. The key here is to remember that Tinnitus is simply the re-running of sound
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memories that are already heard in an unending loop. Therefore, when the emotion linked to a certain sound is felt, the patient will hear the sound again, even if it doesn’t exist at the moment. By breaking the emotional tie of Tinnitus, some researchers believe that the sufferer can stop the noise altogether. We will discuss a variety of ways you can break both the emotional Tinnitus tie and the memory loop. But first, there’s more to learn about Tinnitus.
2. Damage to the Cochlea As we’ve already discussed, the Cochlea is the small part of the inner ear that looks a lot like the shell of a snail. Although small, it is essential because it helps us hear properly. Within this shell-like tissue are tiny sensory hairs that tell the brain when sound is heard. Any damage at all to these miniature sound detectors can severely affect your hearing. Something as simple as exposure to a one-time loud sound (like gunfire or an explosion) or even sitting at a loud concert for a few hours can cause temporary hearing problems. But sometimes, if the noise damage is more severe, it can cause the tiny Cochlea hairs to bend or even break, thus permanently damaging them.
When Tinnitus is caused by excessive noise, it is due to the breakage of these sensory hairs, which results in a misfiring of electrical impulses that randomly tell the brain that sound is being heard when it isn’t.
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3. Stress We all know that stress can play havoc with our hearts, immune systems and other vital organs. But did you know that it is also a main culprit that causes Tinnitus?
The Hypothalamus controls many systems in your body, including the pituitary gland, which oversees the endocrine organs and the autonomic nervous system. One of the main jobs of the Hypothalamus is to produce chemicals that are needed by the body to function normally. Unfortunately, it is very susceptible to stress, shock and grief, and these causes may interfere with its chemical production. When this happens, there may be a breakdown in communication between the ear and the brain, causing the brain to respond as if sound has been heard, even when all is quiet. This is Tinnitus.
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About Tinnitus
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YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY
One day you seem to be hearing normally, and the next you experience an uncanny buzzing, pounding or screeching in your ear that only you can hear. At first you may think that you are the only one on planet Earth hearing these things. But, you’re not! You’re in good company. It has been estimated that one in every 10 people are walking around hearing similar Tinnitus noises, and some of them are quite famous including the former President Ronald Reagan; the famed singer Barbara Streisand and actors Peter Townsend, William Shatner and Tony Randall.
Want to learn more about the others out there who are suffering from Tinnitus? Here are a few facts that have been compiled by researchers at the Oregon Health Sciences University: · 42% of Tinnitus sufferers can link no direct cause to their symptoms · 51% of sufferers noticed their Tinnitus coming on gradually, while 39% reported a sudden onset of symptoms · 53% of sufferers only report hearing one noise; while the rest may hear three or more noises at a time
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· 44% of sufferers report sleeping problems, at least on some nights due to the noises they constantly hear · Only 2% of Tinnitus sufferers report a reduction in noise without any type of therapy
DETERMINING YOUR TINNITUS TYPE
There are many different types of Tinnitus, and your treatment can depend a great deal on which type you have. For instance, while most sufferers actually hear noise that is not present, some people can actually experience an exaggeration of both external noises in their environment, as well as internal noises that their body constantly makes.
To see what type of Tinnitus you may have, let’s take a look at some of this affliction’s main categories:
Objective Tinnitus You may not be aware of it, but your body makes a lot of noise throughout the day. Your heart thumps, your lungs extract, and your arteries pulsate among other things. Although these sounds are
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constant, few of us ever notice them. So, if our bodies are so noisy, why don’t we hear what’s going on? There are several reasons for this. Firstly, most of our organs are insulated by protective tissues, muscles and skin, and because of this the noise is kept down. But, the most important reason why we don’t normally hear our body at work is because our brain filters out (or simply ignores) these normal noises. Until they change, thus signaling trouble, the brain simply doesn’t let us “hear” the noises within. That’s a good thing too, since they would likely drive us mad if we did notice every sound our internal organs made.
There are people however, who can hear the sounds within their body. This is called objective Tinnitus.
For those with objective Tinnitus, these internal bodily noises become more acute (and noticeable), causing hearing distress, and it seems that there is no way to get away from the constant noise.
One way to better understand objective Tinnitus is to become aware of the most common sound culprits within the human body:
1. The Circulatory System – one of the most common causes of objective Tinnitus is the flow of blood through larger
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vessels in the head or even small arteries in the ear, or those that lead to the ear. 2. The Heart – the heart can beat quite loudly at times, so people with an acute awareness of sound may easily pick up on the noise it makes. 3. The Skeleton – you may have thought that your skeleton remains relatively silent throughout the day, but that’s wrong! Next to circulation, the skeleton (usually the bones in the jaw, neck and back) is the biggest source of objective Tinnitus. The most common cause includes some type of injury, deterioration or arthritis. Of course some people report clicking joints in other parts of the body as well, but in Tinnitus, what affects most are the ones that are nearest to the head and ears. 4. The Soft Palate. While muscles rarely cause any type of Tinnitus noise, the contraction of the soft palate has been reported to be a source of Objective Tinnitus.
Subjective Tinnitus All-too-often, a patient describes the sounds he/she hears only to be told that it is merely in the head. When no outer or internal noises can be found to be the root cause of a patient’s Tinnitus, it is considered subjective. This in no way means that the patient isn’t
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hearing these sounds, or that they are only imagined. The sounds of Tinnitus are real. It’s just that, sometimes no one else can hear them, or is able to find a reason for them.
Whether a reason can be found for the malfunction or cannot be found, it does not mean that the brain is not recording or replaying previously heard sounds in the sufferer’s head. As a matter of fact, most subjective Tinnitus is eventually linked to some sort of malfunction within the body, including the auditory center and the nervous system. When this happens, the malfunctioning organ or system may actually send sound impulses to the brain, telling it that a sound has been heard, even when it hasn’t. This can cause confusion with the medical community regarding what is really being heard, and what sounds are only perceived.
Another source for subjective Tinnitus is all those unknown internal sounds that originate deep within the body itself. If no one else has ever reported hearing a certain sound before, it may be considered subjective, when in reality, it is actually objective. This is because it is indeed a real sound that is being made by the body, and one that only the patient can hear.
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Stereo vs. Mono Tinnitus Tinnitus presents itself in a lot of different ways, but the most common are in relation to how loud the noise that the person hears is (their frequency); how often they are heard (their duration); and how many are heard. While the majority of Tinnitus sufferers report only hearing a single noise at a time, as many as 26% report hearing two noises and 6% can hear three or more at a given time.
In addition, sufferers may hear noises in one or both the ears at a time; or the noise may move from one ear to another in a type of stereo effect. In rarer cases, it has been noted that some sufferers experience the sensation of noise without really hearing it per se.
These types of stereo Tinnitus may be even more severe if such noises feature an especially high frequency on an ongoing basis.
Significant vs. Insignificant Tinnitus It can be especially difficult to determine how significant an individual’s Tinnitus is due to the simple fact that, different people react to the noise created by the disorder in different ways. While one person may be able to tolerate several different noises at a lower frequency, others hearing just one continuous buzz at a higher volume may find the disorder disabling.
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Generally speaking, if the Tinnitus is more sporadic, despite its volume frequency, the patient will be able to deal with its symptoms better. Many sufferers admit that it isn’t necessarily the loudness of the noise that they find so distressing, but the constant nature of it. “If only I could get a break,” many report, “I could handle it.”
For diagnosis purposes, insignificant Tinnitus is simply Tinnitus that is experienced occasionally, and the patient is able to “live with” it during an attack. Significant Tinnitus on the other hand is considered more debilitating, and can cause other serious problems such as depression, immune system deficiency and even hearing loss.
THE NOISES YOU HEAR
Tinnitus can be experienced by hearing any type of ongoing noise, but the most common include: · Ringing Sounds. The most common Tinnitus symptom, which is ringing in the ears, usually refers to a constant shrill telephone-like ring that patients hear. · The Babbling Brook. This type of sound is rather undefined in nature, but annoying nonetheless.
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· Hissing. Like the steam escaping from a boiling tea kettle, this is an especially unnerving high-pitched sound. · Buzzing · Humming · Clicking Sounds. Much like the tapping of computer or typewriter keys, these clicking sounds can either be experienced in a random form, or in a uniformed sequence or rhythm. · Whistling. Although the type of whistling sounds heard vary, one thing is usually experienced by all patients – its constancy. · Chirping. Much like the sound of a bird chirping. · A low-pitched throb · Growling
Of course, some patient’s report more unusual sounds such as: · Music Notes · Shrill Voices · Bits of conversation. This may be caused by the brain replaying bits of old conversation or sensitivity to nearby voices.
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· Clanking or Clatter. This is much like the sound you hear when metals bang against each other.
WHAT CAUSES TINNITUS?
While traditional medicine treats a patient’s symptoms with the right mix of medications, homeopathic therapy hinges on finding out what’s going wrong within the body and fixing it. This requires finding the root cause of your Tinnitus to treat it. This isn’t always easy. Tinnitus can be caused by a lot of things, and often, patients discover that their symptoms are caused by a combination of triggers.
To help you discover the probable root cause of your disorder, let’s look at some of the main causes of Tinnitus:
Noise Considered as one of the leading causes of Tinnitus, noise can affect the ears in two ways: ·
A single incident of high volume, high frequency noise like what you hear in an explosion or gunfire close to the ears. When strong enough, a single loud noise can actually
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destroy the hair like receptors in the ear, which informs the brain that a noise has been heard, and this causes the brain to continuously run a loop of the last noise heard. · Prolonged exposure to noise. When your mother told you to turn down the stereo or risk damaging your ears, she wasn’t kidding. People who work in noisy environments over a prolonged period of time may damage the Cochlea, which can cause Tinnitus.
If you notice that your Tinnitus gets worse when you are in noisy environments, be sure to take these important precautions to avoid a painful bout of symptoms: · Wear proper ear protection · Avoid being near the stage or amplifiers at concerts, movies or other noise producing events · Have your hearing monitored regularly
Earwax Removal The right amount of earwax is good for you. It protects our eardrums by repelling moisture; works as a barrier against infection and traps insects before they can reach the inner ear. Of course, too much earwax can cause problems.
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A build up of earwax (especially on the ear drum) has been linked to Tinnitus. The good news is that, most patients report a complete recovery once the excess wax is removed. So be sure to have a doctor clear out your ear canal to avoid damage.
In some rare cases, patients have reported Tinnitus symptoms following earwax removal. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. Most doctors feel that patients were already experiencing some degree of Tinnitus before the wax removal, and only became aware of it once the cloudiness in their hearing was cleared by the cleaning.
A Blow to the Head The ear can be damaged by a lot of things, and sometimes it has little to do with your ears, and more to do with your head. Tinnitus has been linked in many cases to a mild to severe blow to the head; dental surgery; and even sports accidents.
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Ear Infections Severe and repeated ear infections can also damage the Cochlea, thus causing Tinnitus. For most people, the trouble begins during the infection, and continues past the recovery phase.
Trauma Since stress can be a serious indicator of Tinnitus, it’s no wonder that unforeseen traumatic events in our lives can trigger it. It is not uncommon for people who have lived through the death of a loved one; a serious accident; fire; flood; natural disaster; or some other traumatic event to experience temporary (and in some rare cases permanent) Tinnitus.
Sinus Infections Chronic sinus infections and allergies cause the mucous in the inner ear to thicken, and this ultimately builds up and increases the pressure in the inner ear, thus causing Tinnitus.
Sinus or allergy induced Tinnitus is usually a direct result of an adverse reaction to the medications taken to relieve sinus symptoms. It is these medications that cause a buildup of ear mucous and pressure that
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causes the Tinnitus. The most common sounds associated with sinus Tinnitus include: · a clucking or cracking sound · high pitch ringing · gurgling or whirring sounds · a periodic ringing that comes and goes in the affected ear
Meniere’s Disease A chronic disease of the inner ear, Meniere’s Disease is caused by an increase of fluid in the ear canals. This can severely limit the balance; cause vertigo, vomiting and of course Tinnitus. If the Meniere’s itself can be successfully treated, the Tinnitus symptoms often go away. If not, the disease will progress, eventually robbing the sufferer of all hearing, which too will take away the Tinnitus.
Aspirin Those with a high sensitivity or allergy to Aspirin may experience a constant ringing in their ears after taking it.
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Prescription Medications All prescription drugs have side effects. Unfortunately for some people, Tinnitus may be one of them. The following is a list of medications that have been known to cause Tinnitus in some patients when taken in excess:
Aspirin and Aspirin containing medications
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) such as Advil, Aleve, Anaprox, Clinoril, Feldene, Indocin, Lodine, Motrin, Nalfon, Naprosyn, Nuprin, Poradol and Voltarin. Antibiotics – Aminoglycosides, Erythromycin, Vancomycin
Loop Diuretics such as Lasix, Endecrin, Bumex
Chemotherapy Agents – Cisplatin, Nitrogen Mustard, Vincristine
Quinine – Aralen, Atabrine (for treatment of malaria), Legatrin, Q-Vel Muscle Relaxant (for treatment of night cramps)
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Antidepressants – while some anti-depressants can reduce Tinnitus in many people, there are others that actually cause or worsen it.
For a comprehensive listing of all the medications that may cause Tinnitus, or worsen its symptoms, check the American Tinnitus Association’s website at www.ata.org.
SPADE (stress, panic, anxiety, depression and emotional illness)
Yes, there is a link between stress, panic, depression and emotional illness (otherwise referred to as SPADE) – and that’s good news! Why? This is because each of these conditions can be treated, and so, if your Tinnitus is caused by SPADE, then it can be treated too.
Stress Stress can be one of the most overlooked causes of Tinnitus. While stress in itself doesn’t cause Tinnitus, but it can still set you up for its effects by inhibiting your immune system; causing a misfire in your sound/brain waves; and adversely affecting your nervous system, among other things.
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Panic More than half of all panic attack sufferers also experience some form of Tinnitus. While little research has been done to explain why this happens, but from the researches that have been carried out, it is clear that panic disorders and Tinnitus are related. So if you can get rid of the panic, you can get relief from the Tinnitus symptoms as well.
Anxiety Though anxiety and stress may appear similar, but in reality they are not the same. Anxiety creates an internal fight or flight response among those who are suffering, and this heightens their senses, including their hearing. This may be one of the reasons why Tinnitus sufferers are often more anxious than non-sufferers. It isn’t necessarily the Tinnitus that is increasing their anxiety, but their anxiety is actually triggering a heightened sense of hearing, and this is what causes objective Tinnitus.
Depression Those with Tinnitus often become depressed due to a lack of control over their symptoms. Of course, this can worsen the problem, and when this happens, the person experiences Tinnitus attacks – both the volume and frequency appears bad. Whether or not Tinnitus causes depression or depression causes Tinnitus is not clear, but a clear link between the two does exist and must be considered when treating both disorders.
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Emotional Illness As we have already discussed, any amount of serious emotional upset or upheaval (including some mental illnesses) may be a precursor to Tinnitus. This of course does not mean that Tinnitus sufferers are CRAZY! It does mean that severe stress; trauma and emotional problems can cause the disorder and also increase its severity.
Hearing Loss Any type of hearing loss may result in a phenomenon that is known as loudness recruitment. This causes severe fluctuations in the pitch and volume a patient hears, as his or her ears and brain try to adjust to the hearing loss. This fluctuation can cause Tinnitus symptoms since the affected person may suddenly find that he or she has become much more sensitive to certain types of sound and/or noise.
Ototoxicity The word Ototoxic actually means “ear poison” which is surprising since drugs containing these properties often cause hearing problems. Among the most common Ototoxic culprits are anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. For some reason, these medications often cause Tinnitus in some people. The good news is that, if an anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen is causing your Tinnitus, it is likely that the
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symptoms will decrease or disappear once you have stopped taking the medication. Antibiotics on the other hand, often cause permanent damage. So if you experience ringing in the ear (or any other noises) after taking a specific medication, you should immediately report it to your doctor and see if you can switch to another medication to eliminate any toxicity you may be experiencing.
TMJ The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw to the eardrum. If it is worn out or damaged in any way, it can interfere with the sound waves, thus causing Tinnitus. One way to see if TMJ may be a cause of the ringing in your ear is to see if the volume or intensity of the ear noise changes when you clench your teeth. If it does, TMJ may be a factor. The good news is that, TMJ can be treated, and this can ultimately alleviate much of your Tinnitus discomfort. Some simple tricks that you can use to alleviate your TMJ related Tinnitus problems include: 1. Tightly clenching the back of your teeth 2. Applying resistance to your forehead with your fist as you push your head forward 3. Opening your mouth to its widest possible point
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Tumors The word tumor often incites fears of cancer. Rest assured, when we discuss the possibility of a tumor in relation to Tinnitus, we mean an unusual swelling in the tissues of the ear or a type of benign mass that may be affecting your hearing.
The most common tumor related to Tinnitus is called an acoustic neuroma, which affects the nerve that runs from the inner ear to the brain. Although surgery can be used to remove the mass, it has only alleviated the Tinnitus symptoms in about half of the patients who have tried this.
Age As we age, most of us begin to experience some degree of hearing loss. For some people, this loss can be more pronounced and debilitating. Unfortunately, as you begin to lose your hearing due to age, some pitches may come through louder than before, causing a degree of temporary Tinnitus.
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LET THE STATISTICS TALK: A CLOSER LOOK AT TWO IMPORTANT SURVEYS
The OHSU Tinnitus Survey More research is needed in the areas of Tinnitus if we hope to continue to help the sufferers. That is why the Oregon Health Sciences University has teamed up with the National Tinnitus Association to conduct a variety of research studies through the University’s Clinical Research initiative at the Oregon Hearing Research Center.
Directed by William Hal Martin, Ph.D., the Center encompasses a wide variety of areas of study, including Tinnitus. Some of their findings have helped both sufferers and medical practitioners better understand this disorder and know how to treat it.
Some of the things their research has uncovered include:
How Tinnitus Presents Itself According to OHSU research, more than half of all Tinnitus sufferers begin to notice their symptoms gradually, with 39% reporting a sudden
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onset of symptoms (in less than a week), and about 7% reported that their Tinnitus progressed over a period of about one month.
What Patients Think Caused Their Symptoms While 42% of all Tinnitus sufferers don’t have any idea what caused their symptoms in the first place, many have linked the onset of their symptoms with specific events including: · extended exposure to noise · a head or neck injury · a sudden one-time noise like fireworks, a car backfire, an explosion, etc. · medical conditions or medication
The Extent of the Tinnitus As we discussed earlier, Tinnitus can present itself in many forms. It can be high in pitch or frequency; loud or soft; long lasting or intermittent; or contain one or more noises at a given time.
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Where Are the Noises Heard? In nearly 12 % of all cases, Tinnitus noise travels from one ear to another without notice.
Its Side Effects According to the OHSU study, sleep is among the most important things that are affected by Tinnitus. Nearly half of those studied reported that their Tinnitus affected the ability to sleep and also the quality of such sleep at least sometimes; with 25% reporting that it affected their sleep most of the time.
Another side effect of Tinnitus is irritability & nervousness. More than 70% of study respondents admitted that their Tinnitus caused them to become nervous or irritable, either some or most of the time.
The Most Significant Tinnitus Survey Ever In an attempt to learn as much about Tinnitus as possible, an informal survey of Tinnitus patients was conducted online with the following results:
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Patient Demographics According to information gathered from the online questionnaire, the following was learned about those who suffered from this disease:
· Most Tinnitus sufferers are between the age of 50-59 · More males than females suffer with the condition · The majority of respondents have dealt with the condition for more than 5 years, with new sufferers being the next highest group to respond to the survey · Nearly half of all respondents reported experiencing their initial symptoms gradually over a one month time frame
Tinnitus Causes When it came to citing the cause of their Tinnitus, the following information was gathered from the respondents: · The most common cause of Tinnitus was Cochlea damage (75%) due to exposure to noise (27%); non explosive brief noise (10%); explosions like gunfire or fireworks (11%); a head injury (5%); a neck injury such as whiplash (3%); Barotraumas (lees than 1%); ear infections or inflammation of the inner ear (14%)
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· Stress (35%) · Medications (15%) · Sinus Infections (15%)
The Symptoms of Tinnitus When it came to their symptoms, survey respondents reported the following: · For most people (74%), their Tinnitus became worse with time · The location of the noise remained the same in most patients · Nearly 20% of patients reported that their Tinnitus have moved from one side to both · Nearly half of all respondents reported that their Tinnitus grew louder with time · Nearly 67% reported constant Tinnitus · The left ear seems to be affected more than the right for many sufferers · More than half of all respondents reported a single predominant sound in their Tinnitus
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· The most common Tinnitus sound is ringing
Although not a “scientific” survey, this informal online questionnaire offers a lot of insight into the average Tinnitus sufferer and his/her condition.
TODAY’S TREATMENTS FOR TINNITUS
Here’s the section you’ve been waiting for – treatments for Tinnitus. Now, hold on! I’m not ready yet to discuss the comprehensive 5-Step Plan for getting rid of your Tinnitus quite yet. First, I’d like to talk about a variety of treatment options that are available to give you a better idea about the options you have.
Everyone’s treatment is individual. What causes my Tinnitus probably isn’t causing yours, and thus, what I use to treat my symptoms may not have the same effect on you. That’s why it’s important to know all the treatment options that are available. The odds are that, you’re going to have to devise your own plan of treatment, and unless you know what’s out there to help you, you may miss an important component while you are making that treatment plan.
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Let’s start with a brief overview of some of the most basic forms of treating Tinnitus:
The Holistic Approach Taking a homeopathic or holistic approach to treating your Tinnitus is probably among the best options available right now. Natural Tinnitus treatments work well in treating disabling symptoms without causing harsh side effects, which is what happens with the traditional treatments. The reasons are simple: homeopathic medicine allows the body to fix itself. However this does not mean that the homeopathic medicine is not doing anything. It is actually trying to find out what is triggering your Tinnitus and treating that, and not the noise itself like traditional drug therapy. Secondly, homeopathic medicine relies on minimal doses of medications to alleviate the added stresses of unwanted side effects.
For many patients, the combination of homeopathic treatment with diet, exercise and stress management can offer more relief than any other treatment plan.
Acupuncture More than 2,000 years old, acupuncture is widely accepted as a homeopathic form of treatment for all kinds of conditions and diseases
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such as Tinnitus. Used as a way to rebalance the body’s energy to treat just about any ailment, acupuncture uses the insertion of fine needles at specific focal points to send messages throughout the body. Although traditional western medicine does not acknowledge the positive effects of acupuncture in treating Tinnitus, many sufferers claim to have found relief using it.
Vitamin & Mineral Therapy Latest research shows that vitamin and mineral efficiency can be a leading cause of Tinnitus. Adding sufficient levels of the B Vitamins such as B-1, B-6, and B-12 have all shown success in alleviating Tinnitus symptoms.
Iron deficiency in the body can also cause Tinnitus symptoms as anemia becomes a concern. To see if too little iron is the cause of your Tinnitus or whether it is making the condition worse, make sure that you eat at least 12 to 18 mg of iron rich food every day including dark green leafy vegetables, fish, beans, lean meat and whole grains.
Some minerals that you should be sure to get enough of to find relief from Tinnitus include manganese (2.5 to 5 mg per day) that you will find in bananas, whole grains, beans, green leafy vegetables and cereals, as
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well as choline (500 mg per day) that can be found in soybean’s, brewer’s yeast, fish, organ meats and beans.
Herbal Supplements Herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat both the disease and its symptoms. While there are a number of herbs (which we’ll discuss in-depth in a later chapter), that have been known to treat Tinnitus, it is important to remember here that the purpose of herbology is to find the root causes of a patient’s Tinnitus and treat them using natural plant extracts. Since every person’s Tinnitus is caused by something different, the odds are, your herbal treatment will be unique and different from others. While one patient may find relief by sipping a specially made tea; another may need a salve or something totally different to get rid of the symptoms. That’s why it is so important to find a qualified herbalist or pharmacopeia to determine your own individual treatment options.
Laser Therapy Although not considered a mainstream treatment option, laser therapy has offered relief to some Tinnitus patients.
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Tinnitus Retraining Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) was created by the renowned neuroscientist Pawel Jastreboff in the 1980’s. The concept is simple: when there is no medical evidence to explain the cause of a patient’s Tinnitus, Jastreboff believed that the brain could be retrained to stop hearing the noise. This is done by introducing precise sound therapy to the patient using a white noise generator. By slowly increasing the volume of the white noise the person hears throughout the day, the brain is forced to focus on this real noise, and stop “hearing” the noises of Tinnitus. Although this type of habituation training takes some time, it has been reported to work in more than 80% of all patients, either completely relieving or at least lowering the noise they hear regularly due to their Tinnitus.
Masking It can be hard to relax when the noise of Tinnitus is grating on your nerves. Yet, it is crucial that you try to relax because this will help you control your Tinnitus, especially if it is triggered by ongoing stress. Masking can be a good way to calm your symptoms and block out the world. Listening to white noise can be very soothing to the Tinnitus sufferer because it can camouflage the sounds in the head. This can be an especially good technique to use when you are trying to sleep. Other patients report that calming sounds such as the sound of flowing water,
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breeze and other sounds of nature can help mask the irritating Tinnitus noise.
There are several ways to incorporate masking into your daily life: · Wearing an electronic device in your ear. Resembling a hearing aid worn in the ear, electronic masking devices are available in a lot of variety. Some allow the wearer to retain complete control over the tone, pitch and volume of the masking sounds, while others offer minimal control over what is heard. Keep in mind that while the device may work well in masking out the noise of Tinnitus, you will still have to keep hearing the masking noise, and this can take some getting used to. · Radios, MP3 Players and More. Sometimes masking out the Tinnitus noise is as simple as listening to some soothing music or sounds of nature. · Special Tinnitus Masking Audio Tapes. For those unsure of what type of masking sounds will work best, specially made audio tapes may be the answer. Designed and recorded with Tinnitus sufferers in mind, they feature a variety of masking sounds that many sufferers have found most helpful.
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The best way to determine what masking sounds will work for you is to take notice of any sound that lessons your symptoms during the day. When you find one, record it and listen to it when you want relief.
Drug Therapy There are plenty of traditional medications that can be used to control Tinnitus symptoms. Some of the most commonly used include: · Anti-Anxiety Drugs are often used to treat Tinnitus since it is believed that if you can reduce the excitatory activity in the brain and central nervous system, you will be able to reduce the hyper-sensitivity that can cause your Tinnitus noise. Some of the most common anti-anxiety medications being used to treat Tinnitus include Benzodiazepines, Xanax, Serax and Klonopin. · Anticonvulsant. Although meant to prevent seizures, anticonvulsant medications can be highly successful in treating Tinnitus – they work by reducing excessive stimulation in the brain. Two of the most commonly used anticonvulsant medications used for Tinnitus treatment include Tegretol and Klonopin. · Anti- Depressants. Believe it or not, some anti-depressant therapies have completely alleviated Tinnitus in some
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patients. Two types that work well in treating Tinnitus include Tricyclics and SSRI’s.
Neuronomics One of the newest breakthroughs in Tinnitus treatment includes the Neuronomics device, which has been designed to reduce the symptoms quickly by treating the underlying causes of your Tinnitus. This will surely provide long-term relief from all that noise.
Effective in nearly 90% of all patients who use it, the small device and headphones is used to deliver precisely designed music embedded with a pleasant acoustic neural stimulus to the ears and brain. The sounds used in the devise are customized for each user’s audiological profile to stimulate the auditory pathway and promote neural plastic changes. Over time, these new connections help the brain to filter out Tinnitus disturbances, and provide long-term relief from the symptoms.
