Today I want to briefly discuss blood thinning medication (administered either orally or by means of infusion) which is frequently prescribed by doctors in case of tinnitus. The theory behind this is that tinnitus is caused by a lack of blood circulation in the inner ear, so the thinning of the blood is supposed to remedy this. However, it is well accepted now that tinnitus is a nervous condition and has, in the vast majority of cases, little if anything to do with problems in the inner ear. So for most people the blood thinning measures will have no effect. On the contrary, in some cases these drugs can, similar to caffeine, stimulate the nervous system and thus aggravate the tinnitus. In those cases where these measures appear to have some success, this is likely to be a placebo (i.e. a psychological) effect. In other cases (for instance for Ginkgo Biloba extract) the beneficial effect is likely to be due to chemical substances that act directly on the nervous system rather than a blood thinning effect. Although I do not want do discourage anybody to try any of these measures (if just in order to have the peace of mind to have tried everything possible), you should be aware of the issues I mentioned, and not be disheartened if things don't work out as hoped. The path to a cure of tinnitus is very much one of trial and error, and negative experiences are just part of this path. The important point just is to learn the lessons from each bad experience and thus narrow down the options to find a remedy that actually works for you. Thomas

The big issue for anybody who has contracted tinnitus is obviously what remedies exist. First of all, one has to remember that tinnitus is a nervous disposition, which in many cases can not be linked to obvious causes (which could be removed). So it is all important to first of all avoid any artificial stimulation of the nervous system by caffeine, alcohol or other stimulating drugs. Loud noises and stress should be avoided as well. These measures alone can already bring a substantial improvement in many cases (they did for me at least, and for many other persons I had contact with as well). Once one has applied these measures for a few weeks, one can also try to actively calm down the nervous system by means of drugs or other measures. For me for instance, the occasional painkiller (Paracetamol (Tylenol in the US) or Aspirin) has worked very well to suppress the intensity of the tinnitus both in the short as well as in the long term. Alcohol-free beer also proved to have a calming effect. For some people Ginkgo Biloba had a positive influence. And of course relaxation techniques can be very helpful in calming down the nervous system and thus the tinnitus. Even though neither of these remedies is likely to cure the tinnitus straightaway, they can gradually lessen the intensity of the condition. So patience is needed, but unlike what some people (including doctors) are suggesting, it is not so that there is no chance of improvement and that the only options is to 'learn to live with it'. Yes, for the time being one has to accept the condition (like one has to accept a broken leg) but with some care, determination and patience, it can only improve in the long term (although, with nervous dispositions being a tricky affair, it is likely to take longer than to heal a broken leg). Thomas

Tinnitus is mostly known as the result of being exposed to too much noise, but there are really many more potential causes. One has to remember that tinnitus is a nervous symptom, and nervous symptoms can in general be triggered by a wide range of causes. As a symptom, tinnitus can be vaguely compared to pain, and pain obviously can have a wide variety of cause, be it physical or even psychological (for instance stress). The same applies to tinnitus as well. Apart from being for instance the result of a noise trauma, it can be triggered by drugs (medicines), Eustachian tube (air pressure equalization) dysfunction, ear infections, ear wax, stress, depression and other causes. In some cases there does not even seem to be an obvious trigger, or it can be some combination of causes (including inherited factors). It is practically impossible to protect oneself from all possible causes, as a) these connections are not very well researched, and b) each person reacts differently. The only measures that can generally be taken to prevent tinnitus from occurring in the first place is to use some kind of ear protection (ear plugs) in noisy environments, and probably try to avoid, if possible, taking any kind of medicines in high dosages for an extended period (more than a week or so). Of course, once one has contracted tinnitus, then the problem is an altogether different one, namely trying to avoid to further aggravate the condition and finding measures to improve or even cure it. But I shall speak about this another time. Thomas