Tinnitus is an incurable neurological and audiological condition that impacts over 50 million people in the US. Tinnitus patients search for whatever form of relief that they can discover. For some, it possibly means trying CBD for tinnitus. Can it work? Keep reading to know more about cannabidiol as a potential tinnitus treatment option.
Is Tinnitus Preventable Or Treatable With CBD?
Congress passed a bill in 2018 that officially removed cannabis sativa from the so-called Controlled Substances Act. It allowed for the process of marketing the aspects of hemp that are not narcotic.
Several companies offer cannabis products and boast its medicinal virtues, including pain relief as well as treatment of depression, acne, insomnia and tinnitus. There are not enough rigorous medical studies for almost all of those conditions and cannabidiol. Epilepsy is an exception to it, as the FDA approval of CBD shows that cannabidiol treats some epileptic seizures.
There is not enough federal regulation for commercial CBD products, so these items vary greatly in terms of quality. For instance, hemp oil products do not contain cannabidiol, but many marketers use the terms hemp oil and cannabidiol oil interchangeably. Medical-grade cannabidiol is mostly restricted to marijuana-legal states with dispensaries.
Research About Tinnitus And Cannabidiol
Scientists have found that the human brain has CB1 cannabinoid receptors and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, which respond to cannabis and cannabidiol. Emerging studies demonstrate that the receptors may contribute to hearing and balance. It has made some wonder whether cannabidiol might treat hearing disorders, like tinnitus. Unfortunately, there is still not enough scientific information to make any conclusive claims on CBD and tinnitus.
For instance, a study from 2015 with cannabidiol to treat laboratory rats showed that it did not help rodents with tinnitus. As per the study, in some cases, it even seemed that cannabidiol worsened tinnitus in rodents. As per a recent literature review, there is a need for further human research before it becomes possible to draw any conclusions about the product.
However, there is evidence that cannabidiol possibly helps with stress, a potential issue among chronic tinnitus patients. For instance, as per a study featured in 2015 in the journal Neurotherapeutics, cannabidiol is efficacious in lessening anxiety behavior associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and seasonal depression. Other pieces of research have produced only mixed results, as per the Very Well Health website.