When worn two hours every day for several months, the devise helps the brain develop the transmitters that are needed to block out Tinnitus noise naturally. Not a re-training devise or masker, the Neuromonic is actually healing the damage that is causing your Tinnitus symptoms.
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Ear Candling Ear candling isn’t new when it comes to treating Tinnitus. Used to reduce the quantity of earwax in the inner ear, it has proved to be of great value in offering relief to some patients. To perform ear candling, simply place a conical candle into the ear. The heat will draw out the wax. Don’t be surprised if you feel a bit lightheaded after the treatment – this is normal.
Hydergine Known as a “smart drug”, Hydergine is also considered as a possible Tinnitus cure. By stimulating the growth of dendrite nerve fibers in the brain as well as the oxygen flow to the brain, the drug may be able to repair lost connectors between the brain and the ear, and reduce your Tinnitus noise.
Hypnotherapy and Bio Feedback Hypnotherapy and bio feedback can be an excellent way to reduce the stress and negative emotions that Tinnitus causes. In fact, one study recently concluded that nearly 75% of all those who suffered from Tinnitus and underwent hypnotherapy designed for Tinnitus, were able to reduce their symptoms following the treatment.
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When a person undergoes hypnotherapy and bio feedback, he/she is put into a state of ultra awareness, and this is then used to reprogram the brain and get rid of the bad programming that may keep the sounds of Tinnitus running and rerunning through the head.
For people with Tinnitus, the brain tends to hold onto the feelings associated with the illness, and this can worsen the symptoms. To treat this phenomenon, the hypnotherapist must do two things: defuse the emotions the person is feeling in regards to his/her illness, and help the patient’s unconscious mind shift the concentration from the Tinnitus noise.
When audio tapes are used during the hypnosis session, the client is able to self-hypnotize using bio feedback methods whenever the symptoms reappear.
Although both hypnotherapy and bio feedback have been used successfully to treat even the most severe cases of Tinnitus, few practitioners are qualified to work with patients with the disorder.
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Chapter Three:
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CHAPTER THREE: DIAGNOSING YOUR TINNITUS Recognizing the symptoms of Tinnitus and how your individual symptoms relate to others can have a big impact on your formal diagnosis and ultimate treatment.
COMPARING YOUR SYMPTOMS TO OTHERS
It is hard to know just how bad your Tinnitus is. With more than 12 million sufferers in the United States alone, and no real method or test to determine the severity of symptoms, it can be difficult to figure out just how bad a single patient’s Tinnitus really is. Add to that the different ways in which people handle the physical and emotional distress their Tinnitus causes, and doctors can be left feeling just as frustrated as their patients, when it comes to treatment and recovery.
Dr. Aram Glorig, an internationally known forensic ear specialist, and the founder of the American Auditory Society, understood these
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limitations, and that’s why he worked so hard to develop a basic way to rate a patient’s symptoms, using this very basic questionnaire: 1. Do you consider your ear and head noise to be: constant (3); intermittent, but more on than off (2); or intermittent, more off than on (1) 2. Does the noise from your Tinnitus prevent you from going to sleep: yes, frequently (2); yes, infrequently (1); no (0) 3. Are your symptoms worse when it is quiet? Yes (1); no (2) 4. Is it worse when you are not busy? Yes (1); and no (2) 5. What does your Tinnitus noise sound like: a high pitched tone (2); a low pitched tone (2); rushing air (1); static (2); or other (1) 6. How much does the noise in your head and ears bother you: mildly (1); moderately (2); severely (3) Now, add up your score and compare it to the California Scale below: · Slight Tinnitus: 5 or below · Mild Tinnitus: 6/7 · Mild to Moderate Tinnitus: 8/9 · Moderate Tinnitus: 11/12 · Severe Tinnitus: 12 or higher
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THE PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS THAT SUFFERERS SHARE
Now that you have a better idea of the severity of your symptoms, compared to what others are experiencing, it is important to recognize the personality characteristics that Tinnitus sufferers share to better understand the disorder, and how or why it has attacked your hearing.
Although researchers don’t know for sure if the personality characteristics that Tinnitus sufferers share is caused by their Tinnitus, or if these characteristics makes them more susceptible of getting Tinnitus, one thing is for certain and this is that, emotional distress in varying degrees and Tinnitus often go hand in hand.
The different ways in which patients deal with stress seems to be an overriding factor in how well a person can deal with his/her symptoms. However, almost all Tinnitus patients report at least a mild (and in many cases severe) cases of stress in both aggravating and triggering the Tinnitus symptoms.
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Inability to deal with stress and keeping it from inducing the Tinnitus symptoms isn’t the only personality trait sufferers tend to share. Many patients also share these important characteristics: · Insecurities about their hearing loss · Varying degrees of depression · Coping issues · Varying degrees of anxiety · Moodiness · Memory problems · A inability to concentrate · Phobias · Foggy thinking · Feeling out of control/overreacting to situations In addition to sharing personality traits, most sufferers report experiencing these common symptoms when dealing with Tinnitus: · sleep disturbances · ongoing pain in the back, shoulder and neck · tension
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· migraine headaches · chronic intestinal disturbances (nausea, diarrhea, cramps, heartburn) · weight gain/weight loss · eating disorders · hair loss · muscle tension and fatigue · irregular heartbeat and/or heart palpitations · shortness of breath · sweaty palms · chest pain · cold hands and feet · hives, itching and other skin disorders · periodontal disease · jaw pain · fertility issues · a weak immune system
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GETTING HELP: THE TINNITUS CONSULTATION AND EXAMINATION
A true diagnosis of Tinnitus requires an in-depth review of your symptoms and medical history. Many medical practitioners agree that Tinnitus is more a symptom than a disease, and because of this, it is very important to find out the cause of your ear and head noise to treat (or cure) it. The diagnostic process is likely to begin with a consultation with an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist.
Preparing for the First Visit While you wait for your first meeting with the ENT specialist, keep a log of your symptoms (when they start, how long they last, what might have triggered them, etc). This can be invaluable information for the doctor to use in diagnosing any underlying problems that may be causing the noise in your head and ears. This will help the doctor better understand your Tinnitus symptoms to treat them effectively. Be sure to also keep a list of all medications you may be taking, since certain drugs may cause Tinnitus noise.
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What to Expect During Your Consultation Although every Tinnitus consultation is different, you can probably expect these basic things to be covered, no matter what your circumstances: 1. A Complete Physical Exam Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of medical issues, which may or may not have anything to do with your ears and/or hearing. That’s why the specialist is likely to conduct a complete physical to rule out some other medical condition. He may even request a few basic tests, which we will discuss shortly. In the event, the doctor does not think there is an underlying medical reason for your Tinnitus; he/she is likely to proceed with an examination of your ears. This will include: a. Looking for inflammation, tenderness or discharge around the outer ear b. Checking for inflammation, excessive wax or other damage in the inner ear c. Testing the Eustachian tubes to be sure that they are opening and closing properly. This is done by asking you to blow your nose; keep your nostrils shut and then swallow.
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2. A Detailed Series of Hearing Tests Once the physical exam is complete, the next step in your consultation will be to undergo a series of simple hearing tests. A tuning fork may be used first – this is used to determine what pitches and sounds you can hear. The doctor simply taps the elongated fork to make a sound and moves it in different positions around your head while asking you questions about the pitch, volume, etc.
Next, you may be hooked up to a monitoring device called an audiometer, which is used to test your hearing in a variety of different ways. During the test, the audiologist will press a button to send noises into your ears at different frequencies to see which of them you are able to hear, and the various symptoms the noise creates. This comprehensive test is a quick and easy way to track the hearing in each ear, as well as noise sensitivity.
In addition to testing your hearing and sensitivity, a more advanced Evoked Response Audiometric test can also be performed. This test allows your doctor to capture computerized inner ear recordings to determine any problems that may be present in the ear itself.
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3. An in-depth Interview It is likely that you will be asked a lot of questions during your first Tinnitus consultation, and these questions will be both about your general health and your specific Tinnitus symptoms. Here are just a few questions your doctor may ask: · How is your overall health? Have you been experiencing any other health problems lately? If so, explain. · What is your family health history? · Have you held any jobs that put you in contact with loud noises such as machinery; gunfire; explosives; or others? · How long have you been experiencing these noises in your ears and head? · Is only one ear affected, or both. · Do the sounds travel from one ear to another? · What types of sounds do you hear? · Are the sounds constant, or do they come and go? · Are the sounds you hear high or low pitched; loud or soft? · Are you extra sensitive to certain noises? If so, which ones and when? · Do you feel any pain in your head, ears, neck or jaw?
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· Do you experience vertigo or general dizziness? · Have you noticed anything that triggers your Tinnitus? · Is your Tinnitus affecting your physical or mental health? Does it keep you from sleeping? Does it make you feel anxious, depressed or overwhelmed? · Have you experienced any vision problems lately? Numbness or reduced sensation in your limbs? · Are you experiencing any other symptoms which you directly associate with your Tinnitus? What about symptoms that you don’t think are connected?
TESTING FOR TINNITUS
After your initial exam, hearing tests and interview are complete, your doctor may order a series of other tests to try and determine the cause and severity of your Tinnitus. Sometimes, a variety of tests are administered so that the specialist can compare results to get an even clearer picture of your problem. Without a clear understanding of the underlying causes of your head noise, it can be very difficult to treat. So don’t be surprised if your doctor orders one or more of the following diagnostic tests:
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X-Rays Standard x-rays may be taken of your head and jaw to see if there are any structural problems that are causing your symptoms. Sometimes, higher quality tests like an MRI or CT Scan are ordered, and these tests give the doctor an even better understanding.
Tinnitus Pitch Match Sound waves have different frequencies (the number of cycles a sound wave can make in a second), and they range from very high to very low. The Tinnitus Pitch Match Test is used to determine if the tones you hear match their individual frequencies.
Tinnitus Loudness Match The sounds you hear from Tinnitus can be very loud, and can vary from one person to another and even from one situation to another. The Tinnitus Loudness Match test is used to determine how loud your Tinnitus sounds really are.
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Tinnitus Maskability Test Some people find masking their Tinnitus to be a good way to find relief. Others however find it difficult, if not impossible to mask the sounds they hear. This test is designed to help doctors determine if a patient’s Tinnitus can be masked, and if so, how.
Residual Inhibition This test is used to determine how long it will take the noise in your ear to get less or go away after a period of masking. This is an efficient way to determine the best treatment.
Although each of these tests is considered non-invasive, they are all performed differently, depending on the patient’s symptoms and tolerance levels. And thus, it is difficult to completely describe how they will be performed. That’s up to you and your doctor.
While some test results may be available immediately, do keep in mind that more often than not, it’ll take days or weeks for the doctor or doctors you are seeing to evaluate and compare the results and determine the best course of action to treat your Tinnitus.
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More About Testing Some of the best ways to learn more about Tinnitus testing is to research the internet; speak with people who have undergone the same tests you will face; or contact one of the many Tinnitus organizations, support groups and other resources that have been listed in the back of this book.
THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF TINNITUS
As we’ve already discussed, Tinnitus can play havoc with your emotions. It can cause both mental and physical strain, and Tinnitus can become harder to deal with as the condition progresses. It is thus more important than ever to undergo testing and diagnosis as soon as possible to find relief. Since it can cause trauma in just about every sufferer, the emotional side of Tinnitus must be considered when you are trying to establish a treatment plan. The simple act of worrying about your Tinnitus can make it worse – and this can make it harder to treat. In addition, a lack of sleep caused by the noises you hear can cause fatigue and a break down in your immune system.
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Many sufferers report that their Tinnitus interferes with their daily activities, not to mention relationships. Unable to continue with “life as usual,” these patients often feel isolated and begin to withdraw from normal activities just when they need them the most. Even their job may suffer as they find it more and more difficult to concentrate or even function due to the constant noise ringing in their ears.
Haunted by the sounds in their ears and head, many sufferers find themselves growing increasingly more anxious and depressed. And with that comes the frustration of not understanding what is happening, and they can be left feeling as if there is no help available. But there is! If you take the time to learn about the feelings that go along with your illness, you can better understand your illness and learn how to cope more efficiently.
Many people with Tinnitus go through the same stages as others who are suffering from serious medical conditions such as denial, anger and frustration, hopelessness and depression. Acknowledging these feelings doesn’t mean that they will stick around.
Sure, you may wonder why this is happening to you and grieve the fact that you may never be the same person you were before. You may even experience a degree of fear that things will never be the same; that
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you’ll lose your job; your family; and even your sanity. Rest assured, these are all natural and normal things to feel.
The good news is that, eventually you will be able to accept your condition and learn to move forward despite the fact that you are obviously suffering. This is when you’ll be most receptive to finding help.
Another important thing to remember when you are trying to deal with Tinnitus is that, it can cause upheaval for your family and friends too. The fact is, it isn’t just a problem for patients to deal with, but for everyone who cares about them.
Family members must watch their loved one as they battle the pain and frustration of Tinnitus, as well as its myriad of devastating symptoms. In addition to the insomnia, depression and moodiness of the Tinnitus sufferer, those closest to him/her must sometimes also deal with the person emotionally closing off from those whom he or she loves and lives with.
Keeping the lines of communication open is especially important for maintaining solid relationships despite the ups and downs of the Tinnitus sufferer.
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THINGS THAT MAY HELP YOUR TINNITUS
How you treat your Tinnitus will depend a great deal on your individual symptoms; how you react to different treatments and so on. Everyone reacts differently to Tinnitus, and therefore a person will need to find his or her own method to treat it. Thankfully, there are a lot of options, although finding the right one for you may take some time, patience and further investigation. In the meantime, here are some of the more common ways to reduce the noise within, while you and your doctor look at ways to permanently cure your Tinnitus.
Changing Your Environment Noise itself can have a big impact on your Tinnitus symptoms and how you deal with them. For some people, reducing or eliminating loud sounds in the environment is absolutely essential to their recovery. Staying clear of noise or wearing ear plugs can be a big help when you are trying to reduce the extra noise you hear in your ears.
Listening to more soothing sounds and masking white noise can also be used to both drown out the sounds of Tinnitus, and retrain the brain to stop hearing them altogether.
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Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Maintaining overall good health can also help you reduce your symptoms. This includes eating a well-balanced diet; staying away from caffeine, smoking and stress; and exercising regularly. The immune system that isn’t working properly can actually cause your Tinnitus symptoms to worsen. So it is very important that you should try to control high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases to better manage your Tinnitus.
Medication to the Rescue As we’ve already discussed, there are medications that can help you beat the symptoms and this includes anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants and anti-depressants. Only your doctor can prescribe heavy duty drug therapy, so be sure to discuss all the pros and cons of these medications. Do ensure that you understand the side effects each of these may cause.
Using a Hearing Aid As we’ve learned, hearing loss can be a trigger to Tinnitus symptoms, and thus it is obvious that if you can improve your hearing, you’ll be able to reduce the extra noises in the head. This can sometimes be accomplished by using a hearing aid. These aids seem to be most useful for all those people whose hearing loss is in the range between 100 and
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4,000 hz frequency – anything higher, and it could actually increase the Tinnitus symptoms.
Hearing aids work by amplifying the ambient noise, and this allows the wearer to hear more of the sounds around and concentrate less on the sounds that are reverberating in the head. Of course this can take some time. Most users don’t report instant relief from their Tinnitus once they’ve begun using a hearing aid. Most say that they didn’t begin to notice any noticeable difference until they’ve become comfortable with the device, and this can take weeks for some people.
DISCOVERING YOUR SPADE LEVELS
Stress, panic, anxiety and depression are all emotions (SPADE) that are linked to Tinnitus. As we’ve discussed, no one is certain which comes first, but one thing is clear: treating the symptoms can offer the much needed relief from Tinnitus in those who exhibit high SPADE levels.
Although an unofficial way to track your stress levels, the SPADE tests can give you a good idea whether your emotional state of mind in the past 18 months or so could have contributed to your Tinnitus.
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Developed by stress researchers Holmes and Rahe many years ago, it is still used by doctors today to rate a person’s stress levels.
To take the test, put a check mark next to each category that has applied to you in the last 18 months. If you have experienced more than one item in a category, place two checks there, counting them both in your final tally. Ready to get started? Check for the following: Death of a spouse (100 pts) Divorce (73 points) Marital Separation (65 points) Jail Term (63 points) Death of a close family member (63 points) Personal injury or illness (53 points) Marriage (50 points) Loss of your job (47 points) Marital Reconciliation (45 points) Retirement (44 points) Change in a family member’s health (44 points) Pregnancy (44 points) Sexual Difficulties (39 points)
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Addition to the family (39 points) Business Readjustment (39 points) Change in financial status (39 points) Death of a close friend (37 points) Change to a different line of work (36 points) Change in the number of marital arguments (36 points) Loan over $10,000 (31 points) Foreclosure of mortgage or loan (30 points) Change in work responsibilities (29 points) Child leaving home (29 points) Trouble with in-laws (29 points) Outstanding personal achievement (28 points) Spouse stops or begins work (26 points) Starting or finishing school (26 points) Change in living conditions (25 points) Revision of personal habits (24 points) Trouble with boss (23 points) Change in work hours or conditions (20 points) Change in residence (20 points)
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Change in recreational habits (19 points) Change in social activities (18 points) Change in church activities (19 points) Loan under $10,000 (17 points) Change in sleeping habits (16 points) Change in number of family gatherings (15 points) Change in eating habits (15 points) Vacation (13 points) Christmas Season (12 points) Minor Violation of the law (11 points)
TOTAL STRESS POINTS:
Evaluating Your Results According to research, more than half of those scoring above 300 will experience health problems during the testing period, while only 10% of those with scores under 300 will face health concerns during the same time.
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Panic More than half of all Tinnitus sufferers also suffer from some sort of panic disorder. Although little research has been conducted to better understand this link, most Tinnitus professionals believe that there is a strong correlation between the two.
Anxiety Like stress, anxiety can heighten your senses – even your hearing. Tinnitus sufferers who exhibit high levels of anxiety often report more severe symptoms. The good news is that, anxiety is a learned response and can be treated very successfully with hypnotherapy and self hypnosis techniques, and this can in turn improve your Tinnitus.
Depression It has been found that treating depression can lower your Tinnitus and reduce any distress you may experience due to the disorder. More than just “feeling blue,” true depression needs to be diagnosed by a professional using a simple screening technique. This is not a sign of weakness - asking for help to treat your depression is a sign of great strength, and this can be the first step to your road to Tinnitus recovery.
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Emotional Disorders In some people, Tinnitus can also be caused by an emotional disorder and if left untreated, it will only cause the noise in your head to grow louder and more acute.
Ruling Out Any Dangerous Reasons for Your Tinnitus Don’t treat your Tinnitus until you know what’s causing it! After all, you wouldn’t get rid of a symptom that’s trying to alert you of a more dangerous problem!
Although most causes of Tinnitus are not life threatening, it is important to rule out anything dangerous before you decide about your treatment plan. So be sure to insist on having a CT Scan or MRI to rule out any serious causes of your Tinnitus before taking a decision about the treatment plan.
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CASE STUDIES
Alex’s Story Alex wasn’t about to let Tinnitus ruin his life. That’s why he decided to do his own research to find treatments and the best method (or methods) to get rid of the excess noise in his head once and for all. Maybe you’re like Alex, and have decided to take your treatment into your own hands. Good for you!
After traveling from one doctor to another for easing his Tinnitus symptoms, he finally decided to take a new approach: he decided to turn to homeopathic treatment. First, he found a homeopathic doctor in his area and began to discuss ways in which he could boost his immune system and get his body working more efficiently, while they investigated the root source of his Tinnitus.
While the diet and exercise regiment he was on was indeed making him feel better (and even relieving some of his Tinnitus symptoms under certain circumstances), Alex decided to take a more aggressive approach and opted for habituation therapy. Lucky to find a certified specialist in his area who oversaw his treatment, Alex began the long
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arduous task of discovering which emotional connections were bringing on his Tinnitus and retraining his brain to break the memory loop.
Although he initially believed that damage to his ears was the root cause of the constant noises he heard, he soon learned that a traumatic event in his life prior to the onset of the symptoms was what was really causing the noise. This understanding, coupled with concrete habituation therapy methods, all helped Alex to work through his emotions and break the memory loop that was constantly replaying in his brain and ears.
Still anxious to find relief while the real habituation work was progressing, Alex decided to turn to one more method of treating his Tinnitus: acupuncture. This helped him rebalance his body’s energies and reduce stress. Alex began to find relief from his symptoms, and felt comfortable in the knowledge that a cure was on its way. He was confident that he would eventually find permanent relief from his symptoms – and he did! Like so many other Tinnitus survivors, Alex used a variety of treatment options to get the relief he craved – and deserved. Not always an easy journey, he admits that looking beyond conventional medicine is what finally cured him of his Tinnitus and the havoc it was creating in his life.
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June’s Story It seemed to come out of the blue. One day June was enjoying a quiet afternoon in her garden, and the next she noticed a slight buzzing sensation in her right ear. It didn’t bother her much at first. After all, she’d heard it from time to time in the past when her allergies were acting up, or she had a really bad cold. But this time it was different. The noise wasn’t going away and it seemed to be growing louder. Within a few days, she was experiencing excruciating headaches and began to fear the worst, so she headed to the doctor for a check-up.
After a quick exam, the doctor assured her that nothing serious was wrong, and sent her on her way, assuring her that the noise was temporary, probably induced by allergies, and would disappear in a day or two. But it didn’t.
Before long, June couldn’t sleep. She felt anxious and jittery all the time, and was beginning to feel as if the noise in her head was taking over her life. Depression was setting in and she knew she needed help. Yet, her family doctor offered no solutions, and so she headed for the local ENT specialists. There, she underwent a series of hearing tests, an MRI and even a CT Scan. All showed absolutely nothing medically wrong with her. That’s when she finally got a diagnosis: Tinnitus.
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“Great, she thought. Now we can treat it.” She was however disappointed when the doctor told her that there really was no cure for Tinnitus, and she would simply have to “learn to live with it.”
“I thought he was crazy,” she later confessed. “Who could live with the incessant noise I was hearing. I was positive that if I couldn’t get it to stop, it would drive me mad!”
Understanding her desperation, and her obvious signs of depression, the ENT began trying out all sorts of heavy-duty anti-depressants and anti-convulsion drugs on her, but none offered even the slightest relief.
Fearing the worst, June began to slide further into a deeper depression. She pulled away from the people in her life and literally locked herself away in her home, only concentrating on the noises in her ears. Things were getting worse and she knew it.
That’s when her daughter suggested hypnotherapy to ease her anxiety and maybe even offer some relief. She was however doubtful whether it would help – after all, nothing the doctor had given her eased her suffering. June agreed to meet the hypnotherapist anyway. What a surprise!
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The first thing June noticed was how seriously the hypnotherapist took her symptoms. She listened intently as June described how her Tinnitus had started and how it had progressed. The therapist asked her all types of questions about how she felt right before and after an attack, and even what she ate regularly. Much to her surprise, the hypnotherapist had two diagnoses: the first being that, her Tinnitus was a reaction to a car accident she had experienced a few weeks before her symptoms emerged. No, she had not been injured in the slight fender bender, but the emotions that her brain linked to what happened, had created a memory loop of sounds that she heard right before the accident. This included a chirping bird, a car horn, the music from an ice cream truck and even some children laughing and playing at a playground across the street. Now, every time she heard those (or similar) sounds, her brain would tell the rest of her body that danger was lurking, causing it to go into its natural fight or flight response, thus replaying the sounds in her head over and over again.
The second thing the hypnotherapist uncovered was a possible food allergy or reaction when June ate citrus. Since her Tinnitus was worse in the morning after breakfast (at which time she regularly ate a grapefruit and drank an 8 oz glass of OJ), the therapist suggested that the citrus in her diet could be aggravating her symptoms.
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To help ease her pain (and the noise in her head), June cut out all citrus from her diet while she began regular hypnotherapy sessions. True to the words of the therapist, the morning bouts of higher-pitched noise eased off within a few days. While June could still hear the Tinnitus, the volume and frequency wasn’t nearly as debilitating once this simple dietary change was made. But that was only the beginning.
Within weeks of starting her hypnotherapy, June began to notice that the noises she was hearing were not creating so much of a problem on her nerves any more. Yes, the noise was still there, but they were becoming more of an annoyance and less of a threat to her well being. Before long, she barely noticed it at all, and in a few months time, there was absolutely no noise. She admits that the progression was so subtle that she can’t really pinpoint the exact time when the noise stopped altogether. “All I know is that one day I noticed that it was gone. What a relief. I was free at last. Now I can sit on my back porch and enjoy the peace and quiet once again.”
Doc’s Story “I am a doctor, so I knew that I wasn’t going crazy – the sounds in my head were real – but it still felt as if I was…” and so begins Doc’s account of his struggle with Tinnitus.
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A general practitioner himself, Doc knew all the medical reasons why he may have begun hearing an incessant whizzing and whirring sound in his left ear, but after failing to pinpoint an exact cause, he was left wondering if any traditional treatment options would work.
“Sure, there were drugs that might be able to help, but I hesitated knowing both the side effects and the stigma associated with many of the meds being used to treat Tinnitus,” he explained. “So I began to immerse myself in hundreds of studies on Tinnitus being conducted around the world looking for answers.”
What Doc found was astounding. In one study he learned that nearly half of all Tinnitus patients turning to psychiatric drugs therapy found relief – that left 40-50% still without hope – or help!
Next, he began to look for reasons why some people tended to have a more difficult time dealing with the noises in their head. His research showed that those who exhibit higher stress and anxiety levels often exhibit more distress from their Tinnitus than others. That may explain why someone with a 70 decibel Tinnitus noise may be in excruciating discomfort, while another person with the same volume and frequency hardly noticed the sound.
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This also helped him better understand that Tinnitus isn’t always a problem in the ear, but that it can sometimes be caused by a disruption in the emotional brain.
That’s what led him to look at alternative homeopathic treatment options for those suffering with Tinnitus, and where it wasn’t a result of an injury, disease or some other malformation of the ear. To his surprise, he learned how much relief could be experienced by simply boosting the immune system to guide the body toward optimal health; using hypnosis to break the memory loop linking the emotions of Tinnitus to the brain which is telling the ears that it “hears” a specific sound over and over again; and making sounds using white noise and even reprogramming the brain with habituation therapy. All of these methods, used separately, or in conjunction with one another, led Doc to believe that a cure for his noise could indeed be found.
His quest wasn’t easy. It took almost two years, and there were a lot of false starts along the way, but Doc eventually found the right mix of herbal therapy, diet, exercise, stress reduction, acupuncture and masking that finally eased his symptoms and helped him tune out his Tinnitus once and for all. Sure, there are days when he says his brain gets the better of him and he begins to hear the low din of his Tinnitus noise. But, he says he can easily refocus his attention on something else,
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while taking the time to recognize his triggers (and avoid them) and finally get his Tinnitus back under control.
While his journey through Tinnitus hasn’t always been easy, Doc is glad he had to undergo it because now, he can honestly tell his own patients that help is out there: if you’re persistent and patient, you’ll be able to break free from the noise and enjoy a quieter life once more.
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CHAPTER FOUR: TINNITUS AND THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN Understanding the way in which the brain stores sensory information is vital to reducing Tinnitus symptoms and finding your own “cure.”
THE PHANTOM PERCEPTION
Let’s begin by discussing the phantom perception of Tinnitus. Have you ever heard of someone who has had a limb amputated, only to scream in pain from a limb that is no longer connected to his body? Is this phantom pain real? Of course it is! Research has shown that the pain the patient feels is as real as it was when the limb was connected. Why? Because the brain continues to “remember” it and post those pain notices to the rest of the body.
