From the Guidelines
Stopping smoking is the most effective complementary therapy that can help a patient with tinnitus, as it improves overall health and reduces the risk of exacerbating tinnitus symptoms. Several complementary therapies may help manage tinnitus symptoms, including:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients develop coping strategies and reduce the emotional distress associated with tinnitus, as recommended by clinicians based on RCTs, with a preponderance of benefit over harm 1
- Education and counseling, which can educate patients about management strategies, with a preponderance of benefit over harm 1
- Avoiding triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, which can prevent symptom exacerbation
- Regular exercise, which improves blood circulation and may reduce tinnitus intensity
- Certain supplements like ginkgo biloba, zinc, and magnesium, which have shown modest benefits in some studies It's essential to use these therapies alongside conventional medical treatment and to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplements, as they may interact with medications. Increasing caffeine intake, increasing salt intake, and not listening to music are not recommended as complementary therapies for tinnitus.
From the Research
Complementary Therapies for Tinnitus
- None of the provided options (a. Increase caffeine intake, b. Increase salt intake, c. Not listening to music, d. Stop smoking) are directly supported by the studies as complementary therapies for tinnitus.
- However, the studies suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for tinnitus distress 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- CBT aims to reduce the negative impact of tinnitus on quality of life by addressing the patient's reaction to tinnitus and promoting more positive and realistic thoughts 4.
- Notched sound therapy (NST) is also found to be effective in reducing tinnitus severity and loudness 2.
- There is no evidence to support the use of increasing caffeine intake, increasing salt intake, or not listening to music as complementary therapies for tinnitus.
- Stopping smoking may have general health benefits, but its specific effect on tinnitus is not supported by the provided studies.
- CBT may have small additional benefits in reducing symptoms of depression, but its effect on anxiety and health-related quality of life is less clear 5.