Protect your ears with essential oil

[neha rajput]

Hearing health is an essential component of our overall wellbeing. It is important to take measures to protect our hearing health and recognize the warning signs that it may be at risk. There are many ways to protect our hearing, including wearing earplugs or earmuffs when exposed to loud noises, avoiding overly loud music, and not smoking. In addition, it is essential to undergo routine hearing tests to ensure that our hearing is not deteriorating. As soon as hearing loss is detected, it is essential to seek medical attention. Early detection and treatment can aid in preventing further hearing loss and enhance quality of life.

What role do essential oils play?

Essential oils are liquids extracted from plants, including fruits and herbs. Common essential oils include lemon, peppermint, and lavender, but there are dozens, if not hundreds, of essential oils. They have been utilised to impart flavour or aroma to food and other products for centuries.

 

Consider asking if essential oils can help with hearing loss.

Numerous online health claims regarding essential oils, which are not FDA-regulated, have been made. Similar to the markets for other popular alternative therapies, such as CBD oil and homoeopathy, it is a buyer-beware market in the United States as a result of lax regulations.

 

There is limited clinical evidence that essential oils have medical benefits, such as for treating hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, or ear infections. If you intend to treat any of these conditions with essential oils, use caution.

What is the effectiveness of essential oils for hearing loss?

Cajeput oil, geranium oil, lavender oil, and tea tree oil may help with sensorineural hearing loss, whereas Helichrysum oil may help with both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

However, is there evidence that these oils work? No, DiSogra explains in a separate review article on essential oils and hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo for Audiology Today. This suggests that very little (if any) clinical research has been conducted on these essential oils and that the majority of claims are either unfounded or based on self-reports.

The author asserts that audiologists should not recommend essential oils for hearing loss.

Can essential oils aid in the treatment of tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the medical term for chronic ringing in the ears. DiSogra uncovered unsubstantiated claims that, among others, cypress oil, ginseng oil, helichrysum oil, juniper oil, lavender oil, lilies oil, olive oil, onion oil, petitgrain oil, rehmannia oil, and spotted orchis oil could alleviate tinnitus.

 

In published medical literature, only one of these, lavender oil, was associated with a health benefit, and that benefit related to possible anti-inflammatory effects on the central nervous system, not tinnitus.

 

How does CBD (cannabidiol) oil compare? It is one of the few oils for which extensive research has been conducted: For severe forms of epilepsy, for example, the FDA has approved a prescription drug containing CBD. According to preliminary but contradictory research, CBD oil may help with tinnitus.

 

What effect do essential oils have on our hearing?

Di-Sogra discovered a number of online health claims about essential oils and vertigo, including claims about basil oil, bergamot oil, bitter orange oil (neroli), CBD oil, clary sage oil, cypress oil, geranium oil, ginger oil, lavender oil, lemon balm oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, tangerine oil, and thyme oil. None of the treatments had clinical evidence of efficacy.

However, when he searched for clinical trials and other medical studies, he discovered no evidence that any of these oils were effective in treating ear infections.

 

Dangers that essential oils pose

In general, essential oils are not acutely hazardous and, when used with caution, are unlikely to cause irreversible harm.

If you are interested in trying any of these essential oils, you should use them with caution and be aware that improper application can result in skin reactions.

If you're interested in experimenting with essential oils, use caution and be aware that they do pose risks.

"For instance, cumin oil is safe for consumption but can cause blistering on the skin," explains Di Sogra. Certain citrus oils used safely in food can be hazardous when applied to sun-exposed skin when used in cosmetics.

In addition, some essential oils can affect hormones and are therefore hazardous for pregnant or nursing women. Others may have an effect on cardiovascular health.

Regarding ear-related ailments, he encountered websites that suggested placing oils in the ear canal.

 However," he cautioned, "[essential oils] should never be placed in the ear canal, as undiluted oil can burn the sensitive mucous membranes within the ear."

 

Those who need hearing aids

There is little evidence that essential oils can help with hearing problems, despite what you may find online. This may change if researchers decide to examine essential oils more thoroughly.

 

However, numerous effective treatments for hearing and balance disorders have been demonstrated in the interim. If you or a loved one needs hearing care, our directory of hearing clinics with consumer ratings is a good next step.