The same phenomenon happens in regards to Tinnitus: the brain remembers certain sounds and continues to send the signals of hearing it, even when the sound is absent in the environment. This “misfiring” of neuron connections in the brain creates the sound in the patient’s ears and head, over and over again. The only way to stop the sound is to
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break the loop that the neurons and the brain have created. This can be done by rewiring the patient’s brain using specific hypnosis and habituation therapy techniques.
IS IT ALL IN THE EAR?
For years, people have believed that Tinnitus is a hearing or “ear” problem, while in reality, recent research has revealed that it is more of an emotional brain phenomenon.
The brain is an amazing thing. It is where we actually “hear.” The brain not only stores memories and experiences (including sound), but it tells the ears to hear those sounds. The ear is a mere conduit of sound waves; it is the brain that actually takes those electrical waves and creates the “sound” around us.
Long after someone becomes deaf, they often cite hearing sounds in their dreams. How is this possible if their auditory nerve fails to function? This can happen because their brain is remembering or hearing the sounds that have been left in their head. It is this same phenomenon that creates – or rather recreates – the sounds of Tinnitus.
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By realizing that your Tinnitus may indeed be more a brain matter than an ear matter, you can begin to treat the brain to decrease the volume of the sound you hear, and also to lesson your emotional response to it.
Retraining the brain isn’t easy. It takes time, patience and a skilled professional. But it can be done! The goal of treating your Tinnitus is meaningless, unless you can train the brain to stop concentrating on the sounds it creates. You must also train the brain to shift attention to other areas.
SIDEBAR:
THE THREE CATEGORIES THAT CAUSE TINNITUS
There are a myriad of things that can ultimately cause Tinnitus. However it can be said that in most patients, the symptoms originate from one of the following three main cause categories:
1. Ototoxic Drugs. While most medications are meant to eradicate the symptoms, sometimes drugs can have a toxic affect, and this can cause ailments such as Tinnitus as well. Antiinflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen seem to
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have a serious effect on hearing and should be discontinued if Tinnitus symptoms begin to appear after taking this medication. The good news is that, drug-induced Tinnitus will often disappear if the medication is discontinued. 2. Physical Disorders/Disease. In addition to actual disorders of the ears and/or brain, other physical problems can also cause Tinnitus. Some of the most common culprits include: · Diabetes and Hyperinsulinemia – This may create a slowing of blood flow in the ear, thus causing a nutrient deficiency in the hair cells that transmit sound waves to the brain. It has been reported that as many as 84% of all Tinnitus patients may experience symptoms due to this problem, making it even more important to regulate their glucose levels. · Otoscelerosis -- A condition of the ear that can be corrected with surgery to remove one of the three small bones of the ear called the staples, and then replaced with prosthesis. · Meniere’s Disease, Allergies, Blood Pressure Abnormalities and more -- Since many of these common medical conditions have been linked to the onset of Tinnitus, it is important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor to determine if an underlining medical condition could be
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causing your symptoms. Often, treatment of the condition will alleviate the Tinnitus noise you are hearing.
3. Physical Trauma. The inner ear is very delicate and can be easily damaged, and this can cause either temporary or even permanent Tinnitus. You don’t have to be involved in a serious accident to be injured. Something as simple as excessive earwax buildup can damage the inner ear. Even a sudden change in the barometric (air) pressure due to an air flight or even water sport can cause a ringing in the ears. Though this is usually temporary, but sometimes the damage could be more severe, and it could last.
TINNITUS AND YOUR INNER EAR
Problems within the inner ear can indeed cause Tinnitus (as we’ve already learned); but when no malfunction in the ear can be detected, it is time to turn your attention to the brain to diagnosis the problem and treat it successfully.
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TINNITUS AND THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN
There is a powerful link between Tinnitus and emotion. Let me explain. It is believed that in many cases, Tinnitus is a direct result of either fear or some similar emotion like anxiety and panic that is experienced when a certain sound is heard.
Let’s say that you have sadly got involved in a terrible car crash. As the crash occurs, a myriad of emotions will flood your body (and brain), as you hear a variety of noises ( tires squealing, horns blowing, people yelling; metal crunching, etc). As you experience the emotion connected to the scene, it is sent to the brainstem where the brain regulates survival responses. Once there, the emotion triggered by the sound is then transferred to the thalamus, which acts as a relay station between the ears and the auditory cortex. From there, it splits to the amygdale, hippocampus, the auditory cortex or the temporal lobe, where sounds are sorted and saved.
As all of this is happening, each place the sound travels has a decision to make. Is it dangerous? Does it elicit a fear response, and so on? For instance, if the noise causes fear, the hypothalamus may pull an alarm, releasing important hormones that are designed to regulate our body’s fight or flight response. Meanwhile, other parts of the body begin to
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release their own chemicals and hormones that are needed for survival. This essentially links the noise to a feeling of fear and anxiety within the brain and in response, every time you hear that noise in the future, your body will react in a similar way. Over time, this heightened awareness and the body’s responses can wear down the sufferer’s immune system and emotions.
To make matters worse, once the brain creates an emotional connection to the noise, it creates an ongoing memory loop, which will continually replay it, making you hear the sound over and over again, day or night, whether the environment around you is quiet or not. Keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a traumatic event that creates this “loop of constant noise” in your head. It just has to be a noise that is connected to an emotion that triggers the body’s natural responses. This is why Tinnitus sufferers continue to hear noise in their head long after the environment around them has calmed down. Their brain continues to play the noise loop, despite an absence of any “real” noise.
That is one reason why Tinnitus can be so difficult to treat using traditional medicine. In patients where the noises stem from an emotional reaction within the brain, nothing can stop the noise until the loop is broken and the emotional response created within the brain itself is dealt with. This is best done with a combination of hypnosis,
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psychotherapy, behavioral changes and medications, which we’ll discus later.
THE VOLUME AND FREQUENCY OF THE SOUNDS YOU HEAR
Why is it that some people suffer endlessly at a certain volume and frequency, while others are barely bothered by it? The brain has a lot to do with how a patient reacts to the volume and frequency of their Tinnitus. If they allow their emotions to rule, then they are likely to have a more severe reaction to even the slightest volume and frequency level. On the other hand, if a person is able to tell himself that the Tinnitus is not bothering him, he would definitely be able to deal with the symptoms with much more ease.
To better understand the connection between a patient’s reaction (and distress) to his Tinnitus and its volume and sound frequency, Jane Henry PhD. and Peter Wilson PhD. conducted a research study in 1995 in Australia that reported the following results:
· Those who cope well with Tinnitus tend to use their anxiety to their benefit
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· Those who find it difficult to cope with their symptoms often experience mild to severe depression · Extremely loud Tinnitus usually results in some sort of distress experienced by the patient · Those who experience moderate levels of Tinnitus rarely report noticeable feelings of distress · If a Tinnitus patient feels more distressed, it is more likely that he will experience ongoing depression associated with the disorder · Patients who are highly distressed by their Tinnitus symptoms report more negative thoughts in regards to the disorder · Negative thoughts regarding the disorder tend to be limited to the Tinnitus itself, and are not carried over into thought about the patient’s general life · While depression is associated with Tinnitus, it is not considered a depressive disorder · Some people can be severely limited by their Tinnitus, and they can allow it to interfere with their normal or regular activities
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UNDERSTANDING AND BREAKING THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF TINNITUS
Tinnitus can be a vicious cycle that tends to play off on the emotions of a patient. For instance, a patient may find himself feeling depressed because of the limitations incurred by his symptoms, and the symptoms can worsen because of the feelings of depression. Or, a patient may feel stressed and overwhelmed by the constant noises bombarding him only to discover that stress is a main trigger of Tinnitus. This can make it even more difficult to break the memory loop cycle that may be causing the symptoms in the first place.
Coming to grips with the fact that the noises you hear are indeed real (even if they are no longer present in your environment), and that you are not “going crazy,” can very much help you overcome your symptoms easily. The key to overcoming Tinnitus is to understand that you are hearing an ever present memory of sound. Once you understand this, you will be more open to the suggestions coming up to help you break this memory loop and finally free yourself from the noises within.
You can indeed tune out your Tinnitus once and for all, if you understand what is causing it, and can deal with the emotional
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connections your brain has used to replay the sounds that you once heard over and over again.
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CHAPTER FIVE: THE 5-STEP HOLISTIC APPROACH TO GETTING RID OF YOUR TINNITUS Tuning out your Tinnitus is likely to take a comprehensive approach that should deal with several issues at once: any medical concerns that may be causing your symptoms; physical deformities or problems; medications that could be worsening the symptoms, and of course the emotional brain connection. Most patients find that their doctors try several different treatments before finding the right mix; although some people respond much better to holistic treatment than anything else.
I, myself used the following five-pronged holistic approach to find relief for my Tinnitus, and no matter what other treatment options you are pursuing, it can’t hurt (and most likely will only help) your symptoms.
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Step 1:
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STEP 1: PROVEN DIETARY CHANGES AND HERBAL/VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION TO TACKLE TINNITUS Can your diet really affect how bad your Tinnitus is, or is likely to become? Research says yes! The foods you eat can affect your symptoms; either by increasing or decreasing their severity. Learning what foods to eat can take a lot of trial and error, since everyone reacts to foods and other substances differently. We will discuss some important nutritional rules that are to be followed in this chapter.
While there is no specific diet aimed at keeping Tinnitus under control, one thing is certain, and this is that, eating a nutritious well-balanced diet will help you lower your stress levels and boost your immune system - both important aspects of treating any type of medical disorder, including Tinnitus. You may have never realized that the foods you eat are affecting your Tinnitus, and thus can be used to treat it. Once you begin to log your food intake and any symptoms you experience afterward, you will begin to notice patterns that can be used to reduce the sounds you hear. Learning which foods are good for you and which ones increase the
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noise, can make a big difference in how much your Tinnitus will ultimately interfere with your life.
HOW FOOD ALLERGIES MAY BE AGGRAVATING YOUR TINNITUS
But first, let’s talk about the role food allergies play in your struggle with Tinnitus. There is some debate as to whether certain foods affect Tinnitus because the patient suffers from some sort of allergy to the food, or if it is indeed the food itself that causes the hearing problem. However, there is evidence to suggest that food allergies can cause chronic inflammation or even infection in the ear, and this can indeed result in hearing loss and Tinnitus symptoms. The most common foods that can cause allergy reactions among Tinnitus sufferers include: · wheat · soybean products · milk · eggs · peanuts The best way to determine if any food (regardless of an allergy or not), is affecting your Tinnitus symptoms is by keeping a log of your
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symptom levels, and trying and link any specific foods to an increase in your ear noise. If you suspect a food may be aggravating your symptoms, you will need to eliminate it from your diet for a few weeks to see if your Tinnitus improves or not.
A HEALTHY DIET FOR SOMEONE WITH TINNITUS
You’ve heard it before and we’re going to tell you again: the healthiest diet is a well-balanced one! It doesn’t matter whether you suffer from Tinnitus or not, if you want your body to work properly, you need to give it premium fuel. That includes staying away from junk foods that are filled with empty calories, and increasing your intake of healthy foods rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins. Many doctors who treat Tinnitus believe that the Mediterranean Diet, consisting of whole, freshly prepared foods, consisting of plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and nuts works very well. The diet has become extremely popular as a way to maintain a healthier weight. It is rich in whole grained bread or pasta, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, cheese and yogurt that you must take every day, fish, poultry eggs and sweets offered several times a week, and red meat that needs to be taken several times in a month. Of course, many people believe that increasing red meat consumption is even better in treating Tinnitus due to the high protein levels it offers. The point is that, if you suffer from
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Tinnitus, you will need to take special care of your overall health, and so you must eat a well-balanced diet.
TINNITUS FOOD SAVERS
Yes, there is perhaps no scientific proof that says that eating certain types of foods will decrease the Tinnitus noise in your head. But it has been proved that nutritional deficiencies are linked to certain auditory nerve damages, which can contribute to it. To avoid one of these deficiencies, be sure to eat plenty of foods that are rich in these important nutrients: · Vitamin A - to get enough Retinol (vitamin A), be sure to eat plenty of fresh green and yellow vegetables, cod liver oil, liver, milk and butter. · Vitamin D – you can get this when the skin is exposed to sunlight. You can also get vitamin D from cod liver oil, egg yolk, and cream. · Iron – to avoid iron deficiency, be sure to eat plenty of red meat, chicken, turkey, liver and oysters. · Zinc – to get enough Zinc in your diet, eat these important foods: oysters, lamb, pumpkin seeds, eggs, milk and beans.
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· Manganese -- a trace mineral found in some rock formations, everyone needs a small amount of this in their daily diet to remain healthy. But do remember, excessive amounts of this can be very dangerous. It is however important to get between 2.5 and 5 mg. from foods high in manganese (bananas, celery, cereals, green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains) in your diet every day.
Other Foods to Eat In addition to the foods listed above, it is important to eat plenty of the following foods to ensure that you are getting the nutrition you need to fight your Tinnitus symptoms: · Non gluten grains, such as millet, quinoa and amaranth are a wonderful substitute for wheat products, which has been linked to an increase of symptoms in some people. · Yogurt – one of the best foods for boosting your immune system, yogurt contains a live bacterium that is essential to keep your body in tip-top shape. Look for brands that contain Probiotics and live cultures such as Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium. Recommended daily allowance: ¾ cup (175 ml). · Garlic – garlic has been touted as an all-around health saver in recent years, probably because it contains powerful
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compounds such as allicin, ajoene and thiosulfinates that can help your body fight bacteria, virus and a variety of other infections. While you can find garlic supplements in most health food stores, many people prefer to simply add it to their regular recipes to enjoy its flavor along with its health benefits. · Carrots – Carrots aren’t just good for your eyes, they’re good for your entire body! They contain high levels of beta carotene that helps your body fight infection. Simply adding a ½ cup (or about 1 large sized carrot) to your daily diet can boost your immune system tremendously. · Soy (and soy products) – Soy is a great source of important anti-oxidants, which are known to boost the production of B cells that help your body make important antibodies to fight disease and infection. Of Special Note: While a moderate intake of dairy products and red meat can give your body the nutrients that it needs to battle your Tinnitus, it is important to only eat organic products from organic grass fed sources to avoid any toxic effects from the hormones and antibiotics that are found in traditional meat and dairy sources. Those suffering from Tinnitus may also want to avoid eating dairy products that are derived from cows, opting instead for sheep and goat milk products.
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TINNITUS FOOD SINNERS
Just as there are foods you must include in your diet to keep your auditory nerves functioning properly and good oxygen flowing to your inner ear, there are some foods which should be avoided by some people. But do remember that these foods may not affect everyone with Tinnitus. Here are a few foods that have been linked to increased Tinnitus noise in some and should thus be avoided until the allergy or sensitivity to them has been determined:
Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and cola can all increase the noise of Tinnitus by creating an unnatural high and low, which can increase anxiety, stress and even depression in some people.
Cocoa, found in chocolate and pastries can also stimulate the effects, and this can heighten the already overly sensitive senses such as hearing.
Saturated fats can increase your blood pressure, which is a direct cause of Tinnitus. It can also increase the blood level fats that can restrict oxygen and nutrients to the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss.
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Alcohol may increase symptoms in some people (especially those who react to alcohol because it stimulates them). However it can also help those who find that drinking alcohol has a calming effect on their body. Only you can gauge your own sensitivity to alcohol and determine whether or not it is bad for your Tinnitus.
Sodium-, (salt) has been linked to increased symptoms in some patients. When you are trying to limit salt, be sure to check the processed foods you are eating for sodium levels, because it can sometimes be quite high in prepared foods.
Sugar too has been linked to hearing loss and an increase in Tinnitus noise. Like other stimulants, too much sugar can restrict blood vessels in the inner ear, reducing the amount of oxygen it gets, thus causing hearing problems.
Dairy and wheat products may increase the symptoms in some people if an allergy to these substances is present in the body. It is always best to eat organic dairy products that are void of hormones and antibiotics, or ones that come from sheep or goat’s milk.
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Citrus. No one knows exactly why citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits seem to increase Tinnitus noise, but many patients report a decrease in symptoms after eliminating citrus from their diet.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING TO HELP YOUR TINNITUS
Maintain a detailed symptoms log – this is one of the best things you can do to see if the foods you are eating are indeed affecting your Tinnitus or not. You must meticulously record everything you ingest (including foods, drinks, and medications) over a few weeks or months. In addition, you’ll want to make notations regarding other things that may affect your symptoms including stress, fatigue or others that are causing the problems. Once you begin to keep the log, it is likely that you will see a pattern of the things that may be triggering more severe bouts of Tinnitus, or you may even notice things that may be helping it. In any case, it will help you to see which foods (if any) could be contributing to your Tinnitus distress.
HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAY HELP
Herbs have been used for centuries to treat every ailment known to man – so why not Tinnitus? Keep in mind though that while they can be
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helpful, herbs should be taken with care because they can become toxic if taken in the wrong amounts or for too long. Be sure to see a certified herbalist for long-term treatment and let your regular doctor know what herbs you are using to suppress your Tinnitus symptoms.
Not sure which herbs are best for treating Tinnitus? Here are a few that have worked well for most sufferers:
Gingko Biloba If you suffer from restricted blood flow in the ear, Gingko Biloba may be the answer. One of the most popular herbs used to treat Tinnitus, Gingko Biloba promotes blood flow and circulation in the inner ear; protects your body from free radical cell damage; and blocks the effects of blood or platelet factors. All of this can be used to decrease Tinnitus noise in some people. Found in most health food stores in either an elixir, extract or tablet form, the treatment can take several weeks however. So you must keep your patience when you are in this treatment method.
Coffee Cruda The natural question to ask is - if you’re supposed to stay away from caffeine because it worsens your symptoms, why would you use Coffee
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Cruda to treat Tinnitus? The fact is, one of the most basic laws of Homeopathic medicine is that, you must treat “like with like”. Although drinking coffee might stimulate you, Coffee Cruda is actually believed to work to calm the nerves, and its residual anxiety, to lower the Tinnitus noise by producing the opposite effect of caffeine.
Goldenseal Hydrastus One of the most widely used herbs in the world, Goldenseal is a root that is used to reduce the thickness of the mucous in the inner ear. By reducing overly thick mucous and encouraging the flow of healthy mucous in the ear, patients can get relief almost immediately from many of the pounding sounds related to Tinnitus.
Black Cohosh Used by the North American Indians as standard medication for a variety of ailments, Black Cohosh is widely respected as a natural remedy for Tinnitus due to its ability to increase vascular activity in and around the ear. Do remember that it can take 2-4 weeks before any improvements are seen when you are taking this herb. However, most patient’s report at least some improvement after a few weeks. The recommended dosage is 20 mg per day.
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Herbal Ear Drops There are a variety of herbal ear drops that are now available for Tinnitus patients, but the only that has been proved to work to reduce the buzzing and ringing of Tinnitus is a formula called Bio Ear. This has been made in Sweden from aloe, ginseng root, bitter orange, dandelion root, myrrh, saffron, senna leaves, camphor rhubarb root, zedoary root, carline thistle root and angelica.
Sesame Rich in iron, potassium and magnesium, Sesamum Indicum has been used by traditional Chinese Medicine for generations to treat Tinnitus, as well as to bolster overall health. One reason it may work to reduce Tinnitus noise is because of the fact that it can lower the blood pressure, which is a major cause of Tinnitus. Simply add the seed to your regular recipes.
Lycopodium If you experience echoing sounds due to hearing loss, Lycopodium is perhaps the answer. Derived from the yellowish powder from the green mossy Lycopodium plant, the remedy is most recommended for those who suffer from some hearing impairment along with their Tinnitus.
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Cabro Vegatabilis By absorbing toxins from the body, this “vegetable charcoal treatment” doesn’t actually reduce your Tinnitus symptoms. However it can dramatically improve other symptoms that accompany Tinnitus including flu-like feelings, congestion and upset stomach.
Graphites A black lead powder, graphites are usually recommended for patients who experience deafness in one or both the ears due to their Tinnitus.
Salicylicum Acidum If you notice that your Tinnitus symptoms are increasing after taking Aspirin, you may want to ward off these effects by using Salicylicum Acidum. It is also good for those who experience a loud ringing or roaring Tinnitus noise.
Siberian Ginseng Known for its healing properties and the ability to restore vigor, enhance overall health, and stimulate the body’s ability to better handle
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stressful conditions, it is sometimes used in treating Tinnitus that is triggered by stress.
Echinacea Root Known as the most popular Native American therapeutic herb, Echinacea Root works by making the white blood cells and lymphocytes more efficient in their fight to invade the organisms by stimulating the cell’s activity. The recommended dosage is 500 mg. Take it once a day for 3-4 weeks; followed by a 2-week respite from the medication.
Garlic Garlic is great at helping the body fight all kinds of bacteria, virus and fungus. Rich in silicin, ajoene and thiosulfinates, garlic is a tasty way to fight disease, and it also keeps your immune system healthy and strong.
Usnea A long green mossy vine-type plant that grows in cool, damp forests in the Pacific Northwest, it features the bacteria fighting Usnea spores, which nature uses to protect its host tree from bacteria and yeast. The same antibacterial compounds that protect the trees in the forest also fight the bacteria and yeasts that can cause sore nose and throat in
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humans. Usually brewed in a tea or made into throat lozenges, it is a great herb for clearing out excess mucous in the nose, throat and ears.
WHAT VITAMINS YOU NEED TO REDUCE YOUR TINNITUS
The right mix of vitamins in your diet is essential to ward off Tinnitus noise. The fact is that, the vast majority of people who suffer with Tinnitus have some sort of vitamin deficiency, and the vitamin B complex deficiency is at the top of this list.
Getting the proper amounts of Vitamin B-21, B-6 and B-12 can all improve vascular activity and circulation, which can in turn reduce the pressure in your ears and stop the noises pounding in your head.
Vitamin E is also a known circulation booster, which can reduce Tinnitus noise. Vitamin A can lower your sensitivity to Tinnitus noise and can also encourage the proper development of the actual ear structure.
Getting enough vitamin C is important, since it can boost your immune system and promote cochlear hair cell strength, and this can help you
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prevent any damage that may occur if you are exposed to loud noises. Vitamin C is also good at fighting off any infections of the ear, which can cause future bouts of Tinnitus.
HOW EXERCISE CAN HELP
Regular exercise can do a lot to reduce your Tinnitus symptoms. It can: · reduce stress – a major case of Tinnitus · improve your immune system – which can keep infection and inflammation at bay · improve your energy levels – which can help you cope better with your symptoms · increase circulation throughout your body – which can eliminate many of the diseases that contribute to cause Tinnitus noise including high blood pressure, diabetes and more · can make your entire body stronger – if you are healthier and stronger, it will be less likely that you’ll hear excess noise in the form of Tinnitus.
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Getting Enough Exercise Every Day Exercise doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym at 5 o’clock every morning. It does mean making an effort to get off the couch and do something! That may mean taking an aerobics class, but it may also mean taking a walk around the neighborhood every morning and every evening; taking a dance class; finally planting that garden; playing tennis; swimming; or a number of other exercise-based activities. Even riding your bike with your kids and playing a game or two of old fashioned sandlot baseball will do. It’s ok to put together your own exercise routine, as long as you do something three or four times a week for at least 30-45 minutes.
Still not sure how to make enough time for a regular exercise regime? Start with these simple lifestyle changes: · take the stairs instead of the elevator · park in the furthest spot at the mall, grocery store, at the workplace, etc. · use the bathroom on a different floor at work (and take the stairs to get there) · do some stretches or aerobic exercises while watching your favorite TV show
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· walk the dog (or someone else’s) · get down on the floor and rough house with your kids (or grandkids)
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STEP 2: POWERFUL IMMUNE SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT PLAN TO REDUCE TINNITUS
WHAT IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?
We live in a culture that is obsessed with eliminating germs, and use antibacterial soaps to hand gels that promise complete removal of germs. We want to live in a world without the microbes that can invade our bodies at every turn. We disinfect our homes, our shopping carts and even our children, but what many do not realize is that, we already have the ability to fight most of the dangers right within our bodies: our immune system.
It is true that we come into contact with all kinds of potentially harmful microbes every day: bacteria such as e. coli, parasites, toxins, viruses all await us as we make our way through our day. If you have a healthy immune system, you are however ready to fight off all but the worst offenders and you won’t even realize you did it!
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Before we talk about the internal immune system, it may surprise you that your skin is a part of the exterior immune system – this is like a first line of defense. As the largest organ within us, it protects us against bacteria that would otherwise enter our body, offers protection against sun damage through the Melanocyte cells, and it is the Langerhans cells that alert the immune system when trouble is on its way. Your tears, mucus and saliva also contain enzymes that can break down bacteria. Mucus can trap foreign invaders before they can reach the cells and send them to the stomach where they are no match for stomach acid.
The organs involved in the immune system are:
· The Thymus · The Spleen · The Lymph System · Bone Marrow
These organs work together to attack any perceived threat to our health. The body is programmed to recognize any foreign material that is in the bloodstream or the cells, and deploys the immune system to work and kill whatever bacteria, virus or parasite has been introduced into the body.
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HOW DOES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORK?
Now that we know what makes up the immune system, let’s explore just how this amazing system is set into motion and how it works, killing whatever microbe would otherwise attack our bodies and run rampant. Each component has its own job to do, but they all perform a similar task, determining which cells belong to the body and which are there to do harm.
The immune system is our protection from disease, but malfunctions of this important system can cause problems of their own. In some cases, the harmful microbes attach themselves to healthy cells and the immune system may actually attack your body’s cells in an effort to rid the body of the bacteria or virus. In the case of organ transplants, antirejection drugs are given because the body’s immediate response to the new organ will be to attack it. The immune system recognizes the foreign body and will work hard to remove it, before it can do any harm.
When the immune system is healthy and working correctly, it is a powerful force within us. The moment we are injured, whether it is a broken bone, a scrape or a bug bite, the immune system gets to work to protect our health and heal the injury. The raised bumps you get after a
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bug bite or the inflammation around a cut are the physical evidence of your immune system at work.
The Thymus The thymus is located in your chest cavity close to the heart. While it is not generally considered important to the immune system of adults, it is responsible for the production of T-cells and is absolutely essential for the development of a healthy immune system in babies.
The Spleen The spleen filters the blood and checks it for foreign microbes. It is located in the upper left side of the abdomen and creates lymphocytes that provide protection against disease and replace old worn out red blood cells.
The Lymph System If you go to the doctor with a cold or a sore throat, the professional will often feel your neck to check for swollen lymph nodes or glands. The swelling of these nodes, which is the end of the lymph vessel, is an indication that your body is under attack by some kind of foreign bacteria and that your immune system is on the job. The blood plasma
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carried by the lymph system is essential for filtering the inter-cell fluid that is under attack when a bacterium is in our systems.
Bone Marrow Stem cells are produced in the bone marrow, and once they become mature immune system cells, they get distributed throughout the body. Stem cells have been in the news for the last few years because they are like a blank slate until they have been given a purpose, and the research around them suggests that healthy stem cells will be able to cure many diseases that have puzzled scientists for generations.
HOW DO BLOOD CELLS WORK?
You may remember from a long ago science class that your blood contains both red and white blood cells. The white blood cells do the work of fighting infection in the body, and aren’t limited to one type of cell. In fact, there are many types of white blood cells and each has a special type of job to do. The white blood cells include: Leukocytes Lymphocyte Monocytes
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Granulocytes B-cells Plasma cells T-cells Helper T-cells Killer T-cells Suppressor T-cells Natural killer cells Neutrophils Eosinophils Basophils Phagocytes Macrophages Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz on the types of cells, but we should explore what these hard working immune system cells are doing in your body right now. All white blood cells come under the heading of leukocyte, and they begin in the bone marrow as stem cells. Once they migrate and mature, they find their individual calling and get to work in the body for the immune system.
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Lymphocytes As the name suggests, these cells do their work in the lymph system and are broken into B-cells and T-cells. B-cells produce antibodies to kill germs, while T-cells take a more direct approach by simply bumping up against the microbe and killing it. In the case of the helper and suppressor T-cells, they work in conjunction with the killer T-cells to get the job done correctly.
Granulocytes As the name indicates, the granulocytes contain granules and include the neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. These cells are the most populous of the leukocytes and are responsible for finding and eliminating inflammation and bacteria. Neutrophils are the most common and they work by engulfing the foreign matter and killing it with the granular material contained within. These cells create pus to engulf bacteria that would harm your body.
Monocytes These cells develop into macrophages, which are the largest of the white blood cells and eventually specify their task to a particular organ.
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BUILDING A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM
Now that you understand everything your immune system is doing each day to protect you from bacterial infection, diseases and even the common cold, you are probably wondering what you can do to optimize its efficiency. Of course, a healthy lifestyle will result in a good and strong immune system, but let’s take a look at some specific things that can help you boost its effectiveness, and also learn what you can do to strengthen your immune system so that it can work at its best for you.
Diet Diet is a big one. Whether it’s a concern about immunity or heart disease or fighting obesity, diet is both the topic and the tool necessary to create a healthy life for all of us. Our culture has become one of fast food, convenience foods and pre-packaged foods that are high in saturated fats, artificial ingredients and sodium. All of these contribute to the growing number of people who are battling weight problems and the diseases that go hand in hand with obesity: diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Eliminating fast food from your diet and avoiding fried and fatty foods will put your body into a healthy groove and give you more energy and better health. Replacing these foods with a diet of fresh fruits and
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vegetables (at least 5 servings every day) will put you on the path to a strong immune system, and also help you lose weight and reap many health benefits along the way.
Sleep When your body is at rest, it is able to repair itself better than when it is in action. Your mother was right on this one. When you have a cold; you should get a lot of sleep so that you can fight off the virus that has attacked your cells. If you keep up with your regular routine when you are sick, your body will be busy responding to all the activities you are doing: walking, talking, thinking, and cooking, and all this will create work for your cells. On the other hand, when you are asleep, your body is only working on the involuntary functions and there is much less stress on your cells. The immune system can work its best when you are not doing anything and just recovering.
When you are healthy, it is just as important to get a good night’s sleep. Most adults are going through their days without adequate sleep - most do not get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep every night. This puts us all at greater risk of an illness and does not allow our immune systems to function well. Did you know that if you set that alarm to wake you up, you are actually depriving your sleep? Some other symptoms of either short or long term lack of sleep are: inability to concentrate or make decisions; weight gain; clumsiness; poor daily
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function and drowsiness throughout the day. Our society is certainly on the go, but we need to take our sleep needs seriously to remain healthy and build our immune system.
If you are not suffering from a sleep disorder, there are many things you can still do to improve the amount and quality of your sleep. If you think you are struggling with sleep apnea or insomnia, you should consult your physician for help as these are true medical conditions and not the result of a habit. To improve your sleep, you should: · avoid caffeine or sugar close to bedtime · establish a good, relaxing bedtime routine · avoid stimulation such as watching disturbing television shows or the news right before you hit the bed if you have a worrisome personality · improve your daytime habits by exercising
With a few changes to your sleep routine and careful attention to the amount of sleep you are getting, you will be improving your immune system and your overall health as well.
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Exercise If there was a magical solution to health problems, it would probably be regular aerobic exercise. From heart disease, to obesity, to depression, exercise can have amazing results in reducing your symptoms. And when you are on a healthy diet too, you can often reverse much of the damage that has already been caused to your body. If you think of your body as a machine, it needs to be in motion and running to work at its best. If you left your car in the driveway and didn’t even turn the engine over for months at a time, it is likely that the car will not start up the next time you need it. Your body is built in the same way - we are made for motion and for exercise.
Getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise at least 3 days a week will not only help your immune system, but also your heart, lungs, outlook and it will also help you get more and better sleep!
Hydration If you feel thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated! Just by drinking 6-8 glasses of water each and every day, you have given your immune system a boost and your whole body will thank you. Your blood pressure will be better if you stay hydrated as will your resting heart rate. Many people find that their skin looks better and they sleep
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better when they are hydrated. More than 60% of your body is water, so water is obviously necessary for proper functioning.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that diet, caffeine, and loaded sodas can be equal to water because they don’t contain any calories. Diet beverages are generally high in sodium and increase your desire for sweets because they deliver the taste of a sweet without any calories. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means, it eliminates water from the body, and thus for every beverage you consume with caffeine, you should drink a bit more water to replace what you are losing. If you cannot face a morning without your cup of coffee or tea, consider eliminating all other sources of caffeine from your day. You will soon regain the energy you may feel you have lost from that caffeine “high.”
Alcohol serves as a depressant in the body and should be consumed in only small amounts. If you choose to drink alcohol, try red wine instead of white, as experts have touted the anti-oxidant properties of red wine.
Reduce Stress Your immune system actually reacts in response to stress. It isn’t all in your mind; there is a physiological component to stress that puts your body in overdrive. Adrenaline rises, your heart and breathing quickens and your muscles tense when you are under stress. Your immune
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system scrambles to push oxygen and hormones to the cells to combat the effects of your reaction to situations when you are under extreme stress.
When the stress isn’t immediate, but is long term, your body will respond with lack of sleep or poor sleep, and often this might cause depression, and this will create problems for the immune system. Ongoing stress or anxiety can manifest itself in the body in a number of ways, but mostly it’s our lifestyle changes during times of stress that damage the immune system. We don’t eat as well, we skip exercise and we remain awake at night thinking about our worries. This is not a good way to build a strong immune system.
Ups and downs are an inevitable part of life, and no one is immune to times of stress and anxiety. The way we react to these circumstances and how we take care of ourselves in times of stress make all the difference to our immune systems. Some ideas for managing stress: · Exercise: exercise releases natural endorphins into the body and makes us feel good both during the activity and beyond. This, coupled with the other health benefits of exercise should keep you exercising even when life is hectic.
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· Talk: find someone you can talk to about your problems: a support group, a concerned friend or family member, a pastor or spiritual leader or even a therapist. Being able to address your stress factors and work through them will help you deal better. · Breathing exercises: because the body is absorbing the stress, you are probably depriving it of necessary oxygen. So spend a few minutes a day, a few separate times each day to do some deep breathing exercises. This will help you calm your mind and it will also send the much-needed oxygen to your cells.
HOW DOES TINNITUS AFFECT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?
Millions of people suffer from Tinnitus in different levels every year. They are plagued with ringing, buzzing, even whistling in one or both the ears, and the causes vary from simple earwax to more serious underlying diseases, and even hardening of the arteries. Tinnitus, though a hearing condition and not a typical threat to the immune system, can still have a detrimental effect on the immune system.
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If you are suffering with Tinnitus, it is likely that your stress level (which we will see is important to your immune system) will be increased, and it will also reduce the amount of deep sleep you are able to get at night. Imagine how difficult it would be to get any restful sleep with a constant alarm clock going off in your head! This starts the cycle where your immune system is not working at its optimal level, and your body is vulnerable to everything from strep throat to parasite colonization. This might sound dramatic, but it’s true.
Unable to restore itself during sleep, the immune system is suddenly knocked off balance and is unable to function correctly. Treating the cause and the symptoms of Tinnitus will generally alleviate the problem and allow the immune system to return to normal functioning.
HOW CAN VITAMINS HELP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM?
You may know someone who swears by his/her zinc tablets or huge doses of vitamin C to cure a cold. The person may be on to something, because both these elements are able to boost the natural protective powers of the immune system. While neither can actually “cure” a virus, which has to run its course by nature, a jumpstart to the immune system can help you shorten the life of a virus, once it’s gotten hold in the body.
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Vitamin C Vitamin C that is found in both the citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit and other fruits too such as strawberries is a great friend of the immune system. It increases the amount of white blood cells that are produced and released to attack an infection, and it increases the amount of interferon that is produced by the body. 200 mg of Vitamin C is the recommended dosage for most adults. There are however no credible studies to support the claims that mega doses of the vitamin are any more helpful than the standard dosage. As with any vitamin, they are best absorbed through food, but may be supplemented when necessary.
Vitamin E Vitamin E, found in healthy oils and grains, has much the same effect on our bodies as Vitamin C. It increases the production of “killer” cells that seek out and destroy infections. A multivitamin with 100 or more mg a day will allow you to boost your immune system that is available from Vitamin E.
Zinc Zinc is a mineral that increases the production of white blood cells and T-cells that emanate from the Thymus. Zinc is thought to be essential to ear health because of the concentrated amounts of zinc that are found in
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the inner ear. Much like the hype surrounding mega-doses of Vitamin C, some people and companies claim that large amounts of zinc will fight off a cold or attacks from other viruses. However be careful because too much zinc can be dangerous and amounts over 75 mg per day can actually depress the immune system rather than enhance it. You should aim for 15 to 25 mg per day of zinc intake.
Zinc is found in food such as meats, beans and certain kinds of shellfish such as oysters. A good multi-vitamin is likely to supplement your diet with enough zinc, and it can create a positive effect on your immune system.
Beta-carotene The third member of the “big three” anti-oxidant vitamins, betacarotene is another vitamin that increases the number of cells that are produced to fight infection. It is also essential for fighting cardiovascular diseases. Sweet potatoes, carrots, collard and other greens are high in beta-carotene and are great natural sources for the nutrient.
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FOODS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
We have touched briefly on the idea of diet as a way to build your immune system already, but we should really spend some more time on those specific foods that can help you put it on the right track. Every year, sometimes every month, there seems to be a popular “super food” that is the answer to all the world’s problems. Sometimes it is the grapefruit diet or the spinach shake or a berry supplement, but in reality, there is no one food that is the answer to any health problem. It takes a variety of foods to achieve optimum health and build a strong immune system.
As we mentioned earlier, our society has embraced the instant gratification of fast food and convenience food products. Home made meals have been replaced, and even the meals made at home have today a great deal more processed ingredients than what was there just a decade ago. There are so many convenience foods today that look like their home made counterparts, that it’s easy to give up the idea of healthy eating and opt for the time savings of a pre-made item.
Eat your vegetables Fresh is always the best when it comes to putting together a healthy diet, and one that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables will be the best
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help your immune system can get. Dark, leafy greens are rich in vitamins and minerals as are the orange vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots and squash. Consuming 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day will pay off with big dividends in health improvement. When fresh food is not available, frozen is the next best, with canned coming in third. Canned vegetables are often prepared with added salt and should be avoided when possible.
That’s Hot! Believe it or not, foods that are spicy hot are good for you. Hot peppers and even hot sauce can stimulate mucus production in the nasal passages and can actually help you feel less congested when you are suffering with cold or flu symptoms. Their strong flavors may also be the only thing you can taste if you have a cold. Peppers also have good anti-oxidant properties.
Remember the Protein Protein is an important part of everyone’s diet. Women especially are at risk of a lack of protein, particularly when they are on a restricted diet because they are trying to lose weight. Protein is essential for the maintenance of cells in the body as well as the repairing of tissues and organs. If you are deficient in protein, your body’s immune system will be weaker. Lean protein like the ones you can get from chicken and the
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omega-3 filled salmon should be a regular part of your immuneboosting diet. Red meats are fine in moderation, but their fat content should be taken into consideration.
Eat like a bird Try adding some seeds and nuts to your diet. Flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and nuts of all kinds are packed with nutrients and can increase production of the cells that fight infections. Nuts can be very fattening if not eaten in moderations, but as part of a healthy diet, they are a great resource.
Make yours whole Wheat, that is. Avoiding simple starches and white flour and using whole grain in its place is another great way to increase the valuable nutrients you are getting from the foods you eat. The absolute best way to ingest your vitamins and minerals is from the food you eat, rather than from those supplements. So, wherever possible, increasing the nutrient content in your food will help your immune system perform at its best.
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8 GREAT IMMUNE BOOSTERS
Now that you understand the role a healthy immune system plays in reducing the noises of Tinnitus, you’ll want to do everything possible to boost your own immunity. Here are 8 great immune boosters to get your started: 1. Eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet that is packed with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables! 2. Exercise daily 3. Get enough sleep – the average adult needs at least eight hours of quality sleep every night 4. Stay hydrated. Drink 10 (8 oz) glasses of water every day 5. Work on reducing the stress in your life 6. Take a good multivitamin or other supplements 7. Keep your emotional state healthy – socialize when you can 8. Take time out and listen to what your body is telling you – you may be surprised at what you hear!
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HERBS FOR A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM
Just as many vitamins can boost your immune system, there is some proof that herbs and tea can also give it a kick start and get it on the right track. Herbal supplements are not regulated or guaranteed by the Food and Drug Administration, and so you should always consult your doctor before starting your herbal regimen. Yes, it is natural, but this is no guarantee that it can’t be harmful or that it cannot interfere with some prescription or over the counter medication you are already taking. Checking in with your family doctor is always a good idea and can help you avoid possible harmful interactions or side effects.
Echinacea Echinacea is an herbal supplement that boosts the immune system and reduces the severity and length of the common cold. It is often taken with vitamin C products.
Green tea Rich in anti-oxidants, green tea has long been a staple of the very healthy Asian diet and has gained popularity in America over the last
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decade. It is not only beneficial; it is also caffeine free and can be a good substitute for coffee for all those who are looking for a warm drink.
Other herbs that are good for strengthening your immune system either by supporting its function through anti-oxidants, or by producing bacteria killing cells are ginseng, piperine, olive leaf and garlic. Probiotics have also become popular and are able to normalize the bacteria population in your intestinal tract and eliminate harmful bacteria, and replace them with the healthy bacteria that you need for digestion.
HOW EXERCISE CAN HELP YOU TO HAVE A HEALTHIER IMMUNE SYSTEM
As we discussed earlier, exercise is probably the number one best thing you can do for your overall health. Regular, moderate aerobic exercise gets your heart pumping and oxygen circulating throughout your cells. The more you continue on an exercise regimen, the better will be your health benefits. You will sleep better; have more energy, your sex drive will improve and even your moods will improve. Exercise fights depression and obesity and gets your immune system working at its best.
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How much is enough? If you are moving from a sedentary lifestyle to an exercise routine, your first stop should be your family doctor. Most people are healthy enough for exercise even if they haven’t been active in quite some time. Your doctor can suggest a good way to get started and inform you of any concerns there are for your health. Walking is usually a good exercise for people who are new to fitness, and it doesn’t require a gym membership or fancy equipment. Just get a good pair of sneakers and some music, and you are ready to hit the pavement.
Set a realistic exercise goal for yourself and keep at it! Even if you are only able to go around the block one time this week; next week you should be doing the same routine twice and pretty soon you should be looking forward to your daily exercises. Experts recommend that healthy adults should get 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 3 days every week, but that is the minimum. Once you get on the path to a healthy lifestyle and fitness habit, you will find yourself looking for physical activity daily.
Some ways to sneak in extra exercise are: · take the stairs instead of the elevator · park further away from the store
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· walk whenever you can · encourage your whole family to join you · plan active outings for your kids (what a great role model you will be!)
Once you start to exercise, you are likely to find that you are getting sick less often, and even getting better quicker when you do catch a cold. Your immune system can function better if your body is working at its best, when you are getting enough sleep, and when you have reduced the levels of stress. Exercise can do all that for you!
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STEP 3: THE 4-POINT TINNITUS RETRAINING PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION:
THE TREACHERY OF TINNITUS
The noise can be deafening. For those who suffer from Tinnitus (more commonly known as ringing in the ears), the constant buzzing, whirring and pulsing in their head and ears can send them into a tailspin. With little understanding about the condition and only a handful of real remedies, Tinnitus sufferers often feel isolated and misunderstood. Yet, they are not alone. It is estimated that 17% to 20% of the world’s population has become a victim of this treacherous disease.
If you find yourself battling the noise of Tinnitus (or know someone who is), you have probably tried more than one way to dull the constant noise that is interrupting your thoughts; your sleep; and your daily life, to no avail. Thankfully, there is a new treatment option that is growing in popularity: The Neurophysiologic Method. A remarkable way to treat Tinnitus, the Neurophysiologic method actually retrains the brain (and your ears) to naturally block out – and even ignore – those debilitating decibels.
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There are people who have compared the method to the sound of raindrops falling on a roof: you notice them at first, but after some time, you simply stop taking notice of the noise they are making on the roof. The same can be accomplished with the sounds of Tinnitus. Of course, it does take a systematic approach (which we will explain in great detail in the pages to come), as well as the close help of your hearing professional.
Showing great results among Tinnitus patients, the Neurophysiological Model has proved to be one of the most comprehensive and effective ways to tune out the sounds of Tinnitus in hundreds of thousands of patients in recent years. Ready to learn more? Great! Let’s get started.
HOW THE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MODEL WORKS Ask any sufferer of Tinnitus to describe their disorder, and they are sure to answer with a myriad of physical and emotional responses:
· It is excruciating! · It drives me crazy! · I have not had a good night’s sleep in months! · It is taking over my life!
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· I can’t take it anymore! · I can’t even think through the noise! · My head aches all the time! · I’m anxious and depressed! · I just feel ill all the time!
One of the things that make Tinnitus so difficult to treat is that, it is more than a physical ailment; it is an emotional one too! Now, that does not mean a Tinnitus sufferer does not hear the sounds that are vibrating through his or her ears and head – the person certainly does hear them! What makes this condition so dangerous (both for the sufferer and for the medical practitioner trying to treat it), is the fact that Tinnitus affects several of the body’s main systems:
1. The Auditory System (your hearing) 2. The Limbic System (your emotions) 3. Your Central Nervous System (your body’s messengers)
Tinnitus is caused by a misfiring of one or all of these systems and each system work closely in conjunction with another. And so, drugs can be ineffective in treating the sounds that are heard by the sufferer. Other treatments only aim at fixing one problem that is caused by a single system (while discounting the others). This approach may lessen the
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symptoms, but it often does not offer complete relief to the person suffering from Tinnitus.
This is, however, not the case with the Neurophysiologic Model. This unique treatment modifies the interactions between the Auditory, Limbic and Central Nervous Systems to alter the messages that are sent between them, and can thus change the process in which they connect to break the Tinnitus-inducing transmissions.
A complicated endeavor to say the least, The Neurophysiologic Model of treatment helps the patient change his/her internal response to Tinnitus noises to block it out, using individual body responses.
How the Neurophysiologic Retraining Therapy Was Developed Although Tinnitus has wreaked havoc in the lives of sufferers for centuries, research into the disorder has been scanty for years. But even then, dozens of different treatments have been developed despite a lack of knowledge about this debilitating disorder. Unfortunately, few have shown the widespread relief that sufferers are looking for – until now, that is.
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Thanks to the work and dedication of P.J. Jastreboff, who helped develop the basis for Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, nearly 80% of all Tinnitus patients can now find at least some relief from their symptoms.
But, before we begin to outline how this unique therapy works in the pages to come, let’s take a closer look at how it was developed.
Since the beginning, his research into the causes and effects of this disorder, Jastreboff uncovered some astonishing facts about Tinnitus:
· Nearly 17% of the world population suffers from some degree of Tinnitus noise · Only 4% of sufferers have a problem with it (the rest seem to just find it annoying) · Evidence shows that there is no difference in the pitch or loudness patient’s experience, regardless of what their perception of it is, or how debilitating it may become for them on a more personal level.
What does all this mean for the sufferer, as well as the medical practitioner who is trying to find a cure for his/her patient? The fact that individual sufferers can experience the same level of “noise” and it can mean such drastically different things to their quality of life
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(some people are just mildly irritated and others are literally driven crazy), suggests that Tinnitus is a phantom perception.
In other words, researchers can find little evidence to link vibratory mechanical activity in the cochlea with the noise being heard by patients – and to justify their reaction to it. Because of this, researchers consider another important link: neuron activity in the auditory pathways.
So, what does this mean? Basically, severe Tinnitus is caused by something outside the auditory system. That is why some people find their symptoms unbearable, while others don’t seem to mind them much.
This is an important finding in treating Tinnitus for several reasons. For one, unless you understand the complex connections between the auditory system and the non-auditory centers in the brain, you may overlook one or more non-auditory causes for all that noise.
Sounds coming into the ear evoke a number of responses within the brain as they pass through each system. This can make some brain signals (or noises) seem bigger and louder; while others may seem weaker.
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Discovering this connection is what allowed Jastreboff to develop the Neurophysiologic model of retraining treatment. During his research, Jastreboff and the other researchers uncovered two important issues:
1. The auditory system is not the only one in the body that can cause Tinnitus noise 2. The way a patient perceives his/her Tinnitus noises on an emotional level can drastically change how severe the symptoms are.
SIDEBAR: What Tinnitus Sufferers Experience
Those who find dealing with Tinnitus symptoms difficult, often report a host of other issues that are associated with the noise they hear. Here are a few:
· concentration disruptions · fatigue (often due to a lack of sleep) · inability to work in a quiet environment (this seems to make the noise in their ears louder and more disruptive)
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· depression; irritability; and the inability to cope · obssesive behavior about their symptoms (the sufferer seems to dwell on their symptoms)
Trying to find answers to these questions, researchers discovered that when a person is affected by Tinnitus significantly, it not only affects just the auditory system, but also the limbic system and the autonomic nervous system. This was a significant finding since it took their research to a whole new level – and to other parts of the body as well. Since the limbic system controls our emotions and the autonomic nervous system controls all the automatic functions in the body (and the brain), the search for a Tinnitus cure forced scientists to look beyond the ear, for both its cause and its cure.
Leaving the ears behind, researchers were free to investigate other sources of noise Tinnitus sufferer’s experience, and thus discover the best way to ultimately treat it.
Role of Other Systems in Tinnitus Consider the impact the limbic system can have on the way a patient perceives his/her symptoms, and this ultimately decides how he or she will deal with them. The limbic system keeps our emotions in
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check. When it works properly, we can find ways to cope. But when it doesn’t, we are left feeling helpless and hopeless and out of control.
Connected to all the sensory systems in the body (smell, sight, hearing), the system allows the body to react either positively or negatively to any stimulus, including what we hear.
When the limbic system is extremely stressed, it can activate the autonomic nervous system, which can regulate our heart rate, breathing, muscle tone and even the release of hormones. This can put the body on high alert, evoking a natural fight or flight response. It is good when we are in real danger, but activating this response too often (or at the wrong times), can cause chaos throughout the entire body.
How does all of this affect Tinnitus? When the limbic and autonomic nervous systems are activated during a Tinnitus outbreak, and a negative association is developed between the stimulus and the noise, a bad memory loop is created in the brain. This can make the Tinnitus noises rerun themselves in the brain over and over again, even when that stimulus is no longer present. This can happen as long as it is being perceived by the patient.
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Once this negative loop is developed, it can be difficult to break, especially if you are unaware that it is even there. This can keep the Tinnitus noise you hear running non-stop in your head.
This may sound like all bad news, but it isn’t. The fact that Jabreboff and his colleagues discovered this connection is great news for treatment possibilities. Once they understood the link between the limbic system, autonomic nervous system and Tinnitus, they were able to find ways to break the loop. And once the loop is broken, the patients can be cured of the disturbing noise they hear.
In its most simplistic form, Neurophysiologic Therapy is the method used to retrain these three important systems (limbic, auditory and autonomic) to break the unhealthy cycle that is causing Tinnitus patients so much distress.
SECTION ONE: THE COMPONENTS OF THE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MODEL
Now that you better understand the connection between Tinnitus and the various systems within the body, let’s take a closer look at the Neurophysiologic Model and understand it better. Then we can
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discuss how it can be used to develop a retraining program to treat your unique Tinnitus symptoms.
What Systems Are Involved? We have established that the limbic, autonomic and auditory systems of the body all influence Tinnitus symptoms. But how? The auditory system is what allows you to hear noise. It is comprised of your ears, ear canal, cochlea and brain. If it doesn’t work properly, the work can be taken over by the other two systems, and this can cause problems.
This is what causes the perception of Tinnitus. In reality, the patient is not really “hearing” the buzzing, clicking, whirring or other noises that are associated with Tinnitus. While the person may have once heard these noises, the stimulus has long gone, leaving behind a rerun of the noise in the brain (and not the ears).
Tinnitus often results from a distressing situation. The sufferer may have experienced a frightening car crash that caused the noises, and they got ingrained into the memory. Even a somewhat pleasurable experience can cause Tinnitus noise if the pitch and volume of the noise causes any type of internal distress. This is often why Tinnitus
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happens even after the person has visited a loud concert or dance club.
Let’s say that you are at a dance club with extremely loud music. You may be having a good time, but soon, your head may begin to ache from the noise, and you begin to feel stressed. This is your limbic system (or your emotions) warning you of danger. This can cause a reaction in your autonomic nervous system, which causes your heart to race, your palms to sweat and even your head to thump in pain. Now, let’s say that you choose to suffer, and finish out the evening with your friends.
For some people, there is no problem. They go home, relax and wake the next morning feeling refreshed. But, for those who have a sensitive limb or autonomic nervous system, they may have just created a negative memory loop that will cause a repeat of those symptoms every time they even think about their experience at the nightclub. The experience may become a part of their memory, and the leftover ringing they experience in their ears may become commonplace in the days to come, leaving them even more distressed. This causes the problem to recur often, and with more and more intensity.
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Assuming that this person did not physically damage his/her ears, ear drum or cochlea during the concert, the result of this constant ringing is a connection between the three main systems we have discussed. This conditional response is called a reflex arc, and it can also develop when an abnormality exists in the auditory system in conjunction with a high level of emotional stress.
It is important to understand that it is the negative emotions of the person that creates a link for the loop. In other words, without a negative reaction, the loop cannot be established, and this is why some people barely notice their Tinnitus, and others are greatly disturbed by it.
The Role of Conditioned Reflexes Our bodies are constantly reacting to what is happening around us. We smell a cake baking and we suddenly feel hungry; we hear an unexpected loud noise and we flinch. These are all natural responses to the world around us. Problems can arise however, when these responses are linked to either punishment or reward. When this happens, it creates the arc we just talked about. It can be a positive or a negative association – that really doesn’t matter – any association can create a memory loop that can cause ongoing Tinnitus noise.
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However, researchers have found that if a neutral response is experienced over a long time, it can actually break the negative loop that is causing distress in the first place. This of course is not an easy thing to accomplish, but we’ll talk more about that in the pages to come.
First, let’s look at another way in which Tinnitus can take hold of your life: by its own negative associations. Sometimes, Tinnitus itself is the negative stimulus feeding the condition. What may start out as a temporary auditory response to an illness or an event, can quickly turn into a permanent ailment once a negative perception of the noise is established. Unfortunately, this perception is often induced by the medical community, which tells patients that nothing can be done to turn off the noise and to just learn to live with it. Of course, the patient panics, thus stimulating the exact limbic and autonomic response they want to avoid. It is this negative reaction that reinforces the Tinnitus, thus exacerbating the problem.
Once a patient begins to view his or her Tinnitus and its resulting noise negatively, the person begins to concentrate on it more, and this creates the loop that will feed into it, making it grow stronger and more debilitating. This is one reason why some people do not see an increase in the severity of their symptoms. If they never
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associate Tinnitus with something bad, it will cease to be a problem – and may actually disappear altogether over time.
So, what does this all mean? In short, it means that the more attention you give your Tinnitus, the louder and more aggressive it will become. Once the loop is established between the conscious and subconscious levels of the brain in regards to the noises being heard, it will become harder and harder to break those loops and find relief.
Much of the loop happens at the subconscious level, and this is one major reason why Tinnitus can be such a dangerous disorder. Your body could be igniting responses to certain situations, and that too without you even realizing it. That is why it is so important to understand the connections between all of these systems, so that you can pinpoint where your Tinnitus is coming from, and then begin retraining that part of the brain to stop it.
When the patient subconsciously focuses on his/her Tinnitus noise, the body becomes more alert. The person begins to see and feel things in a heightened manner, and this can make him or her irritable and exhausted. This tendency of course affects the quality of life drastically. Suddenly everything he or she thinks, feel and does revolves around the Tinnitus and the chaos it is creating in life.
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How This Vicious Cycle is Made The development of these disruptive feedback loops is often referred to as a “vicious cycle” by medical personnel. Anyone who deals with Tinnitus would agree that the name is a good fit. It takes a combination of the subconscious and conscious mind to change the bad memory loop, and that is why this cycle is so vicious and hard to change. While we may consciously understand what is happening, and be willing to work on changing our thought patterns and feelings to break the cycle; it is actually much more difficult to accomplish this on a subconscious level.
Changing the way a person’s subconscious mind looks at it and deals with this ailment can be very difficult, and it requires a multi-faceted medical/emotional approach to treatment.
The Dangers of Decreased Sound Tolerance One of the biggest side effects of severe Tinnitus is a decrease in sound tolerance. Suddenly, even the weakest sound can cause the biggest response. For these patients, sound itself can become the enemy.
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There are three things that must be looked at when discussing decreased sound tolerance in patients:
1. hyperacusis – an increase in sound induced activity in the auditory pathways, which results in a limited limbic or autonomic response by the body. When the person goes through hyperacusis, there is no relationship between the loudness or pitch of noise, and the patient’s reaction. Every noise can be excruciating, no matter how soft or weak it is. This makes listening to any type of noise uncomfortable and there is a distinct (and usually negative) response from the autonomic nervous system. This is what creates that bad memory loop that we have already discussed. 2. misophonia – a negative reaction to sound coming from the limbic and autonomic nervous system that results in an actual change in body chemistry and reaction. When this happens, the person dislikes sound – any sound. Fear too, can be a strong component of this type of Tinnitus, which is known as phonophobia, and it requires retraining to get some relief from Tinnitus. There cannot be any remedy since it is not treating the actual noise inducer. Misophonia is not caused by any abnormality in the auditory system – it is actually caused by a rather strong reaction from the limbic system when the sound was first heard. This reaction is completely subconscious, and can be rather severe, depending on whether the link was made during a traumatic event or not.
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3. recruitment – this is considered a higher than normal slope of noise growth, and is associated with hearing loss. What this means is that, in such a case, the person’s threshold for noise is lowered due to the cochlea getting damaged. It is strictly a physical phenomenon and has nothing whatsoever to do with a limbic or autonomic response to noise.
Although these are three totally independent phenomena’s, they usually work in close relation to one another. For instance, a patient who experiences hyperacusis will soon develop accompanying misophonia if he/she begins to see the disorder as something negative in any way.
Once these three different problems begin to intertwine, the patient becomes even more agitated, and finds it harder to tolerate the symptoms. Not only does noise become uncomfortable, but now it has been physiologically linked to the limbic and autonomic nervous systems, thus worsening the symptoms. This often leaves the sufferer retreating into the safe (and quiet) environment of his or her home, unable to venture out and enjoy the things that were once loved. Sound of any sort becomes the enemy, and the only way to preserve health and sanity is to stay away from it.
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To treat a Tinnitus patient who is experiencing one or more of these maladies, it is essential to take several different approaches.
For instance, when treating hyperacusis, the auditory system must be desensitized so that noise is no longer able to inflict pain on the patient. This is accomplished by a systematic approach to exposing the patient to a variety of sounds and pitches to allow the subconscious to become used to the sounds. This is often done on a subconscious level using “white noise” since the patient does not need to concentrate on the noise being heard.
When treating misophonia, the goal is not to get used to the noise, but to link it with something more positive to break the negative loop that causes distress. This is done by presenting a sound and connecting it with a positive or even pleasurable response.
By treating all of these conditions separately, the patient can easily use the Neurophysiological model to completely retrain each of these systems and break the cycle of noise that he or she is hearing.
SECTION TWO: THE BASICS FOR THE RETRAINING PLAN
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When trying to come up with an effective treatment for Tinnitus, Jastreboff and his colleagues had to find the answers to four main questions:
1. Can you reverse the conditioned reflex arc? 2. Can you break or change the perception a person has of Tinnitus? 3. Can you break the connection between a certain noise and a Tinnitus reaction? 4. What needs to be done to stop Tinnitus in its tracks?
After much research, scientists have learned that the answer to the first three of these questions is a resounding YES! The brain is continually learning and adjusting to new facts, information and events. Therefore, it is possible to reverse the reflex arc and break the perceptions of Tinnitus, and this will ultimately change the way a patient reacts to it, thus reducing its symptoms or curing it altogether.
This can be done using habituation therapy. And the fact is, habituation therapy is often used for this. By reprogramming the brain and the autonomic reactions to noise, the Tinnitus symptoms can be alleviated. Here’s how it works: 1. First, Tinnitus related neuron activity must be identified
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2. Once the identification is made, it must be blocked by neuron networks in the auditory system 3. This keeps it from getting to the area of the cortex where a negative pathway may be developed, thus causing distress and increasing the symptoms (and the patient’s reaction to them).
Once these three things have taken place, the patient may still hear the noise of Tinnitus, but he/she is not bothered by it. Of course, all this takes time, so the person needs to maintain patience when using habituation therapy.
It is also important to note here that habituation does not cure Tinnitus. The noise remains. It actually helps the patient change the perception of that noise so that it is no longer a problem. It is like hearing the rain patter on the roof. At first you may notice it, but since you have no negative reaction to it, you will eventually stop thinking about it. True, the rain continues to make the same amount of noise, you just stop concentrating on it and thus it does not bother you. That is exactly what habituation tries to accomplish: taking away the power of Tinnitus and replacing it with a no-one-cares attitude.
This may sound wonderful, but how exactly can someone who suffers with this unending noise in the head finally find peace? In the
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next section, you will learn the 4 basic steps to retraining your brain to stop letting Tinnitus rule your life. There is freedom from all that noise. Isn’t it time you learned how to achieve it?
SECTION THREE: THE 4-STEP RETRAINING PLAN TO GET RID OF TINNITUS
Before we delve headlong into the four steps to retraining your brain to turn off the noise of Tinnitus, you must first figure out what type of Tinnitus you have, and what category you belong to. Let’s begin with an overview of the various types of Tinnitus patients suffer from:
The Types of Tinnitus Objective Tinnitus You may not be aware of it, but your body makes a lot of noise throughout the day. Your heart thumps, your lungs extract; and your arteries pulsate among other things. Although these sounds are always there, but only a few of us ever hear them. So, if our bodies are so noisy, why don’t we hear what’s going on? There are several reasons for this. One is the fact that most of our organs are insulated by protective tissues, muscles and skin, and this keeps the noise down. But, the most important reason we don’t normally hear our body at work is because of the fact that our brain is able to filter out
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(or simply ignore) these normal noises. Until they change, thus signaling trouble, the brain simply doesn’t let us “hear” the noises within. That’s a good thing too, since they are likely to drive us mad if we noticed every sound our internal organs made.
There are people however, who can hear the sounds within their body. This is called objective Tinnitus.
For those with objective Tinnitus, these internal bodily noises become more acute (and noticeable), and this causes hearing distress since there is no way to get away from the constant noise.
One way to better understand objective Tinnitus is to become aware of the most common sound culprits within the human body:
1. The Circulatory System – one of the most common causes of objective Tinnitus is the flow of blood through larger vessels in the head or even small arteries in the ear, or those that lead to the ear. 2. The Heart – the heart can beat quite loudly at times, so people with an acute awareness of sound may easily pick up the noises.
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3. The Skeleton – you may have thought that your skeleton remains relatively silent throughout the day, but that’s wrong! Next to circulation, the skeleton (usually the bones in the jaw, neck and back) is the biggest source of objective Tinnitus. The most common cause: some type of injury, deterioration or arthritis. Of course some people report clicking joints in other parts of the body as well, but those who are most affected by Tinnitus hear the noises that originate near the head and ears. 4. The Soft Palate. While muscles rarely cause any type of Tinnitus noise, the contraction of the soft palate has been reported to be a source of Objective Tinnitus.
Subjective Tinnitus All-too-often, a patient describes the sounds he/she hears only to be told that it is only in the head. When no outer or internal noises can be found to be the root cause of a patient’s Tinnitus, it is considered subjective. This in no way means that the patient isn’t hearing these sounds, or that these noises are only imagined. The sounds of Tinnitus are real. It’s just that sometimes no one else can hear them, or is able to find a reason for them.
Whether a reason can be identified for the malfunction or not, it does not mean that the brain is not recording or replaying previously
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heard sounds in the head of the sufferer. As a matter of fact, most subjective Tinnitus is eventually linked to some sort of malfunction within the body, including the auditory center and the nervous system. When this happens, the malfunctioning organ or system may actually send sound impulses to the brain, telling it that a sound has been heard, even when it hasn’t. This can cause confusion with the medical community about what is really being heard and what sounds are only perceived.
Another source for subjective Tinnitus is unknown internal sounds that originate deep within the body itself. If no one else has ever reported hearing a certain sound before, it may be considered subjective, when in reality it is objective. This is because it is indeed a real sound that is being made by the body and only the patient can hear it.
Stereo vs. Mono Tinnitus Tinnitus presents itself in a lot of different ways, but the most common are in relation to how loud the noises heard are (their frequency); how often they are heard (their duration) and how many are heard. While the majority of Tinnitus sufferers report only hearing a single noise at a time, as many as 26% report hearing two noises and 6% hears three or more at a given time.
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In addition, sufferers may hear noises in one or both the ears at a time; or the noise may move from one ear to another in a type of stereo effect. In rarer cases, it has been noted that some sufferers experience the sensation of noise without really hearing it per se.
These types of stereo Tinnitus may be even more severe if those noises are heard in high frequency regularly.
Significant vs. Insignificant Tinnitus It can be especially difficult to determine how significant an individual’s Tinnitus is due to the simple fact that, different people react to the noise caused by the disorder in different ways. While one person may be able to tolerate different noises at a lower frequency, others hearing just one continuous buzz at a higher volume may find the disorder disabling.
Generally speaking, if the Tinnitus is more sporadic, despite its volume frequency, patients are able to deal with its symptoms better. Many sufferers admit that it isn’t necessarily the loudness of the noise that they find so distressing, but its constant nature. “If only I could get a break,” many report, “I could handle it.”
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For diagnosis purposes, insignificant Tinnitus is simply a condition that the person experiences occasionally, and the person can “live with” during the attack. Significant Tinnitus, on the other hand, is considered more debilitating and it can cause other serious problems such as depression, immune system deficiency and even hearing loss.
The Categories of Tinnitus
Another thing to consider is the category of Tinnitus you suffer from. When you are planning your Retraining Program, you must remember that there are five main categories of Tinnitus, and they include:
Category 1: Low or No Impact Tinnitus New sufferers who have not had time to make any negative associations with their Tinnitus may recognize its presence and be mildly annoyed, but they are not bothered by it yet. A category 1 Tinnitus patient finds the noise mildly annoying, but has not allowed it to encroach on his/her life and happiness. The person accepts the noise and continues on with life as usual. This patient is the easiest to treat, since no negative pathways have been made yet. Usually only
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one or two retraining session is necessary to keep the noise under control or to get rid of it altogether.
Category 2: High Severity Tinnitus with No Related Hearing Issues Patients in this category suffer with severe Tinnitus noise, but do not exhibit any type of physical reason for the noise or any hearing loss. Their Tinnitus is not damage related, as may be the case with someone who is continuously exposed to loud noises at work or home. Category 2 patients are generally fitted with a special hearing devise that can mask the noise they hear and retrain the brain to stop noticing it. Of course the person is also undergoing intensive Tinnitus training and behavioral/emotional counseling because it can help him/her deal with the disorder better.
Category 3: Tinnitus Aggravated By a Hearing Loss Category 3 patients suffer from Tinnitus noise, and yet they strain to hear the voices and sounds they want and need to. This can be especially frustrating as it tends to affect their quality of life. Such a patient can be treated in two ways - while Tinnitus retraining is underway, hearing devices must be used to amplify the noise so that the patient can hear the sounds around him/her. These devices can also be used to mask the internal noises, assuming that the patient can handle being bombarded with so much noise.
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Category 4: Hyperacusis with or without Tinnitus For some people, sound actually hurts. That is hyperacusis. It may or may not be continuous (as in the case of Tinnitus), but it does physically hurt. Most patients experience a combination of the two. Treatment for Category 4 Tinnitus requires the use of a sound generation set to desensitize the patient to different types and frequencies of sound. The device is used on a short term basis, and when used together with certain amplifiers, it can be very effective.
Category 5: Hyperacusis Caused By Noise Exposure Those who belong to this category are the hardest to treat. Category 5 patients suffer from severe Hyperacusis that is caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises. Normal treatment is impossible since even the slightest sound can cause excruciating symptoms. Because of this, a very low level of sound must be introduced using hearing appliances over a long period for desensitization of the patient.
Why is it important to understand your type and category of Tinnitus to treat your symptoms? As you can see, the degree of your discomfort is directly connected with different features. Until you can accurately classify your Tinnitus, it can be very hard (if not impossible) to develop a suitable retraining program. If you fail to
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properly classify the Tinnitus, you might end up making the symptoms worse.
One other note: most patients will move from one category to another during Retraining and their treatment should change based on the category. This is a sign that it is working. The goal of course is to reach stage one, where Tinnitus noise fails to be a bother – or even noticed.
Step One: Evaluation and Diagnosis Now that you understand what is causing your Tinnitus better and can classify it, it is time to begin explaining the four main steps of developing a successful retraining plan. Step One involves getting a formal evaluation and diagnosis. Without this, you will have no idea how to proceed.
The Tinnitus Evaluation must be a multi-pronged approach. This can sometimes become a bit frustrating to patients, unless they really understand why they are being asked so many questions, and why their retraining specialist is looking at so many different aspects of their disorder. Remember, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is a very structured approach to treatment that includes an in-depth
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evaluation and diagnosis before an individualized treatment schedule can be devised.
The initial stage of any Tinnitus evaluation begins with the doctor recording the patient history. This first interview often starts with a basic questionnaire that the patient is asked to fill out either at home before the appointment or in the doctor’s office when he/she arrives for consultation.
Some of the things the questionnaire is likely to cover is your medical history; medications being used; your lifestyle (do you smoke, drink, etc); as well as some basic questions regarding your Tinnitus (when it started; how severe it is; what things aggravate the symptoms; if any other physical ailments are being caused by the Tinnitus, etc).
Once the patient questionnaire has been reviewed, a personal interview usually takes place. This is when the doctor or counselor begins to delve deeper into the things that may have brought on the Tinnitus, and the professional tries to learn how it may be affecting the patient’s everyday life. Questions asked during this more personal interview will be a bit more intimate, as the doctor tries to figure out the stresses and feelings behind the symptoms of Tinnitus.
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Assessing how a patient’s Tinnitus is affecting the life is essential to developing a treatment that will work to alleviate the noise heard.
During the last phase of the personal history/evaluation, the doctor may ask the patient to assess his/her own Tinnitus to see how the person perceives it. The professional will be trying to categorize the Tinnitus using the information received from written and oral interviews.
The next step to a patient’s evaluation and diagnosis is the auditory evaluation. This involves checking for any physical loss of hearing in the patient. It can alert the physician about the physical abnormalities and/or damage to the ear and cochlea. It is important to establish the auditory status since some patients may need amplification help during therapy. Some of the auditory tests that may be conducted include: · the loudness discomfort level (LDL) – this checks for hyperacusis · pure-tone audiogram · speech discrimination · minimal masking level
None of these tests alone can help the doctor arrive at a firm diagnosis and plan the Retraining Treatment, but when combined with the written and oral interviews, they can.
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You may be wondering about some of the other Tinnitus tests that are not listed here, like the loudness and pitch tests. Well, since the loudness and pitch of sound has no real bearing on Tinnitus, it would be fruitless to take the time to do these tests when you are trying to develop a Neurophysiologic Method of Retraining the brain to tune out the Tinnitus noise.
One test that is essential to characterizing a patient’s Tinnitus is the LDL listed above. Without an accurate LDL, it is impossible to create a successful retraining program that does not over-stimulate the limbic and autonomic nervous system (which could increase the Tinnitus symptoms). Testing is usually handled using an intermittent test tone to test the loudness acceptability and frequency aggravation. Although not an endurance test, it is important to realize that an LDL test is used to see how much sound you (the patient) can tolerate, and this helps the physician make an effective therapy model. Remember, the test cannot cause any more damage or create new systems; it is simply an evaluation tool.
Once the auditory evaluation is complete, the medical practitioner in charge is likely to begin a full medical evaluation to make sure that there are no underlying physical or medical reasons for the Tinnitus (ear damage, Meniere’s disease, infection or even a brain tumor, etc).
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The medical evaluation usually consists of a complete physical exam, a review of any and all medical conditions; blood work; CT scans and MRI’s as well as referrals to other specialists if needed, including psychiatric care. A review of past Tinnitus treatments is also necessary since some of these treatments may interfere with the effectiveness of The Neurophysiologic model of treatment, if it is not adjusted.
In addition to the overall health assessment being performed, patients should also be aware that a complete otolaryngological examination must also be performed to check for things like: · middle ear fluid retention · inflammation · negative pressure · vascular masses · somatsounds (sounds created by the body) · jugular compression · cerebral function and balance · nerve damage
In the event a pathological reason is found for the Tinnitus sounds, it may be treated using a variety of drugs and/or surgical procedures.
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Once the medical review of a Tinnitus patient is completed, all the evidence presented through the entire evaluation process can be studied to determine a correct and thorough diagnosis. While the Neurophysiological method of treating Tinnitus is highly effective when done properly, misdiagnosing or wrongly categorizing the symptoms can cause more problems, because this can mean that wrong desensitization and counseling methods might be used.
While diagnosing Tinnitus, patients are placed into one of the five categories already discussed. The retraining treatment is based on this classification. Of course, as they progress through therapy, the classification will change, and the treatment will be altered.
When classifying patients, the following factors are looked at: · the severity of the Tinnitus noise · the duration of the Tinnitus noise · the presence of hyperacusis · the extent of any hyperacusis · is there an increase in the symptoms when loud noises are heard
Tinnitus retraining therapy/counseling is designed to cover all aspects of the disorder to develop a suitable habituation approach to therapy. This should cover the following concepts:
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· While Tinnitus does not mean that a medical problem exists, it can be caused because of a neurological side effect · Misophonia is a direct result of an enhanced connection between the auditory and limbic systems. · Tinnitus can make the autonomic nervous system react in different disruptive ways including a heightened fight or flight response; hormonal distribution; anxiety and others. · Although the auditory, limbic and autonomic nervous systems are usually working normally even when Tinnitus is present, the disorder can still be linked to an incorrect connection between these systems. This can happen because of a proper reaction to an improper stimulus. · The connections made are then worsened by a natural conditional reflex. · It is possible to change these reflexes to neutralize the affects of the Tinnitus noise on the patient. By enriching the auditory environment through habituation, the neuron activity causing Tinnitus can be disabled.
STEP TWO: Retraining Sessions
Although it is impossible to actually rid a patient of Tinnitus through Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, it is possible to teach the brain (and the
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resulting body systems) how best to react to it, thus making the noise less noticeable or active. Although the loudness and pitch of the noise may remain the same throughout treatment, it will lose its negative aspects; the body will cease to react to it; and it will no longer bother the patient. In essence, the noise remains, but it loses its power until it is not even noticed any longer.
Neuropsychological counseling is very important to treating this disorder. While we will discuss general counseling options in the pages to come, it is important to realize that every patient is different, and so it is important to develop an individualized therapy model that can solve the specific problems and needs of a person. While a person who belongs to the category #3 may require certain aspects in his/her counseling, another patient with the same classification may not. That is what makes this type of therapy so effective. Still, it is worthwhile to understand the general counseling options to better understand how the treatment works.
The purpose of this type of specialized counseling is to help the patient better understand the mysteries behind Tinnitus. Once the person is able to understand what is happening (and not happening) within the body, he or she is in a better position to handle it. Fear is a strong emotion that can create quite a bit of chaos – and noise -- within the Tinnitus patient. One of the main aspects of retraining therapy is to
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break this cycle of fear and emotion to better control the symptoms, and stop the establishment of negative connections.
Retraining the brain is all about changing a patient’s perception of Tinnitus. This will eventually result in removing the annoyance of Tinnitus from the patient’s life. As we have already stated, each patient will experience an individual counseling session, but even then, in all of them, the factors remain common. So, every patient should expect that all of these areas will be a part of the counseling/treatment sessions:
· An explanation of the results of the patient’s audiological testing
By giving the patient a comprehensive explanation of his/her auditory testing, the person will be able to understand better why the Tinnitus sounds are heard, and why they are not related to the actual hearing, but are only perceptions and reactions. In cases where a hearing loss is evident, an explanation of proper amplification and how that will affect the Tinnitus can be offered in a positive way, so that it does not cause any negative feedback loops, because this can intensify the Tinnitus noise heard.
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· A basic explanation of how the auditory system works
Many patients convince themselves that their Tinnitus is a direct result of a malfunction in their auditory system, and yet, research proves that few sufferers actually suffer from this type of malady. This is why it is essential that they understand exactly how the auditory system works, and the role the ears play in their hearing – and their Tinnitus. Once this knowledge is acquired, they can more easily disconnect a physical reason for their Tinnitus, and this also allows the therapist to treat the patient more easily.
· A rundown of the basic rules of perception and an explanation on how this can effect Tinnitus signal strength
The sound does not have to change within a room for a Tinnitus patient to suddenly experience discomfort. Remember, it is not about the loudness or pitch of the sound, it is about the perception. For instance, when you are playing a TV during the day with children in the house, there will be surely other noises around you, and you may not be bothered by them. But, play that same TV program at the same volume at 9 pm when the rest of the house is silent, and the noise can suddenly become excruciating. When patients understand how their perception
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of a noise actually affects their Tinnitus strength, that same noise can suddenly become bearable again.
· An explanation of how the brain functions and how it works in conjunction with other systems in the body
The human brain is an amazing organ that is able to perform thousands of tasks at virtually the same time. However often, it is also unable to do two things at once in some instances. This is the case when it comes to hearing. Our ears are constantly taking in sounds and transmitting these sound waves to our brain. It is up to our brain to decide which ones will get our attention. Notice how you generally do not hear 50 different sounds at once (thank goodness). Yet, our ears may be taking in that many sounds at the moment. It is our brain which decides which one we will notice at a given moment.
To do this, the brain uses several strategies including:
1. Automation: the first thing the brain does is, it creates a series of reflexes in the subconscious mind to allow you to do more than one thing at a time. A great example of this is the ability to read music while playing an instrument. The brain also prioritizes in a way that allows the body to tackle the things that need attention
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right away, and put off the less urgent matters. The key to habituation therapy is to take those higher needs and neutralize their importance, so that they do not require action from the body’s other systems.
How wonderful the human brain is; it is able to learn new things and create new conditional reflexes with time and proper training. That is what makes this type of training work: the brain is open to change and that change can heal many things, including Tinnitus. By simply modifying the strength of the neuron connections that causes Tinnitus, the condition can be cured.
Are you asking yourself how this is possible? It takes two things: the proper sequence of exercises and time. Over time, conditional reflexes can be modified with new experiences. When counseling is offered at the same time to help the patient view these new experiences in a positive light, new connections can be made; and older ones disbanded. For instance, a noise which once caused extreme discomfort is presented very slowly to the patient, with positive reinforcement over time, and when done, the sound can (and will) lose its negative power, and be patient will be able to tolerate it better.
When trying to reprogram the brain, it is important to also take into account how it works with the body’s other important systems. Since
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Tinnitus occurs when one or all of these subsystems are affected, it is essential that they (and their functions) be incorporated when the therapy model is being developed. This includes:
· The Limbic System: Sound and emotion are strongly tied to one another. Why else would certain songs elicit such strong reactions in some people? If the right negative connections can be destroyed, so can their negative reactions, thus stopping certain stimuli from evoking the Tinnitus sounds. · The Autonomic Nervous System: While it can be difficult to control one’s automatic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate, it is possible to learn to stop your body from responding to stress in a way that activates such intense feelings that induces the Tinnitus noise.
· Explaining how all of this works in the specific patient to create the noises he or she is hearing
As we have already discussed, Tinnitus does not become problematic until a negative connection is made between the three main subsystems (auditory, autonomic and limbic) and the brain. When the activity level of these systems hits a certain point, the Tinnitus noise can become more debilitating because the perception of noise changes for the patient. Once the patient becomes irritated with the sound, he/she
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begins to associate it with annoyance. Then, each time the noise is heard, the internal stress levels begin to rise, which in turn creates that negative memory loop we’ve been discussing, and it raises the severity of the Tinnitus. That is why Tinnitus often grows worse over time in many patients. It is the body’s way of reacting to it that actually increases its severity.
This internal bodily reaction to the noise does not just affect a sufferer’s Tinnitus, but many other aspects of his/her health and well being too. Some of the most common complaints that are expressed on long-term include:
1. Insomnia – after all, it can be hard to sleep when your body is in a constant state of arousal, and is alert to every noise in the room. 2. Increased Heart Rate/Palpitations – the heart is extremely sensitive to the body’s reaction to stressful situations, and can become agitated from over-stimulation 3. Digestive Issues – nausea is often experienced 4. Bowel Irritations -- diarrhea is very common among Tinnitus patients 5. Hypersensitivity -- Tinnitus patients are often very sensitive to all kinds of noises (even weak ones) and bright lights.
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6. Phobias – it is not uncommon for Tinnitus patients to experience fears and phobias regarding what will trigger this unending noise in their head and ears 7. Depression – long-term Tinnitus can become hard to manage for some, leaving them susceptible to depression
· Explaining what habituation is, and how it works
The wonderful thing about the human body and brain is that, it can be altered when your health and well-being is at stake. New sounds easily attract our attention, which is probably why negative memory loops are created so easily. But, habituation can be used to make them seem unimportant to your brain if a neutral emotional response can be established. This is accomplished with slow, safe repeated exposure together with positive feedback to create a good emotional response to the noise, and this will eventually neutralize it and make it unnoticeable – or at least not response-worthy.
When the brain first notices a new sound coming in, it excites the auditory pathways to the cortex. The cortex then evaluates this unknown sound and decides whether it is good or bad, and whether or not to take any sort of physical action. If action is deemed necessary (as in the case of a frightening sound), the limbic and autonomic nervous systems are put on high alert.
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This reaction in itself does not produce Tinnitus. In most cases, this over-stimulation gradually disappears as the body realizes that the sound poses no real threat. If however, the sound is associated with something negative as could be the case with the screeching of tires just prior to an automobile accident, the sound (and others like it) can take on a negative connotation, thus creating the memory loop that replays it over and over in the sufferer’s head. This is Tinnitus. Some people are more susceptible to this negative programming than others, which explains why some people get Tinnitus and others do not.
Once the noise is programmed into the head, the only way to get rid of it is to actually put yourself in the position of listening to those sounds continuously, until they begin to lose their effectiveness and become neutralized in the brain. This can be achieved by listening to it and receiving counseling, to change those negative connotations to positive ones and refocusing attention away from it.
How a patient reacts to certain noises will have a big impact on how well he or she responds to treatment. Those who tend to get stuck in negative emotions and thoughts are likely to have a more difficult time breaking the cycle of Tinnitus, while those with a more positive “can do” attitude will find their Tinnitus more easily remedied by habituation therapy. Regardless of which type of person you are, do remember that
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retraining therapy is not a quick fix, and it does require a certain amount of time and patience to work.
· Outlining a proposed treatment
It is essential that a complete treatment plan is explained to the patient so that the person understands exactly what steps will be taken to stop the Tinnitus noise. This includes an outline of the following generic steps as well as any individualized treatment steps that are deemed necessary by the habituation counselor:
· The introduction of constant sound to help the patient begin to disassociate his/her emotional reflexes with the sound. This can be done with an amplifier, white noise machine or a specific kind of hearing device. The important thing here is to introduce the noise in a way that either offers no reinforcement at all, or showcases a reduction in reinforcement. · Associated counseling during the noise therapy to help a patient break the negative loops and replace them with more neutral ones. It is very important for the patient to stop thinking of – and reacting to – the Tinnitus as a danger, and begin to see it as what it is – just noise. This is the only way to take away its power and its ability to be so bothersome.
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· When noise therapy is first introduced, the patient is directed to notice it, so that the person can consciously try and change the perception and reaction to it. Since there is no way to completely stop the body’s subconscious reaction to the noise, it is important to find ways to reduce the impact. · During the sound therapy portion of the habituation process, the Tinnitus noises being experienced will begin to decrease in strength and volume.
· Answering any and all the questions of the patient
Of course no retraining treatment can be successful if the patient does not fully understand and embrace it. Habituation requires a full hearted attempt for recovery, and therefore, the counselor must be willing to share all of his/her expertise with the patient, answering all the questions about Tinnitus and its therapy options to make it work. When it comes to Neurophysiologic treatment, knowledge truly is power. Armed with enough knowledge, a patient can – and will – find relief.
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STEP THREE: Sound Therapy
An indispensable component of this type of treatment is sound therapy, or the introduction of sound to neutralize its effect. It may sound ridiculous to a Tinnitus patient that more sound is being introduced into the head, when what he/she is already hearing is causing so much distress - but it really does work. This is not meant to mask or block out the Tinnitus noise per se - sound therapy is rather meant to help the patient stop concentrating on the Tinnitus noise, and offer a safe way for the body to neutralize it. This is done by continued exposure to preselected sounds and pitches that are known to help Tinnitus patients change their perception and reaction to certain sounds.
There are several different methods for using sound therapy: · to introduce the patient to brand new sounds · to increase the volume of existing sounds · to amplify environmental sounds with the help of hearing aids · by utilizing specialized sound generators
Most patients will discover that more than one sound therapy method is used during the course of treatment – and sometimes they can be used at the same time! The final approach taken must be determined in accordance to their Tinnitus categorization.
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One of the most important things that Tinnitus patients must come to understand is the importance of not avoiding noise. Sound therapy requires surrounding themselves with some sort of environmental noise (albeit controlled) 24 hours a day. This is the only way to neutralize the effects of the sounds heard. By living in complete silence (which many Tinnitus sufferers strive to accomplish), they can actually intensify the severity of their symptoms by making even the weakest sound take on a greater meaning within their subconscious mind and body.
Some of the best background noises can be found in nature (wind, rain, birds, etc), and therefore are often used in sound therapy. Not only are they able to make the person relaxed, but are generally found to be far less annoying than man-made sounds. Thus, they are more effective in sound therapy.
Introducing these extra sounds is a great way to decrease the loudness of Tinnitus, and this can be achieved very easily using a tabletop CD player or some other sound generator. However do ensure that the sound is neutral and that, it does not evoke any emotion – this is important when you are deciding what type of sound to introduce.
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One of the biggest benefits of such sound enrichment, is its ability to provide a neutral sound background at night that can help reduce the intensity of Tinnitus, and allow patients to get a good night’s rest.
Selecting Therapy Sounds The effect habituation will have on a patient’s sound tolerance depends a great deal on its intensity. If the sound level is too close to the threshold of the patient’s hearing, it can actually make Tinnitus worse. To decrease the Tinnitus noise, the sound therapy must be able to shorten the signal between the Tinnitus and the background neuron activity. How is this done? This can be done by ensuring that the background sound does not evoke any negative feelings or reactions; and that the patient understands the perception of his/her Tinnitus and why it may come in the way of recovery. It is also necessary to ensure that the background sounds that are introduced do not grab the attention of the patient. In other words, these sounds should not distract or irritate the person.
Remember, to make habituation therapy work, the new sounds being introduced cannot be annoying in any manner, and the Tinnitus sound must be preserved. Yes, preserved. It is impossible to retrain the brain to ignore Tinnitus noise, if you try and mask it with medication or other methods. The patient must be able to hear it to stop it.
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Wearing Sound Generators One of the main components of sound therapy is the maintenance of a constant level of sound; this is a hard thing to accomplish, even when the best machines are being used. This is why, so many patients opt for wearing a sound generator (much like a hearing aid) in their ears. This allows specific sounds at specific levels and pitches to be generated into the ears and brain at a constant rate throughout the day and night.
With so many broad-band appliance options available today, it is easy for every patient to find one that fits his or her needs, comfort level and habituation therapy requirements.
One note of caution here: sound generators alone cannot cure the Tinnitus patient. The fact is, this is just a single component of a very structured treatment method. While they are an integral part of the retraining process, real relief can only be obtained if the patient opts for the appropriate counseling along with it.
Choosing the Right Sound Generator There are basically two types of sound generators to choose from:
· behind-the-ear generators
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· in-the-ear generators
Since both work relatively in the same way (emitting just the right amount of noise at the perfect level and pitch on a constant basis), they are able to provide the patient with the background noise necessary to begin the habituation process. The biggest difference between these two models is in comfort. While some people do not mind having the appliance inside their ears, thus echoing the noise directly into the eardrum; others may find the closeness of the noise and the fitting of the generator disruptive and uncomfortable.
Do remember when you are choosing a sound generator that, they will be used in both your ears. This will create a more symmetrical stimulation of the auditory system. If you do not treat both sides of the auditory system, your Tinnitus may move from one side to the other; or you may end up curing one side and not the other.
Visit a qualified molder when the sound generator is to be installed. Proper ear-mold fitting is extremely important to make sure that environmental noise is not reduced in any manner, since it is needed for proper therapy.
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When it comes to choosing the best make and model of sound generator, be sure to get what you are most comfortable with aesthetically, and do also ensure that adequate sound is generated, and that it fits well. Though just about any machine can work; but you must be able to tolerate it and use it.
When it comes to using your new sound generator for therapy, it must:
· work for at least 8 hours during the day (the more you can wear it, the better it is) · work when there is little or very low background noise like in the evenings. But avoid wearing the devise at night because you might find sleeping a problem.
Sound generators alone cannot cure Tinnitus. Proper counseling is also necessary to tackle the hard job ahead of breaking those negative feedback loops that are creating all that noise. However, they are an important aspect of habituation therapy and patients who have been advised to use them must understand how they work.
Step Four: Prevention When it comes to your health, they say that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. The same can be true for treating Tinnitus.
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While it makes perfect sense to stay away from loud noises for long periods of time because this can cause damage, there are very few who realize the danger of silence.
It is true. Silence may be one of the biggest Tinnitus inducers ever. In a world where no one rests, silence is indeed considered “golden.” After all, who would not relish a day without the telephone ringing; children squabbling; the horns on the highway interrupting thoughts? We are surrounded by constant noise, and most of us just want some relief.
The problem is, our bodies are not designed for total silence. While it may be good for us to get away from man-made noise for a while, it is not good to try and stop all noise. If you do, you risk altering the receptors in the auditory pathways, which can create hyperacusis, making all sound (even calming natural ones) painful to listen to.
Not only does soothing natural noise (the wind, animals, rain, etc.) strengthen your auditory pathways, but it helps to calm the limbic system as well. And this reduces the risk of altering the autonomic nervous system.
It is very important that the person who is suffering from Tinnitus understands this. Too often, those bombarded with Tinnitus noise try
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and escape it by trying to make the environment quiet. But, this only increases the severity of their disorder. What they are doing to get a cure is only increasing the problem! Now, instead of the body reacting to specific noises, it reacts to all noise. To combat this, be sure not to try and overprotect yourself from noise. Let a little in, you may be surprised at the result.
Those who live or work in excessively loud environments need to take special precautions to keep the noise from damaging their cochlea. For instance, someone who works in a factory should wear a headset to prevent damage. Just be sure not to avoid other noises when you are leaving that environment or become a victim of the risks of the side effects listed above.
Another prevention method Tinnitus patients must be aware of is negative counseling. All too often, a new Tinnitus patient is bombarded with negative thoughts and suggestions by their friends, family and even doctors who actually increase their symptoms. Being told that there is nothing that can be done to ease your distress, or that you just have to learn to live with it, will surely worsen your Tinnitus because of the negative association. Suddenly, Tinnitus becomes a bad thing that you cannot get away from, and the negative memory loop will play the disturbing noise stronger.
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A better approach would be to help the patient understand what Tinnitus is – and isn’t – and to reassure him/her that help is available, and that, it is possible to overcome this malady. Only when the person is convinced, will he/she be open to the help needed to get rid of this annoying noise forever.
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STEP 4: DETOXIFYING AND CLEANSING YOUR WAY TO TINNITUS FREEDOM Congratulations for getting so far. Now it’s time to lay one of the most important foundations for tackling Tinnitus by removing the toxins from your body by cleansing and re-generating your bowels, liver and kidneys. This step involves a 3-day juice cleansing diet that is followed by a 7-day parasite cleanse program alongside a heavy metal cleanse and a liver detoxification protocol.
WHY CLEANSE?
A good cleansing program will not only give you the freedom from many disease symptoms (which manifest themselves as chronic pain, hair loss, hormonal disorders, Tinnitus and hearing problems), it will also give you mental clarity and a serious energy boost and freedom from many negative thoughts and feelings.
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Most Tinnitus sufferers tend to overlook bowel and liver health in terms of Tinnitus. Tinnitus can happen because of a side-effect of being too acidic. In other words, it can be a result of a system that is congested with toxins.
When the digestive system becomes sluggish and over-toxic, it becomes weak and far less efficient. Toxic bowels lead to blood intoxication and a sluggish liver. A weak and sluggish liver that is incapable of handling the over-acidity and toxic overload will release toxins to other parts of the body such as the kidneys, heart, ears, brain, skin, lymph, nose and others. And this will lead to symptoms that will begin to appear in the organ where those toxins have chosen to settle. Clogged sinuses for example, will back up into the ears.
Before any condition such as ear infections, hearing problems, or Tinnitus can be permanently cured, these toxins must be removed.
A deep cleansing program will eventually help the body release toxins from the liver, kidneys and lymphatic system. If followed by a liver purge, it will strengthen and boost the function of these vital organs of elimination, resulting in a more balanced and effective internal system that is capable of self-healing and handling many infections, and hormonal as well as immune related disorders.
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The easiest and cheapest way to cleanse the colon, blood and lymphatic systems is by conducting a series of juice cleansings that is combined with several detox stimulation techniques.
The 3-day juice cleansing diet is a crucial step in the Tinnitus Miracle™ System. You will be able to cleanse and rebuild the organs of elimination, help your body expel accumulated toxins and fight
Note: I would strongly recommend combining the juice cleansing session with the excellent colon cleansing kit available here: http://www.BlessedHerbs.com infections.
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What Is Fasting?
Fasting is a simple technique in which you will be refraining from consuming any food or specific types of food for a certain period of time, and this will allow your body to recover and heal itself. It’s a fact that the human body has the powerful ability to heal itself.
When we consume food, our body is busy digesting, processing, analyzing and assimilating it. When we go through a stress or do physical activity, the body is unable to evacuate the toxins that have entered and is stored in the system. When we fast, our body will automatically concentrate its energy on eliminating the poisons and cleaning the system; it will recover and heal itself from the various disorders and inflictions that may be present.
The principle is simple – we let the body rejuvenate and heal itself because we have stopped eating, and provided the body enough time to do some other tasks.
Why Should You Fast? Our body is limited in its ability to evacuate and eliminate vast amounts of accumulated toxic chemicals and foreign materials that have become accumulated through stress and anxiety, or entered through toxic foods
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that we have consumed. These toxic materials and other pollutants are hazardous to our health as they get mixed with the blood that is stored in our tissues and vital organs. These poisons create a significant burden on our elimination organs such as the intestines, kidneys and liver.
When these toxins enter our system, the human body becomes ill. When our body isn’t able to handle the amount of toxins that is mixed with the blood and have reached some organ, we become sick.
A sick person’s system is loaded with all kinds of toxins (different types of metals, medication, metabolic waste, etc.), and the body searches for emergency ways to discharge these toxic materials. And often, the organ the body chooses to expel its waste through becomes affected and the symptoms of the disease are observed.
If the body tries to evacuate poisons from the lungs, you may catch a cold. If it evacuates toxins through your feet, you get athlete’s foot. There are various symptoms of overload toxic buildup such as headaches, stuffy nose, allergies, confusion, diarrhea and yeast infection.
The skin is also an organ from where these toxins are eliminated. It’s believed that chronic diseases develop when the body becomes extremely intoxicated and it becomes difficult to treat the organs.
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Fasting is an excellent solution that relieves the body from stored toxics and allows it to strengthen, heal and fortify itself. Eventually, the fast will clean the bloodstream, cells, tissues and internal organs and prepare them for the extreme process of healing.
Types Of Fasting Many types of diets are also referred to as fasts although they aren’t particularly so. Fasting in the strict sense is simply avoiding any type of food. In that sense, juice cleansing or apple/cucumber cleansing are not fasts but mono-diets.
However for starters, these diets are a great way for newbie’s to get their feet wet and try out fasting. These mono-diets can work in the preliminary stages prior to liver flushing or water fasting, but they cannot be a replacement to them.
Unlike apple or cucumber fasts, juice cleansing is a lot more beneficial. It not only expels accumulated toxins from your body and allows it to rest (unlike mono-diets, the digestive system rests during liquid fasts), but it also allows more intense cleansing, and it also provides a variety of nutrients that supply energy and vitality. Mono-diets on the other hand are limited in their nutrient supply to a particular fruit or vegetable that is consumed.
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This is why I always prefer juice cleansing to mono-diets.
Water fasting is very effective when it comes to healing severe or chronic diseases. However this is not recommended for inexperienced fasters and cannot be combined with regular daily activities. It’s always recommended to start a juice fast plan and “slip” into a water fast to make cleansing and body reactions less intense.
If you are fasting for less than a week, then it would be known as a short fast. While a 1-day fast, if done regularly each week, can strengthen the immune system and provide vigor and vitality, 3-day fasts will give your body a real opportunity to “get to work” and make general “arrangements” in your “house”. In 3-day fasts (including juice fasts), the body will have the time to thoroughly clean itself of the years of accumulated toxic wastes.
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GENERAL FASTING GUIDELINES
Finding the Time and Place The ideal time for fasting is a time of relaxation when you are not under a lot of pressure or stress, or when you do not have to put in a lot of energy. This is why a vacation is an excellent and effective time for fasting.
Do keep in mind that you cannot be healed if you are fasting and under a lot of emotional or mental stress. The fasting should be done when you can save your energies. You must also make sure that you are fasting in a place where there are minimum or no distractions.
Another important factor to consider is the weather. Transition seasons are best for fasting, whereas fasting in cold weather would be ill-advised as the body temperature when you are on a fast decreases due to a lack of calories. It would also be easier for you to catch a cold when the temperatures are low.
I usually conduct my fasting sessions from Friday to Monday on the warm holiday season.
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What to Eat Before The Fast Fasting is a challenge as you will have to prepare your body for the extreme transition between solid foods and liquids. You must also prepare yourself mentally for the change.
Pre-Juice Cleansing Diet An effective pre-juice fasting diet would span over a period of at least 3 days before the actual fast. An optimal pre-juice cleansing diet will consist of salads, juices and fruits. You should avoid consuming refined carbohydrates, bread, dairy products, fish and any kind of meat. It’s also important to drink a lot of water.
On the first day of your pre-juice cleansing diet, you should eat cooked vegetables in addition to raw salads, fruits and juices. On the second day, you should stick to plain raw salads and raw fruits and you must drink plenty of juices. On the third day, it’s recommended that you eat only fruits and drink juices.
Be sure to follow the guidelines for optimal digestion.
Another option is to have the mono-diets in your pre-fast program. You can eat just apples strictly one day and grapes for two days. If you
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replace the apples or grapes with sprouts, you can achieve even better results as all these foods are very effective cleansers.
Fast-Breaking Diet Our hunger instinct is extremely powerful, and it can be deceiving. You need to develop the instinct as you become more experienced when you are breaking the fast, especially if you have fasted for more than 3 days. It’s very important to really feel and know when the time is best to stop fasting. It’s very hard to guess. You must not only know when to stop, but you must also know how to do so.
Jumping to Burger King and having a Whopper at a time when your liver, kidneys, heart and bowels are in a very sensitive state can lead to stress, and this may even be fatal. You don’t want to stretch the fasting period beyond your needs as well. You must control your ego here.
The rule of thumb is to listen to yourself, and listen to your needs. Try to distinguish between a false hunger urge and a real craving for food. The main difference between the two is that, hunger is more gradual and starts as mere curiosity with thoughts of food and develops slowly. False hunger is more like a temporary panic attack. This is not hunger; it’s your mind fooling you. When you get hungry, you’ll know it. Trust me on this.
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The gradual craving for food has typical forms such as cheating a little bit and developing a curiosity for food related subjects, etc. If it’s your first long fast, it’s recommended to stop the fast at that point.
The gradual cravings for food will be followed by real hunger. When you experience it, you’ll know, and when it comes, you must always stop. Otherwise, you’re simply starving yourself.
When you are breaking your fast, start off by consuming foods that are rich in water (lemons, limes, cucumbers). You can then consume rich protein nut milks. Start eating soups and plenty of non-starchy vegetables and some whole non gluten grains. 24 hours later, you can start eating fats and grains as normal.
Important Guidelines · Eat like a baby in small doses, and eat slowly. · Stimulate the digestive glands by adding celery and clover to your menu. · Broaden your menu with green leaf salads with avocado, tamari and sesame seed dressing (Tahini). · Eat nuts in small quantities only.
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· You should broaden your menu only after 2 or 3 days with whole grains and cooked vegetables (broccoli, potatoes and beans).
Tips For A Successful Fast · Take an Epsom salt bath. · Meditate. · Turn off the TV. · Go for walks by yourself. · Switch off your cell phone. · Limit your conversations with people. · Get a good night’s sleep.
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THE TINNITUS MIRACLE-THREE-DAY JUICE CLEANSE Introduction Juice cleanse is a liquid diet consisting of only vegetables, fruit juice, other liquids and water. The juice extracted from raw fruits and vegetables is rich in phytochemicals, alkaline elements, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and natural sugars that are all absorbed directly into the bloodstream. It requires no effort from the digestive system.
When you do juice cleansing, you mix a lot of different concentrated and powerful fruits and vegetables such as carrots, parsley, celery, green peppers, lemon, etc., into one glass. By doing this, you allow the digestive system to easily absorb most of the vegetable/fruit value.
Juice cleansing is much safer and easier than water fasting because it supports the body nutritionally as it gently and safely cleanses and detoxifies it, allowing it to focus entirely on healing itself. Only after you have practically cleansed years of toxic buildup, can you take a step forward and start water fasting, which is far more intense.
Juice cleansing operates on two levels. It expels accumulated toxins from your body, and it supports it with a variety of nutrients that supply energy and vitality. Juice cleansing supplies the body with sufficient nutrition and calories, giving you enough energy to work, study or do
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anything else you want to. Although you don’t really need to change anything in your routine while you are on juice cleansing, I recommend that you relax during this time and refrain as much as you can from hard physical activity.
Juice cleansing has freed individuals from most diseases, even chronic diseases such as leukemia, arthritis, high cancer, high blood pressure, liver and kidney disorders, skin infections, infertility and hormonal disorders.
During juice cleansing, a lot of metabolic changes occur and a great quantity of toxins are released from the colon, bladder, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin. The lymph and blood gets detoxicated. By the third day of your juice cleansing, you’ll lose the craving for food, and your digestive system will be in rest, allowing your colon to expel years of disease-causing toxic buildup.
If you find it really hard to keep going, you may eat some slices of banana or avocado, though it’s not recommended as it will slow down the healing process.
How much can you drink? I can only say that you should drink as much as you please; however, you must minimize acidic and high-sugar fruit juices. They may urge the pancreas to produce excessive levels of
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insulin, which may lead to yeast infection that can aggravate Tinnitus in some cases.
One last recommendation: Try to buy certified organic fruits and vegetables instead of regular ones. Vegetables, especially leafy ones that are not organic, contain a high level of pesticides that get absorbed into your system (see also “Cleaning Your Vegetables And Fruits”). It is a good idea to make your own juices. By no means should you replace freshly squeezed juices with pasteurized juice or V8 bottled juices.
The Holy Grail Of The Tinnitus Miracle™ Juicing Plan
The only way to maximize the effect of juice cleansing is by following the guidelines below. Do this to the best of your ability.
· Consume as many “green” drinks as possible while minimizing fruit and starchy or sugary vegetables. Don’t forget wheatgrass. · Drink a lot of water (not tap water) and herbal teas, and try to minimize nut milks. · If you must, take only water-soluble vitamins. Take your EFAs and Primal Defense daily, but don’t take any minerals.
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· It’s crucial to stimulate the organs of elimination and help them discharge toxins during the fast (liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines and skin). · It’s crucial to prevent the re-absorption of toxins into your blood by using daily enemas and drinking bentonite shakes.
Cleaning Your Vegetables and Fruits Vegetables and fruits that are not organic usually contain high levels of bacteria, pesticides and parasites. Some vegetables and fruits are however available in organic forms. For example, it’s much easier to find organic carrots in a local supermarket or health food store. However finding organic beets or celery is almost impossible.
Agricultural chemicals are hard to get rid of, and some of them are even found in organic vegetables. With proper means and techniques however, it’s possible to clean vegetables from some of their chemicals and parasites.
Use 4 teaspoons of salt and lemon juice in a sink full of cold water – this is the most common method. The vegetables are then soaked in water and rinsed. You can also put your vegetables in boiling water. It will kill most of the germs, but this method isn’t suitable for the more fragile vegetables such as lettuce.
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Basic Juice Blends Fruit Combinations · Watermelon, grapefruit · Apple, watermelon · Apple, pear, pineapple · Apple, grape · Apple, cranberry · Apple, pear · Pear, yam · Watermelon, lemon · Pineapple, sweet potato
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Carrot combinations · Carrot, beet · Carrot, beet, green pepper · Carrot, beet, green pepper, parsley · Carrot, cabbage · Carrot, spinach · Carrot, apple, alfalfa sprouts · Carrot, spinach, kale, red pepper · Carrot, celery, cilantro, garlic · Carrot, parsley, cucumber, radish · Carrot, mango · Carrot, apple, ginger · Carrot, celery stick, potato, radish, beet Warning: Never take beet juice alone. Always mix it with other fruits or vegetables. Beet is a very powerful cleanser and if taken alone, it can make the symptoms more intense.
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Green combinations · Celery, spinach · Celery, spinach, tomato · Celery, spinach, tomato, cabbage · Celery, spinach, tomato, cabbage, lemon · Celery, spinach, tomato, cabbage, dill, garlic · Celery, spinach, tomato, cabbage, cayenne, dill, ginger · Celery, fennel (anise), cucumber · Tomato, cabbage, garlic, lemon · Lettuce, cabbage, celery, lemon · Lettuce, spinach, cucumber · Lemon, radish, beet, slice of Spanish onion, sweet potato, celery Note: Green vegetable combinations are excellent nerve tonics, detoxifiers and blood cleansers. One drink of such a combination in a day will be enough.
However having said that, it is also true that there is virtually no limit on the green vegetable juices you can take. I usually drink between 1 to 2 liters of green juice daily when I am on a juicing fast.
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Wheatgrass – The King Of Greens
Wheatgrass is probably the most powerful juice available on Earth. It has tons of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants (this is also called the blood of the plants) that has great healing powers. Wheatgrass cleans the colon, alkalizes the blood, heals wounds, purges the liver, increases enzyme activity and has lots of vitamin E and antioxidants. The recommended serving is 2 ounces daily on an empty stomach. Don’t drink too much or too soon. It can lead to hyper-detoxification, which can cause nausea.
Other Liquids Besides juices and water, there are several other healthy options you can choose from. You can drink herb teas or nut milks, for example.
Herb Teas Herb teas are made of freshly cut dried herbs that are known for their culinary and medicinal values. They contain no caffeine and are highly therapeutic. Some herb teas can help you when you have a feeling of nausea, and some can also help your appetite. Some teas supply minerals and vitamins, and some like comfrey are very nutritional.
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There is almost no limit to how much herb tea you should drink during the fast.
Examples of therapeutic and nutritional herb teas are parsley, peppermint, cloves, alfalfa, comfrey, capsicum, chamomile, rose hips and kelp.
To stimulate digestion use clove, cinnamon, nutmeg. To stimulate the bowels use licorice, cascara sagrada. Liver cleansing herbs: dandelion, burdock, yellow dock root (available separately or in the daily detox tea package at: http://www.mothernature.com
Rich in magnesium: kelp, parsley, garlic, peppermint Rich in vitamin C: oregano, comfrey, rose hips, strawberry leaves Rich in calcium: dandelion, chamomile, kelp
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Nut Milks Nut milks are great appetite breakers, and they are usually good for long fasts (more than 2 weeks) when the appetite may become uncomfortable for at least some people. Almond and sesame milks are very efficient at breaking an appetite for protein. They are good as prefast diets, especially for beginners.
Mix these nuts with a teaspoon of honey and a cup of water, and drink once in two days only when you have been juice cleansing for long, and only when you start feeling a craving for food. These nut milks are extremely high in protein and fat and are very nutritious.
Avoid cashews as they form a cashew purée (considered a breach of a fast), and their fat may slow down the detoxification process.
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Note About Protein and Fasting Protein exists in every plant on Earth. It’s nothing but a myth that good sources of protein can only be found in rich protein foods such as meat and cheese. Nut milk as well as wheatgrass powder can be good sources of protein during a fast, but they should be taken sparingly. However when you are trying to detoxify, you will not need protein. You can practically live without protein for extended periods of time. An abnormal craving for rich protein foods when you are fasting is a dead giveaway that it’s time to end the fast.
Apple Cider Vinegar This is a powerful antiseptic and antibiotic drink. You should buy only raw and unfiltered apple cider that has been made from organic apples. This drink will work as a powerful cleanser and will maintain the acidalkaline balance in your intestines. Add one tablespoon to a glass of water each morning on an empty stomach.
Digestive Enzymes
To improve the breakup of plaque that builds up in the bowels, take digestive enzymes daily. I recommend: Garden of Life Omega Zyme
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Caplets. This is available on the web at http://www.vitaminsandsuch.com/
Take the enzymes in the morning with a slice of fresh ginger and plenty of purified water.
Water Whatever you do, don’t forget water. Water is a powerful cleanser that flushes all kinds of liquids from your bladder and kidneys and digestive tracts. Water is extremely nourishing and it also contains lots of valuable minerals.
It’s very important to drink only pure water. Remember, no tap water at all. These waters are polluted in ways that make it a global problem. Avoid using distilled water also because this is dead water. Try to avoid drinking spring water, which is what it’s named after – spring water. It’s not pure like most of our lakes and rivers. Stick to filtered or mineral water.
Mixing lemon juice in water is a good idea because it has a laxative effect and can stimulate the digestive system. Squeeze half a lemon into warm
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water. Drink your citrus blend immediately after rinsing it in the morning and before having the bentonite clay and flaxseed shake.
DURING THE JUICE CLEANSE
What To Look Out For During Juicing? Be on the alert for any allergy symptoms. If you have diabetes or low blood sugar, refrain from sweet juices as you do with sweet foods. These are symptoms that may be similar to the symptoms of flu (fever, yeast infection, muscle aches, weakness, bronchitis, asthma). Do keep in mind that this is simply the reaction of your body to the vast amounts of toxins that are present in your blood stream, which needs to be expelled. Wherever these toxic materials pass, the organ they’re passing through will show the symptoms of that organ-related disease. For example, if they are trying to get out through your lungs, you’ll get asthma, if it is the skin, you’ll get rashes and yeast infection. But don’t panic. These healing events are short-lived, and the more intense they are, the better your reward will be later.
Important note: If your symptoms are truly extreme (for example, if you have a very high fever), it may be time to break the fast. When you consume food, you’ll dilute the toxics in your blood and feel at ease.
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How To Drink Your Juices Particularly when it comes to vegetable and fruit juices, it’s highly recommended that you “chew” your drink and warm it in your mouth so that it can reach your body’s temperature. Your juice will get mixed with saliva, and this will allow your body to absorb all the nutrients of the juice.
Also, leave your vegetables outside your fridge for half an hour before you juice them. It will help the enzymes work even better.
Exercise Exercise is always good for the body. It provides oxygen to the skin cells, and by increasing the flow of blood, it is able to shorten the healing process of the skin and cleanses it from within.
During fasting and a detox diet, it’s important that you exercise too.
Aerobic exercises such as swimming, walking, jumping on a trampoline and biking are the best because they require an effort from the respiratory system, and that too without too much stress and energy outflow. The lungs are able to increase their activity and expel the toxins because of this. The lymphatic system is also able to get rid of the waste.
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Yoga is an exercise that is very effective in releasing the toxins, oxygenating the blood and relieving accumulated tension.
Note: Do not participate in a very extreme physical activity. You must keep in mind that you’re on a strict diet, and it can cause fatigue and nausea. This includes running, jogging, weightlifting and others like this.
HELPING THE ORGANS OF ELIMINATION TO REMOVE TOXINS
Liver The liver is an important detoxifier. During a fast, it neutralizes and filters the toxins that are coming from other parts of the body, and the liver is also expelling its own toxins. However, it’s also busy processing the food that you eat. This is the time to let the liver rest and clean itself. You can consume juices like wheatgrass, dandelion, parsley, lemon and grapefruit, with a tablespoon of olive oil squeezed into some lemon juice to stimulate the gall bladder to release bile.
Cara sagrada and black cohosh are great cold compresses on the liver and gallbladder.
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You can also visit your masseuse and allow him or her to physically manipulate the liver to detoxify. Ask the person to pump the liver slowly and gently – this can also release the toxins.
Kidneys The kidney is very important because it purifies the blood and eliminates fluid waste. Drinking a lot of purified water when you are on fast is a real blessing to the kidneys. There are various herbs that can help you clean the kidney and remove stones (parsley and gravel root, to name just two).
Cranberry, wheatgrass, cucumber and asparagus are also effective kidney cleansers. You should take vitamin C if there are any kidney infections.
Colon The colon’s main function is to eliminate waste. When you are fasting, there is still waste buildup in the colon pockets, and as they begin to empty, they contain a variety of toxins and acids. Unless these are eliminated, they will be re-absorbed into your colon, and this will surely lead to many symptoms such as allergies and headaches.
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Using enemas, flaxseeds and bentonite shakes, you can allow the colon to expel most of its toxins.
Wheatgrass and peppermint act as colon healers, whereas cascara sagrada and mandrake can expel the toxins.
Juices from apples and carrots serve as great laxatives. Deep breathing can also help you regulate toxic elimination and heal the colon.
Lungs The lungs absorb and eliminate a great deal of toxins. Practice deep breathing techniques because they will help the lungs eliminate pollutants more effectively.
Yoga breathing strategies such as nostril breathing can really be beneficial. Drinking herb teas with mild aerobic exercise can also help.
Skin The skin, which is the largest organ in your body, expels toxins all the time. And so, you should treat it with the respect it deserves. So when you are fasting, it’s advisable to indulge your skin – brush it, clean it and scrub it to expel and eliminate toxins effectively.
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Make sure that your skin breathes during fasting - avoid synthetic clothing. Take short sun baths (do not get burned). Take daily Epsom salt baths and steam baths to accelerate toxic elimination. Rub vitamin E and aloe vera on the skin to prevent dryness.
Keeping A Diary When you are fasting, it is a good idea to keep a note of your thoughts and feelings. You can write what you feel like in a diary – such as your deepest feelings, and you’ll be able to follow changes in your attitude, notice your weak moments and differentiate between real physical hunger and pure boredom.
You’ll be able to observe and educate yourself from your fasting behavior. Note down your interest in food and your anger about not having a “real meal.” Usually when real anger attacks you, it’s a sign that the fast needs to end.
Vitamin And Mineral Supplements During The Fast Vitamins and supplements are solid foods and cause a breach in your fast if you are taking them. Besides, you don’t need vitamins during a fast as the highly nutritional juices (especially if organic) supply your
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body everything it needs. Vitamins can also disturb the delicate chemistry balance in your system.
The only vitamins you are allowed to take are water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C.
PREVENTING RE-ABSORPTION OF TOXINS INTO THE BLOOD STREAM
Fiber and Fasting Taking fiber during fasting can slow down the healing process because it stimulates the digestive system to work. By consuming only juice without fiber during your fast, you allow your system to rest, which intensifies the healing process.
However, without fiber, which is essential for sweeping toxins out of your body, they will not be expelled through the colon properly and may get reabsorbed into the blood. The following methods will solve this problem.
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Enemas No matter what negative associations the enema might stir in your mind, doing an enema once a day during a fast is not only compulsory, but also very relaxing, and it is even an enjoyable experience once you get used to it.
The purpose of an enema is to simply rinse your colon with water. Enemas are not intrusive. They are cheap and are done in the comfort of your own home. So when you are opting for them, you are in a way taking responsibility and treating your organs with respect. You must help your body discharge the accumulated waste that it cannot expel itself during the fast, because there is no bulk of food to help the colon discharge this.
One reason why you should pre-fast with raw vegetarian food is that, it makes your stool soft and fiber-rich, which is far easier than flushing with water.
There are several types of enemas, and I recommend using the water bag enema.
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The Process
1) Rinse the enema bag and fill it with lukewarm purified water. A mixture of salt and baking soda can be used to stimulate the immune system. About 1 teaspoon is enough. 2) Hang the bladder about three feet above the floor. This height makes the ideal water pressure. 3) Use a lubricant gel to lubricate the enema tip and anus. 4) You can lie on your side comfortably or simply position yourself on the toilet. However the optimal position in my opinion and one that has been proved to be the most effective is when you simply stretch out on the bathroom floor head down, with your buttocks up. 5) Relax and plant the enema tip fully into the anus and put a steady flow of water in. It’s normal to feel slight cramps; however, if it doesn’t feel comfortable, close the tap temporarily, relax and try again. 6) Repeat the process several times until the enema bag is empty. You can massage your abdomen during the process. This will help the enema fluid move deeper into the colon.
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Special Enemas Depending on your purpose, you can add various mixtures into your enema water to make the procedure more beneficial. For example, you can add wheatgrass to your water – this can be very effective because it stimulates the liver to purge itself and can alkalinize the colon. You can add acidophilus to re-establish the friendly bacteria or add vinegar to maintain the proper pH in the colon.
Believe it or not, 2 tablespoons of coffee (organic, fully caffeinated) when taken into the distal sigmoid colon can significantly accelerate the detoxification and cleansing of your liver and gallbladder. This is particularly beneficial before conducting a liver flush. You can get an enema bag at: http://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com.
Psyllium, Flaxseeds And Bentonite Shakes Psyllium and Bentonite are known as excellent colon cleansers. They create a bulk of fluids as they go through the intestinal tract. And as they move, they are able to absorb and sweep the food materials from the blocked areas.
Colon cleansers will help you get rid of tons of food debris, which may be accumulated inside your colon. These powders should be consumed
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with lots of water so that it can soften the bulk and prevent it from becoming too hard, which would make it difficult to pass through the intestine.
Bentonite clay and flaxseeds as a mixed shake also aid the colon cleansing process. The Bentonite-Flaxseed shake works as a laxative in absorbing and binding the toxins, such as pesticides to form a gel and carry it out of the colon. Flaxseeds alone also absorb water.
How To Make The Shake Mix one tablespoon of liquid Bentonite with one tablespoon of ground Flaxseed/Psyllium in a glass of water. Take it first thing in the morning so that you don’t end up with a glass full of gel.
Intestinal Bacteria Replacement Hormones, antibiotics, drugs and other toxins have a devastating effect on the friendly bacteria in the intestine, which can help the body fight Candida, absorb vital minerals and vitamins, get rid of the toxics accumulated due to constipation, and maintain the proper pH in your GI tract.
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When you are fasting, large amounts of toxins are expelled from the lymph glands, and this also affects the survival of the good bacteria. The use of an enema also depletes the friendly bacteria.
Therefore, it’s mandatory that during fasting, you must make an effort to re-establish these friendly bacteria in the intestine. The solution is quite simple. Take 2 capsules of Acidophilus and Bifidus together with one tablespoon of goat milk yogurt, and mix them together along with a half cup of warm water. Add this blend to the enema kit, and make an effort to keep the mixture inside your colon for at least 10 minutes.
Make this a part of your daily enema routine, and you can ensure that the friendly bacteria will thrive when you are fasting.
Warning about Electrolytes As with beneficial bacteria, you want to ensure that your electrolytes are balanced, before and after performing an enema or a liver flush. An electrolyte is a solution or substance that carries electric charges. They exist in the blood as acids, bases, and salts (such as sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, and bicarbonate). The salts or electrolytes in our bodily fluids allow our nervous system to function properly.
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As such, it is imperative to replace the electrolytes after an enema or a liver flush. This can be done by drinking liquids such as Pedialyte, Gatorade or a glass of water with sea salts.
Choosing a Juicer When searching for a juicer, you should always consider the quality and price, but you must also consider another very important factor. The juicer you choose need to work on low speeds, because otherwise, it may damage the juice by absorbing too much oxygen, and heat up the juice to deplete it of the most vital fragile nutrients.
While most juicers operate on high speeds from 1,000 to 24,000 rpm’s (rounds per minute), low rpm speeds will ensure that the quality nutrients are preserved, and that too without destroying the natural flavor of the fruit or vegetable.
A juicer can easily be cleaned and is not limited to juicing only. Certain fruits or vegetables are also important elements you should consider when choosing your juicer.
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I found the Omega Model 8003/8005 to be the only cost-effective juicer that has all the above qualities and more.
It juices all types of fruits, vegetables, wheatgrass and even other solid foods such as coffee beans, pasta and nut butters. It has a built-in “reverse” that prevents clogging, turns at a slow 80 rpm's, prevents heat from building up, and is very easy to clean too.
You can find out more on the Omega Model 8003/8005 juicer at: http://www.wheatgrasskit.com.
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COLONICS A colonic is a cleansing procedure where water is introduced through the rectum to clean and flush out toxins from the colon. A typical colonic session may last from forty-five minutes to an hour. This is best done under the supervision of a colon therapist, who is an expert in colonic. This may also be called a colonic irrigation, colonic hydrotherapy or colon irrigation.
The Colonic Procedure - After completion and examination of your complete health history, checkup, and consultation by the hydrotherapist, you will need to wear a hospital gown and lie down, face-up on the treatment table.
The therapist inserts a disposable speculum into your anus. The speculum is connected by a long disposable plastic hose to the colon hydrotherapy unit. The therapist slowly releases warm and filtered water into the colon, and the water will cause your colon muscles to contract. This is known as peristalsis. This causes the feces to be pushed out from your colon through the hose and it will be collected in a closed waste system for disposal .
Do remember that there could be some discomfort or a weird sensation in the abdomen during the therapy. The therapist massages in and around the abdominal region during the therapy to facilitate the
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process. The therapist could comment on the color of the feces, although no smell would come out of the closed system. After the session, you may use the toilet to pass any residual water and stool.
Side Effects Common side effects of the colonic procedure may include nausea and fatigue that can last for several hours. There may be a risk of perforation of the abdominal wall as well. Careful monitoring is required to reduce the possibility of complications like electrolyte imbalance and heart failure due to excessive absorption of water.
Who should NOT try the Colonic Procedure? People who are suffering from specific medical conditions like ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, Crohn's disease, blood vessel disease, severe hemorrhoids, heart disease, congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal cancer, abdominal hernia, severe anemia, or intestinal tumors should not try the colonic procedure. You should refrain from this if there has been any recent surgery of the colon as well. Pregnant women should not have a colonic as it could stimulate uterine contractions. Before the colonic is prepared, drink plenty of fluids and just eat light foods.
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After a Colonic After the colonic process, eat very light foods. I also recommend that you eat probiotic foods to restore the good bacteria in your gut. Avoid raw vegetables for a few days.
THE HEALING CRISIS AND HOW TO SURVIVE IT
There is a possibility that every mild cleansing phase such as altering your diet, taking herbal supplements or extreme sessions like the parasite cleanse, 3 day juicing or the liver detox, can and may trigger a healing crisis. When and if the crisis arises, it can cause detoxing or die off symptoms. The healing crisis is a natural part of the elimination process of Tinnitus, as the body regenerates itself and expels the waste products through all elimination channels.
When bacteria or parasites die during the cleaning process, these microorganisms release toxins and ammonia. The liver releases stored toxins into the blood stream, and this also causes the healing crisis symptoms.
The more intense your cleanse is, the faster the toxins will be released into the bloodstream, and the worse you will feel.
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Here are the most common detoxification related symptoms: Headaches, fever, whiteheads and acne cysts, diarrhea, weakness, irritability, mental depression and nausea.
What you must realize is that, once you start improving your diet and lifestyle and begin the process of detoxification, things are naturally bound to get worse before your condition improves.
The intensity of the detoxing symptoms as well as the healing process will depend on several factors: your skin type, your general health condition, your previous lifestyle, the condition of your elimination organs, how much toxins are stored in your system, your energy levels, whether you have allergy to certain foods or not, and how effectively your body reacts to the program.
There are in fact several stages of detoxing, in which, the toxins are expelled gradually and in different levels from your system.
There are also three stages of healing that you should know of: At first the body starts to clean up, and rebuild the vital internal organs. This
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stage depletes energy from your body, and so you can feel weak and tired.
My advice is that, you should sleep and rest as much as possible throughout this stage. The second phase is catabolism: the body starts removing waste materials, undigested food, chemicals and hormone residues and releases them into the bloodstream and the lymphatic system. During this phase, your condition may get worse, and you may also experience the familiar detoxing symptoms that have been discussed above. Gradually, these symptoms will go and your condition will improve. The final stage is anabolism: the body starts building new tissues and replacing the old ones. This usually causes your energy levels to increase significantly.
The two most important rules during detoxification are: rest as much as possible during the 3 stages (this will accelerate the healing process), and accept the detoxification process as a natural part of healing. Be happy with it. Embrace it.
While recovery time varies from one person to another (since it depends on numerous individual factors), it usually takes approximately 8-16 weeks for the healing crisis to end and for the detoxing symptoms to abate.
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GETTING RID OF PARASITES – ONE-WEEK PROGRAM
No cleansing protocol is complete without killing the parasites that inhabit your system.
Parasites are living organisms that eat, lay eggs and secrete toxins into your blood stream. They live off the food you supply them (especially sugar). They grow healthy and become fat and may remain in your body for decades without you even knowing it.
These parasites reproduce inside your body, feeding themselves from minerals like calcium. They eat essential protein and damage your lungs, joints, nervous system and liver. This causes many illnesses such as severe allergies, arthritis, anemia, digestive problems, hormonal disorders, infertility issues and more.
Some parasites can grow up to 15 inches long, inhabit your digestive tract and secrete toxins that create a toxic overload.
The most effective and natural way I have found to eradicate parasites is by taking wormwood, cloves, black walnut and garlic herbs daily for the whole week. This will kill most parasites.
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Note: as parasites secrete ammonia (which is a powerful toxic), you might feel slightly ill in the process, but don’t panic. It’s only temporary. An excellent black walnut and wormwood tincture is available at: http://www.vitacost.com. Note: Start small; take about 5 to 10 drops of black walnut tincture in water. Take a few capsules of wormwood, and a few capsules of ground cloves. Take them all on an empty stomach 2 to 3 times a day. Increase the dose a little each day for six days.
There are other good alternatives for killing parasites. One such is raw garlic. Just be careful though. Garlic can encourage a life of solitude. Raw pumpkin seeds are also a good source – they contain fatty acids that can eradicate the parasite.
Due to its tremendous nutritional value, coconut oil is also highly effective in killing the parasites. It should be added to your menu even if there are no symptoms of parasites.
A good quality extra virgin coconut oil is available at: http://www.vitaminsandsuch.net.
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LIVER DETOXIFICATION
The liver is a remarkably complex and important organ that can help you maintain overall health. This is particularly true for infertility patients. Maintaining a healthy liver through liver detoxification is one of the most crucial factors in the successful treatment of infertility.
The liver produces physiological substances that are essential for the immune system, and it is also one of the major producers of the lymph and helps remove cellular debris, yeast and viruses from the body (with the help of white blood cells). So a compromised liver function or liver damage can suppress the immune system and contribute to major hormonal disorders.
Improving liver function and enhancing liver detoxification involves 5 protocols: 1. Follow a healthy balanced low-fat diet that is based on whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds and non-starchy vegetables. This will provide the liver with the essential nutrients it needs, including super foods such as garlic and onions that improve its function. Avoid foods such as refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated oils, alcohol and saturated fats that compromise the liver.
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2. Take high-potency minerals and vitamins. The minerals and supplements outlined in Step 2 such as antioxidants and B vitamins will protect the liver from damage and eliminate the toxic materials. 3. Fasting. The 3-day juice fasting plan outlined in Step 4 will greatly aid liver detoxification, and it will also remove heavy metals and other toxic compounds. 4. Taking specific supplements to protect the liver. This can be achieved by taking the following:
Silymarin This is a group of flavonoid compounds that are extracted from milk thistle. These compounds protect the liver from damage (using their highly potent antioxidant properties) and promote liver detoxification. This is achieved by preventing the depletion of glutathione and even increasing its content by up to 35% (the greater the content of glutathione in the liver, the greater will be the liver’s ability to detoxify). Recommended daily dosage: 80 mg- 200 mg Available at: http://www.mothernature.com
Choline, Betaine and Cysteine (Lipotropic Agents) These nutrients promote the flow of fat and bile from the liver, improve liver metabolism and function, and enhance liver detoxification.
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Recommended daily dosage: 1000 mg Choline and 1000 mg Cysteine Available at: http://www.mothernature.com
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STEP 5: USING HYPNOTHERAPY TO REDUCE TINNITUS
It is a proven fact: most people can reduce their Tinnitus with properly administered hypnotherapy techniques. It has been reported that as many as 50% to 76% of patients who have tried hypnosis to treat their Tinnitus have experienced a dramatic reduction in the noise and volume they heard, as well as the stress and anxiety they experienced due to their condition.
So, why don’t more people turn to this effective method of treatment? The fact is, a lot of people do not understand what hypnosis is – and what it can do. Contrary to popular myth, hypnosis does not put you to sleep, making you vulnerable to any suggestion made. It does however, put you in a heightened sense of awareness and focused concentration. This alpha-state allows the patient to better recall memory, and retrain the brain to break the memory loop of sound, which is ultimately creating the Tinnitus noise in the head. By defusing the emotional charge that is associated with specific sounds and steering the unconscious mind away from the sounds being heard and toward other
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stimuli, the hypnotherapist can help the patient “forget” the sounds that is bombarding him/her.
So, What’s a Hypnotherapy Session Like? The most important thing to remember when treating your Tinnitus with hypnosis is that, you will need to find a qualified professional who is experienced in dealing with the disorder. Since you will need to break the persistent feedback loops in the brain, which constantly runs the sounds through your head, you will need to find a therapist who is experienced in advanced hypnotic techniques. Not everyone is.
Now, if you think that a hypnotherapy session will be much like one of those hypnotic tests performed for an audience, you will be surprised. True hypnosis and hypnotherapy is nothing like what you’ve probably seen on TV or in the movies. No one will be making you cluck like a chicken or any other such nonsense.
Actually, the first thing you will learn to do is relax – and I mean truly and deeply relax. This can be very difficult for some people since most of us have no idea how to truly relax every muscle in our body. Once this has been accomplished, your hypnotherapist is likely to use one of these basic hypnosis techniques for your treatment:
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REGRESSION THERAPY
If you have no idea what first triggered your Tinnitus, regression therapy may be helpful in determining (and facing) those initial triggers. By taking the patient back to right before the original onset of symptoms, the therapist can find out what its underlying cause was, and help the patient eliminate the feelings that may have been experienced, and the ones that are triggering the symptoms now. The therapist can also help the person become aware of these triggers so that the victim can make a conscious decision of not allowing it to create more or louder sounds in the head.
EGO STATE (PARTS) THERAPY
Hypnosis works on the assumption that the unconscious mind will always do what it thinks is right for the betterment of the body. By figuring out what part of the body (or ego) is causing the noise you hear, your hypnotherapist can negotiate that part of the body to convince it that generating the noise isn’t necessary for your survival. Often, it is discovered that the noise of Tinnitus is created to signal the body to “listen” to something else: a life or work change; your inner self; or even those around you. Once the body “part” can be convinced that your brain will listen without the noise, it will simply stop making the
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Tinnitus noises. Those who have experienced Ego State Therapy often refer to it as quite a miracle, because their Tinnitus frequently disappears after treatment entirely.
SUGGESTIVE THERAPY
Suggestive therapy is just that: therapy that works by suggesting to the patient (and their unconscious brain) that he or she isn’t hearing the noises in the head any longer, or that, if heard, they are very faint and unobtrusive.
While hypnosis isn’t a cure-all for severe cases of Tinnitus, it can be used quite effectively to reduce the volume and frequency of the noises heard, and it can help the patient cope better by reducing stress, anxiety and even depression that is associated with the disorder.
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HYPNOSIS SESSION FOR TINNITUS REDUCTION
Your brain has the potential to have a profound and powerful effect over the functioning of your body, and hypnosis is the most effective way to gain that mastery over the workings of your body. The following hypnotic session that I have prepared with the help of a colleague (who is a professional hypnotherapist) will have a twopronged effect. 1. It will induce deep and profound relaxation that can work directly on your stress levels to diminish Tinnitus. 2. The session will also provide hypnotic suggestions to turn down and switch off Tinnitus sounds, thus allowing you to be less bothered by the sensitive sounds. So even if this hypnotherapy does not eliminate Tinnitus, it can still reduce the volume and stress of the negative emotions that are associated with it. In fact, a recent study of the efficacy of hypnosis in Tinnitus reduction showed that 73% of all people who took part in this succeeded in achieving these results. Important notes: 1. The hypnosis session below has been written for a one-to-one therapy session by a professional hypnotherapist and a client (you). 2. If you are under a doctor’s care, please consult your physician before trying this session with your chosen hypnotherapist.
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BEGIN SESSION Close your eyes and begin to relax deeply to the sounds of my words or perhaps the spaces in between the words gently resting PAUSE allowing each breath in and out to gradually fill that body with pure relaxation gently caressing every cell and fibre within allowing them to slumber in relaxation getting a sense of how that mind can begin to clear away the thoughts of the day allowing restful moments to enjoy this relaxation becoming aware of how comforting it can be to relax this deeply
PAUSE you can become aware of a deepening sense of calm gently flowing within that body
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really allowing each muscle to stretch gently and relax and rest further a comforting blanket of warmth surrounding that body wrapping it gently in a timeless rest allowing you deepened relaxation enjoying that experience and with each breath PAUSE Allow that relaxation to deepen filling every part of that body with a wonderful calming rest PAUSE Good and I’d like you to imagine that you are walking along a restful pathway and with each step forward allowing further relaxation to fill that body with an increased sense of calm perhaps becoming aware of the feel of the ground beneath those feet
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perhaps of grass allowing a spring in your step or perhaps the crunching of gravel getting a sense that with each step you can effortlessly glide along that pathway continuing your journey becoming aware of the scents in the air perhaps of beautiful flowers that surround you or the aroma of freshly cut grass and with each breath in PAUSE and out allowing those scents to relax that body further getting a sense of the sights around you perhaps of trees lining the path or of surrounding patchwork fields perhaps you can notice a stream to the side of the path and how this bubbles along as it flows naturally allowing the light of the sun to glimmer on its surface becoming aware of the reflections in the stream taking a few moments to notice how with this time to reflect you can allow deeper relaxation and comfort
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PAUSE And I would like you to become aware of the sound of a steam train in the distance chugging along the tracks chugging along chugging along the natural rhythm of the sound and how in a warm breeze it can sometimes be difficult to place the direction of the sound and as you continue your walk along the path noticing in the distance the sight of the train the steam rising in the air as the train meanders through the surrounding hills keeping on track continuing its journey watching that train and noticing how the steam makes patterns and pictures in the air just as the clouds can in the sky allowing a few moments to watch that steam or those clouds allowing those pictures and patterns to form with a deepening relaxation PAUSE
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Becoming aware that during those few moments the sound of the train had faded away as you allowed your attention to focus on your creativity PAUSE And as you continue along the path experiencing more rest and comfort with each step forward you can get a sense of a doorway an arch perhaps steps at the end of the pathway and through that door or under that arch there is a special place perhaps somewhere that you have been before perhaps somewhere that you would like to go it really doesn’t matter and with each step moving closer towards this place that makes you feel so safe and calm a comforting place that allows you deep relaxation and rest and those last few steps now taking your journey to this special place noticing the colors that surround you
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how the shapes can change with the shifting light and intensify that color aware of the restful sounds around you perhaps of a warm summer breeze rustling the leaves in the trees or perhaps the gentle lapping of water taking time to really notice what it is about this place that makes you feel so relaxed and happy PAUSE Great and when I was young I stayed for a week with some friends who had a train line at the end of their garden at first I was very aware of the noise of the trains thundering past the house as they shook the windows and each time those trains passed through on their journey the sound was still there however after a while I stopped even noticing the trains consciously I learnt to forget about the sound my subconscious mind didn’t bother to pay attention to the sound any more because it didn’t need to
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PAUSE When you focus your attention so strongly that you fade out all distractions someone may call your name or there may be music or the TV in the back ground but you ‘zone it out’ because your attention is focused on something else entirely your brain can choose what to fade out and what to focus on you can remember to forget certain things around you and forget to remember When you go to sleep at night your senses still work you may be deep within a dream or just sound asleep between dreams and even though there are still sounds around you and your ears pick up these noises you just don’t hear them As you continue to relax in this special place I’d like you to allow yourself to focus on that breathing and with each breath in and out PAUSE
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allowing a deepening relaxation and comfort to fill every space within that body getting a sense of that special place within that body a special chamber and within that special chamber are the controls for that body and mind just getting a sense now of where that special chamber is within that body PAUSE Getting a sense of the controls within that chamber becoming aware of the relevant controls for volume control and pitch control PAUSE That’s good aware of how you have control over these controls getting a sense of turning down that volume control watching that control moving and lowering that volume just as you can turn down the volume on the radio that volume gently drifting away to nothing PAUSE
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Good and turning down that pitch control rotating and turning down that control noticing that pitch changing and lessening PAUSE Great becoming aware of how now that you have turned down those controls that mind is able to get on with other things concentrating on many other tasks able to focus on that enjoyment of pure relaxation PAUSE And in a few moments you can allow yourself to come back to the room knowing that unconscious can switch off so naturally and easily becoming aware of the room around you knowing that you have learnt well today getting a sense of the air around you coming back to the here and now feeling refreshed and relaxed
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END OF SESSION
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WHAT TO DO DURING THE PROGRAM No matter how you decide to treat your Tinnitus, remember, it can take weeks or even months to find relief from your most severe symptoms. Waiting for improvement can be difficult, particularly when you are anxious to try a new method of treatment if and when one doesn’t seem to be working. But, take your time and give each treatment the time it needs to work. Patience is a key to curing any disease, and Tinnitus is no exception. There are some things you can do however, to make the wait easier to handle. Let’s take a look at some things to try while you are waiting for the program to work:
There are a lot of things you can do while you are working on the program to enhance its effects and ensure that you get as much benefit from every treatment option you try. Here are just a few things to do while you are on the 5-Step Holistic Treatment Plan:
Exercise As we have already discussed, exercise is a great way to strengthen your body; boost your immune system; increase circulation and blood flow to and from the ears and the brain; and it can also keep your stress levels low—these are all important to control your Tinnitus and its symptoms.
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Sleep Optimization Your body can’t function properly without enough sleep. Unfortunately, too many Tinnitus patients report a lack of sleep due to the noise they hear at night. Do your best to get at least 8 hours of quality sleep every night by establishing a bedtime routine to signal your brain that rest is pending; mask the noises you hear with white noise instead; try napping during the day when your Tinnitus may be less annoying; or even ask your doctor to prescribe sleep aids when necessary. Also, take time throughout the day to relax or even meditate to keep both your body and mind in perfect harmony.
Stop Smoking! Cigarette smoke can be a leading contributor to Tinnitus – both for those who smoke themselves, and those who are around others who are doing it. No one knows for sure why cigarette smoke seems to make Tinnitus symptoms worse (and there is some debate about whether or not it actually causes the disorder), but the fact is that, the vast majority of people who report a sensitivity to cigarette smoke also report a decrease in symptoms when they stay clear of it.
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Eliminate Environmental Toxins All of us are bombarded with dozens of toxins everyday – and some of them may be the root cause of your Tinnitus! Our bodies are under constant attack from air pollution, cleaning products, garden sprays, and even radiation from our cell phones and building materials. No wonder it is fighting back. While many of them can be eliminated from your immediate environment, some may have to be dealt with in other ways, such as by taking supplements. Here are the major areas of concern to investigate for toxins in your life:
· Xenosestrogens Xenosestrogens are manmade, estrogen-mimicking chemicals that are found in our environment. They are everywhere: in our soils as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers; in our water and in our food supply – in animals, fish and grains. Avoiding Xenosestrogens may be difficult (but you can limit your exposure as much as possible). You should begin by knowing where to find them:
1. Plastics - PCBs in plastics are released every time you heat a plastic container in the microwave 2. Pesticides – these are stored in the fat cells of fish, poultry and other food sources
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3. Growth Hormones – used to fatten up animals that are later consumed such as beef, chicken, turkey, and pork 4. The glues, paints and varnishes in our furniture 5. Personal care products such as soap, shampoo and fragrance
So, what can you do to limit (or even eliminate) your exposure to these dangerous chemicals? Try these tips: Avoid plastic packaging and don’t eat anything that has been heated in a plastic container. ˙ Avoid hormone-containing meat, dairy and poultry by purchasing organic, vegetarian or free-range options from your natural food store. ˙ Eat organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible, or at least wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly with a vinegar and water solution before eating. ˙ Drink natural spring water instead of tap water. ˙ Eat broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts – they can reduce the effect of these toxins in your body. ˙ Use protective clothing, proper ventilation and face masks when you are using common household cleaners and gardening products. ˙ Use natural and organic personal care products
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• Water. Install a high quality water purification system in your home to remove chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, lead, allergens, Giardia and cryptosporidium from the water you drink, use for cooking and for that shower. Also, consider installing a filter on your shower for even more protection, since hot water can make many toxins more volatile and more easily absorbed. • Cleaning products. Luckily, green products are easy to find these days, and they offer a toxin-free way to keep your home clean and tidy. • Gardening products. Lawn and garden sprays can all present a hazard to those couples who are trying to conceive. Forget the pesticides for a more natural lawn and garden. • Lead. If you live in a house that was built after 1960, you may want to consider having it tested for lead. If lead is found, be sure to follow the recommendations of the tester for removal and/or encapsulation.
Do what you can to stay clear of these dangerous toxins, and you may be surprised at the lack of noise ringing in your head.
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REDUCING THE IMPACT OF LOUD NOISE
Noise in itself may contribute to the severity of your Tinnitus, and you will thus need to avoid this whenever possible. However this is easier said than done, considering the amount of noise we are bombarded with every day. But, there are ways to limit your exposure to find relief. Here are a few suggestions: · Ask your neighbors (and your loved ones) to turn down the volume whenever possible. Certainly, you can’t expect everyone in your household and neighborhood to stay stealthy quiet all the time, but you can ask them politely not to crank up the music too loud (or for too long). And, if they must, maybe they could warn you first so that you can use specialized earplugs or a masking device to keep the noise from causing you severe pain. · If you live in a high noise area where there are loud trucks, factories, etc., you may be able to contact the Environmental Agency or other local authorities to make sure that they are abiding by local, state and federal noise statutes. Often, people living in these types of commercial or industrial areas can find some relief when noise ordinances and regulations are followed. · Of course, if you ask for help because there is a noisy neighbor or a local business whose noise levels seem to be
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over the acceptable level, you may need to speak with a lawyer about taking legal action to reduce the noise. However this can cause other problems, so you’ll want to do your best to resolve the issue yourself first. · Wear protective head gear. Ear plugs and even some masking devices can be used successfully for protection from the outside noise. · Alter your environment if necessary. Some Tinnitus sufferers have found that once their symptoms erupt, they can no longer continue living in the same city, town or even the neighborhood due to the excessive noise they hear. In some cases, people have found relief by relocating from busy urban areas to rural settings where it is much quieter. Though a drastic measure, but moving can sometimes offer the much-needed relief, particularly for those who are finding other treatments difficult.
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TRYING HABITUATION THERAPY
Habituation therapy can be one of the best resources used to decrease the Tinnitus noise, both in conjunction with other treatment methods, and even by itself. However, since there are not a lot of trained habituation therapists in the U.S., it can takes months (or sometimes even years), to get into a program. Although formal habituation therapy is always best, there are some forms of treatments that can be done at home on your own, while you are waiting to join a treatment program. There are virtually no side effects of this type of treatment - it is completely safe. If you want to try this at home, go ahead and read this. Here is a basic rundown of self-imposed habituation therapy: 1. Eliminate any medical reason for your Tinnitus through proper medical tests 2. Once it has been determined that there is no medical reason for your Tinnitus, you can begin self habituation therapy by purchasing a white noise generator. While any make or model will do, but it is best to find a manufacturer who specializes in making machines to specifically treat Tinnitus. 3. Next, be sure that you completely understand that Tinnitus is annoying, but not life threatening in any way. This will make it easier for you to ignore the sounds you here.
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4. Instant results are not likely – this type of therapy takes time as you begin to re-train the brain and erase any existing memory loops of sound. Patience is the key to success. 5. Begin the treatment by using a noise masker while you are awake. Be sure to keep the volume level very low at first (maybe even one that can barely be heard). 6. Once a week, turn up the volume just a tad, and discontinue this increase once the volume hits a point where it is no longer quiet, but is not overly loud either. Warning: if ever the noise of the masker seems to increase your Tinnitus symptoms, reduce the volume of the masker immediately! 7. Never increase the volume of the masker beyond the volume of the Tinnitus noise itself.
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR DEALING WITH MORNING TINNITUS
Morning Roar is common among many Tinnitus sufferers, because many of them experience an increase in their symptoms in the early morning hours. Some simple ways others have found to alleviate this extra noise in the mornings include:
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· sleeping with your head elevated – by using either a bed edge or several pillows, you can stop the congestion of blood in your ear canal, which is one reason why the symptoms become worse. · Drinking something sugary like juice, tea with a tablespoon of sugar in it, or even a plain glass of sugary water. By raising the blood sugar level when you awake, you can ward off an increase in the morning ear noise. However only those who are not suffering from any glucose issues should try this.
HOW STRESS AFFECTS TINNITUS
The body deals with internal and external issues and problems in many different ways. While one person may not be bothered in the least when someone blows the car horn; another may find it extremely stressful and do whatever he or she can to satisfy the person’s impatience so that he or she stops blowing the horn. Stress is a direct result of the way your body responds to a wide range of daily demands.
So, how does stress affect your Tinnitus? It can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to diseases and infections, and this is what causes or worsens the Tinnitus symptoms. It can also
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enhance the sounds you hear. Stress is directly related to how bad your Tinnitus seems from day to day, or even from hour to hour (or it can even cause it). It is thus important to learn how to control it.
REDUCING STRESS
One of the best ways to battle Tinnitus is to reduce as much stress as you can in your life. This will however mean different things to different people, but generally speaking, you can try these following approaches:
Identify Stressors in Your Life Remember, the stress you may feel may have no impact on someone else. That’s why it’s so important to figure out what puts you on the edge, so that you can eliminate stress from your life. For instance, if an overbooked schedule sends you reeling, do your best to cut back on those non-essential activities to have more time to relax. However, if sitting around makes you edgy, find more things to occupy your time. Take a good look at the things in your life which set you off to determine what stressors can be eliminated, and what stressors simply need more attention.
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There are many signs of stress. Here are just a few of the most common to watch out for: · sleep disturbances · irritability · back, shoulder and neck pain · upset stomach, indigestion and heartburn · bowel issues · muscle tension · changes in your weight · tiredness and fatigue · chest pain · high blood pressure · skin problems · immune suppression · nervousness, anxiety · irritability and frustration · feeling out of control · overreactions
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· butterflies · moodiness · memory problems · difficulty in concentration
To reduce some of the stress in your life, try these 10 simple tips: 1. Get up earlier every morning so that you have more time to get ready without rushing. 2. Be sure to take time every morning to sit down and eat your breakfast. It’s a great way to focus on your day and fuel your body in a more relaxed way. 3. Keep a ‘to-do’ list of things you want to accomplish on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. As long as you don’t focus on all the things still left undone, it’ll help you see what lies ahead, and also what you have managed to accomplish so far. 4. Take time out to smell the roses (or anything else that relaxes you or makes you happy). Do something fun every day, even if it is as simple as sitting in your car at lunch and listening to your favorite CD, or giggling with a friend over a cup of hot chocolate.
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5. Avoid negative people when you can. Nothing can stress you more than being around people who can’t find anything to be happy about. 6. Take a few moments to brush your hair. Most people find this very relaxing – and it feels good too! 7. Keep your schedule manageable. Sure, this may be easier said than done, but take time out each day to see what you “need” to do and what you “must” do. 8. Stay prepared. Nothing causes more stress in your day than not being able to find the bill you need to pay; the letter you need the boss to sign; or the phone number you need to call. 9. Take up a hobby – it is fun! 10.
Take a breather. When you are tired, rest. When you
are hungry, eat. When you need to escape, do it!
CONTROL YOUR ANGER
Anger is a big stressor in many of our lives. One of the strongest human emotions, anger can be increased by stress, causing you to lose your temper more quickly and simply over an otherwise unimportant issue.
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By learning to better control your anger (and your temper), you’ll be able to lower your stress levels, and maybe even reduce the number of Tinnitus attacks you experience. Here are some simple things you can do the next time you begin to lose your temper: · Recognize and admit that you are angry. Then, talk calmly about whatever is making you angry. · Walk away or take a time out. · Find a safe way to release your anger – go into another room and yell; go for a walk; or even punch a pillow. · Distract yourself with another activity. · Write down your feelings.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Your brain and your body needs time to rest and rejuvenate. When you sleep, you give your brain time to go over everything that it has experienced during the day to purge the unnecessary stuff; and your body organs get the time to heal themselves and prepare for the next day. When you don’t get enough sleep, you rob your body of the chance to get rejuvenated.
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So, how can you get enough sleep when you’re up half the night due to the noise in your head and ears? Some experts suggest finding ways to relax before bed time by taking a warm bath; avoiding strenuous activities before you hit the bed; keeping a regular bedtime schedule and routine to signal your body that sleep is imminent; planning the next day’s activities ahead of time so that you don’t need to think about it at bedtime; avoiding all activities that make you tired and cutting out all caffeine, nicotine, sugar and other stimulants for at least 2 hours before retiring.
TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN BEATING TINNITUS
As you’ve learned, there are a lot of ways to treat your Tinnitus symptoms. Whatever form of treatment plan you choose to become Tinnitus free for life, the most important thing to remember is to take an active role in combating the stressors, which may trigger your symptoms. This will take an overall approach to your recovery that includes finding the right mix of medications; treatments and even lifestyle alterations. This is likely to include: · Regular Exercise
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· Eating a well-balanced diet that is rich in important vitamins and minerals · Eliminating any environmental toxins that may be inducing the symptoms including cigarette smoke and food additives · Reducing the impact of harmful noises by taking necessary precautions · Finding herbal remedies that work for you · Beginning a combination of habituation therapy and hypnotherapy treatment · Working with your doctor to find traditional medications that work in relieving your symptoms · Battling the stress in your life that could be aggravating your Tinnitus · Taking the time to allow your treatment plan to work Finding the right cure for your Tinnitus won’t happen overnight – but with patience and persistence, it will happen. There is an answer out there for you. You just have to find it!
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APPENDIX I: ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR TINNITUS As you’ve already learned, there are a lot of different types of treatments available to help you better deal with your Tinnitus. Here’s an overview of some of the most common treatment alternatives that have helped patients the most:
HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathy is probably the most accepted of all the alternative medicines that are used today. Devised in the 1700’s by Samuel Hahnemann, Homeopathic medicine relies on two basic principles: 1. like cures like – this means that the cure to a problem usually resides within the problem itself 2. less is more – this requires only necessary intervention and minimal doses of all medications
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Homeopaths believe that symptoms are simply signs that the body is trying to ward off the disease. That’s why these practitioners concentrate more on discovering and treating the source of the problem than the actual symptom. It is their belief that the human body has everything it needs to cure itself of most conditions, if it is in good shape. Therefore it is the homeopath’s job to strengthen the patient’s own ability to heal, by aiding and stimulating his/her own natural mechanisms for healing.
This is usually accomplished by offering the patient extremely diluted doses of specific medications to jump start the healing process. While traditional medicine uses drugs to alleviate the symptoms, homeopaths use smaller doses to guide the body’s own healing principles. Most doses are so small that the patient doesn’t even need a prescription to get it. The person is able to purchase the medication off the shelf at a regular alternative medicine shop or can get it from the homeopathic therapist. However, this does not mean that the patient should prescribe his/her own treatment. Proper homeopathic treatment must be administered by an experienced practitioner in order to work (and not cause other ailments).
The causes of your Tinnitus may be very different than the cause of someone else’s, and therefore must be treated differently. This is the main reason why proper diagnosis and treatment must be prescribed by
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a professional who has experience in dealing with the many facets of Tinnitus. The other reason why it’s important not to self medicate is the fact that any drugs you take (homeopathic or not) must be carefully monitored in regards to your overall health and other medical conditions.
That said, some of the most common homeopathic remedies used to treat a variety of Tinnitus cases and causes include: · Lycopodium -- a green mossy plant that reduces the ringing or echoing some patients experience together with some form of hearing loss. · Cabro Vegatabilis – created from vegetable charcoal, this has been useful in treating symptoms that occur together with Tinnitus such as an upset stomach and congestion (although it has not been reported to treat the actual ear noise associated with Tinnitus). · Coffee Cruda – derived from unroasted coffee and high in caffeine, coffee cruda calms the nerves and alleviates some of the associated anxiety that a person who is suffering from Tinnitus feels. · Graphites – otherwise known as black lead, this has been successfully used to treat Tinnitus in patients
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who experience some degree of deafness in one or both the ears. · Natrum Salicylic– Generally used for patients who experience a constant ringing in their ears, it is also used to alleviate accompanying flu-like symptoms. · Chininum Sulphuricam – used to treat general Tinnitus · Salicylicum Acidum – a very promising treatment for those who experience Tinnitus after taking Aspirin. It has also been used to treat severe roaring sounds in patients.
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ACUPUNCTURE
When you think of acupuncture, you may think of people with needles that are stuck all over their bodies. While this image is true in some sense, traditional acupuncture involves much more than simply jabbing a patient with a bunch of needles.
Used for thousands of years now, acupuncture involves penetrating precise points on the skin to cause an exchange of electrons within the meridian of the body. It is believed that this can cause a long-lasting positive effect on each of the organs when used correctly – including your hearing!
Western medicine attributes its effects to the release of chemicals that are stimulated by the nervous system during the procedure. Regardless of why you think it works, the fact remains that, both Western and Eastern medical practitioners believe in acupuncture and use it regularly to help their patients in a variety of ways. How does acupuncture work? There are several theories: 1. Acupuncture needles stimulate the production of endorphins, which help to relax patients and help them in their fight or flight response that is associated
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with fear and stress. This rebalances the body’s energies and keeps the organs working at peak capacity. The pressure exerted by the acupuncture needle actually creates a micro electric current in the body, and this releases prostaglandins into the bloodstream and sends messages to the hypothalamus, which regulates the body’s hormones. It is important to remember when you are turning to acupuncture that different points have different effects. The caregiver must be well qualified to treat the specific issues to treat your Tinnitus.
How Acupressure Can Help Depending on where you apply acupressure (and acupuncture), you can actually decrease the sympathetic nervous system and even change your cells. Depending on the causes of your Tinnitus, this may be all that’s necessary to relieve its symptoms, or the treatment may simply help to enhance the effectiveness of other medical intervention methods.
The body is compiled of a system of reactions and feedbacks: if you touch a nerve, it will signal the brain to change something somewhere else in the body like your hormones. Like a chain
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reaction, pressing on certain points or meridians can stimulate a cause and effect reaction throughout every system and organ in your body. Your blood may be stimulated to send messages to specific areas. Although using acupuncture needles may offer a lot of help for many people, but there are those who are squeamish about being stuck with needles, and opt for a less invasive acupressure treatment. This is perfectly acceptable because acupressure employs the same basic techniques, only without the needles. The other nice benefit of using acupressure is the fact that you can often stimulate the acupoints on your own body, once you learn the proper technique and understand which points must be addressed based on your own individual situation and treatment needs.
YOGA
It has been proved that yoga is very effective in reducing stress levels to reduce the amount of noise you hear from your Tinnitus. While there are many forms of this ancient exercise treatment, most people perform one of these two main types of yoga:
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1. Physical exercise that promotes strength and flexibility by stretching the muscles of limbs, back and neck. It is also used to increase circulation, which can dramatically reduce your Tinnitus symptoms. 2. Mental control and relaxation through meditation to relax and achieve a state of inner peace and harmony. This is particularly helpful for those who are suffering from Tinnitus and exhibiting high levels of stress and anxiety due to their condition.
Here are some simple yoga exercises to try on your own. It has been designed to increase circulation to the head, because this can provide you relief from the symptoms of Tinnitus: · find a comfortable position · Tuck your chin into your chest. Now, turn your head as far to the right as it will go. If at any time, you feel uncomfortable – stop! Hold the position for 5 seconds. Next, turn your head in the opposite direction as far as you can, and hold that position for 5 seconds. · Tilt your head forward. Bring your chin to your chest. Hold the position for 5 seconds.
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· Tilt your head backward, keeping your chin tucked in, and hold for 5 seconds. · Repeat this series several times.
OSTEOPATHY
Becoming more and more popular in today’s traditional medical practices, Osteopathy relies on manipulation techniques that are applied to the back and neck. While some Tinnitus patients have experienced great relief using this treatment method, but it should be noted that others have reported an increase in symptoms when the procedure was applied by a professional who has not been particularly trained in treating Tinnitus.
HEALING AND FRINGE THERAPIES
With so many medical professionals now acknowledging a link between a patient’s medical condition and his/her emotional well being in regards to diagnosis and treatment (especially in regards to Tinnitus), many of them are now looking beyond traditional medicine to help their
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patients. This includes the use of some newer “fringe” therapies. Here are just a few you can consider yourself:
Healing The power of suggesting is strong. For those with a spiritual tie, faith healing or the laying of hands may offer the comfort and help that they seek. While there is little scientific evidence to support spiritual or energy healing as a cure for Tinnitus, some patients have experienced the much-needed relief after visiting a “healing specialist.”
Therapeutic Touch Unlike faith healers who use supernatural forces to do the actual healing on a patient, therapeutic touch is performed by non-psychics. They try to transfer energy from their own body to the patient as a way to give them the energy to heal.
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APPENDIX 2: MEDICATIONS FOR TINNITUS As we have already discussed, there are a number of conventional medicines that can be used to treat Tinnitus. While, not a cure per se, but they can be still useful in controlling (or even eliminating) the symptoms until a true cure can be found. Most of them do come with side effects however, and thus, long term use should be avoided. However, some patients may be more comfortable with traditional pharmaceutical treatments than the other options that have been described in this book.
As previously discussed, the medications used for treating Tinnitus symptoms fall into three main categories:
ANTI-ANXIETY MEDICATIONS
The most common medications used to treat Tinnitus are anti-anxiety drugs called Benzodiazepines. They work by suppressing any hypersensitivity being experienced by the central nervous system and the brain. The most commonly prescribed Benzodiazepines include:
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Xanax (generic: alprazolam) – while Xanax rarely “cures” Tinnitus completely, it has been successful in reducing the Tinnitus volume by 40% in more than 75% of all patients. It does come with side effects though. More than 20% of those using the drug experience blurred vision; a change in their sex drive; constipation; drowsiness; dry mouth; fatigue and moderate to severe headaches. This can make it difficult to handle for some. Most doctors prescribe very low doses, and this seems to help limit the side effects.
Serax & Klonopin – they work much better with Tinnitus patients. These two medications seem to relieve the symptoms in 52% to 70% of those who take it.
Others – of course there are other anti-anxiety medications that can be used to relieve the Tinnitus symptoms including: Ativan, Traxene and Valium.
ANTI-DEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS
In some patients, anti-depressants can reduce the Tinnitus sounds, but it often takes a trial-and-error period to find the right drug and dosage
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to work. Two of the most commonly used anti-depressant medications used to treat Tinnitus include Tricyclics and SSRI’s.
Tricyclics work by blocking the neurons and making more neurotransmitters available in the synapse. The two most common Tricyclics used to treat Tinnitus include Pamelor (generic: nortryptiline) and Elavil (amitryptiline). While Pamelor has shown great promise in the vast majority of patients who take it, Elavil has been reported to induce Tinnitus in some people, although it works well to reduce the symptoms in others.
SSRI’s, also referred to as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors, include Paxil, Zoloft, Prozak and Luvox. They work by keeping the serotonin levels stable within the brain. Side effects of these drugs include jitteriness, stomach problems and headaches.
ANTI-CONVULSION MEDICATIONS
Working by reducing excessive stimulation in the brain, anti-convulsion medications such as Tegretol and Klonopin have reportedly provided relief to as many as 80% of all patients who were suffering from their Tinnitus symptoms.
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Those who have been helped the most by this type of medicinal treatment include people with disabling central Tinnitus (not in one side or the other), and those in whom Tinnitus Habitual Training have failed. Of course, the side effects to these medications can be severe in some people, and so you should talk with your doctor and discuss what to expect before beginning this type of treatment.
SPECIAL NOTE:
It is important when you are beginning any pharmaceutical treatment to understand that, relief is not instantaneous. It can take weeks (or even months) for these medications to begin working, and the side effects can last up to 4-8 weeks. Still for some people, medicine is a good option for finding relief.
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APPENDIX 3: TINNITUS ASSOCIATIONS If you have been recently diagnosed with Tinnitus or have suffered with it for years, you will understand how difficult it can be to live with a constant ringing, whistling or buzzing in your ears. There are treatments for this condition if a cause can be found, but often the symptoms can only be reduced or managed, and the annoying and frustrating noise continues.
There are organizations that are dedicated to helping people with all kinds of hearing issues, and there are some specifically for Tinnitus sufferers. Here are just a few:
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THE AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION www.ata.org PO Box 5 Portland, OR 97207-005 800-634-8978 The American Tinnitus Association was founded in 1971 to raise money for research to get a cure for Tinnitus. Today, the organization serves as a meeting point for patients and doctors and it is also a resource for people who are looking for support and information about the disease. Their mission statement is: The American Tinnitus Association exists to cure Tinnitus through the development of resources that advance Tinnitus research.
TINNITUS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA 23 Ellis Park Road Toronto, ON Canada M6S 2V4 416-762-1490 www.kadis.com/ta/tinnitus.htm
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BRITISH TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
4th floor, White Building Fitzalon Square Sheffield, S1 24Z, UK +44 (0) 11429 6600 www.tinnitus.org.uk
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HEARING AND SPEECH (NAHSA) 10801 Rockville Place Rockville, MD
HOPE FOR HEARING FOUNDATION
6535 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 255 Los Angeles ca 90048
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323-651-2631 www.hope4hearing.org
H.E.A.R. (HEARING EDUCATION & AWARENESS FOR ROCKERS) Box 460847 San Francisco ca 94146 415-409-3277 www.hearnet.com This is a non-profit group that was founded by musicians and physicians dealing with hearing loss in the music industry. They offer hearing testing, prevention, research information and protective gear.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
National Institutes of Health 31 Center Drive MSC 320 Bethesda MD 20892
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301-496-7243 www.nidcd.nih.gov
VESTIBULAR DISORDERS ASSOCIATION
Box 4467 Portland OR 97208 503-229-7705 www.vestibulor.org
AMERICAN SPEECH LANGUAGE HEARING ASSOCIATION
200 Research Boulevard Rockville, MD 20850-3289 301-296-5700 Members: 800-498-2071 Non-Member: 800-638-8255 E-mail:
[email protected]
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AMERICAN ACADEMY OF AUDIOLOGY
11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 300 Reston, VA 20190 Phone: 800-AAA-2336 www.audiology.org
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LINKS & OTHER RESOURCES
There are plenty of other resources that can give you a lot of information about Tinnitus and its alternative treatments. Here is a listing of additional links that you may find helpful in your research: Free Government Help National Institutes for Health: www.nih.gov Your health questions answered at: 1-800-336-4797
Acupuncture Help International College of Acupuncture: www.lcaet.com American Association of Acupuncture: www.aaaomonline.org
Alternative Medicine Help National Association for Alternative Medicine: www.naaam.org Healthworld Online: www.healthy.net
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The Journal of Alternative and Complementing Medicine: www.liebertpub.com
National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: www.naha.org National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: www.nccam.nih.gov
Biofeedback Help Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback www.aapb.org
Herbal Help American Botanical Council: www.herbalgram.org American Herbal Products Association: www.ahpa.org Medical Herbalism: www.medherb.com
Homeopathic Help National Center for Homeopathy: www.homeopathic.org Homeopathic Associations: www.abchomeopathy.com/l
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The American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists: www.homeopathicpharmacy.org
Hypnosis Help
Academy of Scientific Hypnotherapy: www.health.gov/ The National Society of Hypnotherapists: www.wel.net The Medical Academy of Medical Hypno-analysts: www.aamh.com
Self Help Groups American Self-Help Clearing House: www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp
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