Tinnitus & Meniere's Syndrome: A Natural Approach

Tinnitus & Meniere’s Disease: a Naturopathic Approach
Presented by: Candice Esposito, ND

What is Naturopathic Medicine?
An approach to health care that gets at the root of symptoms and illness by combining:
natural medicines and treatments
conventional medical diagnostics and standards
www.HealingClinic.ca
Tinnitus & Meniere’s Disease

Naturopathy’s Guiding Principles
First, do no harm
Support the healing power of nature
Identify and treat the cause
Treat the whole person
Doctor as teacher
Prevention and health promotion

Naturopathic Therapies
Clinical nutrition
Botanical medicine
Homeopathic medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Counselling

Possible Factors
Tension, anxiety, stress
High salt intake – fluid retention
Hormonal imbalance – PMS, Hypothyroidism
Allergies – food sensitivities
Head trauma
Environmental toxins (heavy metals)
High cholesterol & blood pressure – inflammation
Viral origin (never well since infection)
Drug therapy; scarring from surgery
Anemia, low blood volume

Clinical Nutrition
Nutrient deficiencies and excesses should be assessed
Studies show Zinc can be helpful in age-related tinnitus and hearing loss (loss of taste?)
Zinc tally taste test
Vitamin B12 deficiency linked to occupational tinnitus & hearing loss, exposure to loud noises
Methylmalonic acid
Trace minerals if dehydrated
Electrolyte panel

Clinical Nutrition
CoQ10
Helpful in vertigo and Meniere’s syndrome by improving the immune system
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Fatty acid deficiency can be associated with increased wax build-up in ears
Fish oil, flax seed oil, krill oil

Clinical Nutrition
If fluid retention:
Low sodium diet
Natural diuretics (celery, dandelion)
If anemia, low blood volume (CBC) – find cause
Co-factors needed for iron metabolism
Cobalt, copper, vitamin C, vit B12, folate

Clinical Nutrition
Identify possible food sensitivities
Gluten (wheat), dairy, aspartame/artificial sweeteners most common
Food allergy testing (specialized lab)
Trial Hypoallergenic Diet
If inflammation (heart disease, joint disease):
Anti-inflammatory diet

Leaky Gut
Syndrome
Natural Treatments

Botanical Medicine
Gingko biloba(caution if on blood thinner)
Enhances blood flow to head and brain
Effective if tinnitus related to circulatory problems
Ensure getting at least 24% ginkolisides
Takes at least 6 weeks to notice improvement
If inflammation (heart disease, joint disease):
Ginger, Turmeric, Black currant

Botanical Medicine
Lobelia inflata (Indian Tobacco)
Effective at reducing body fluid, including around semicircular canals in the ear
Tincture form
If viral origin:
Hedge maple (Acer campestre)
Mushrooms (Reishi, Shiitake)
Goldenseal, Echinacea, Astragalus

Homeopathic Medicine
Some of the most commonly used:
Arnica montana – head traumas
Cocculusindicus – motion sickness, extreme tiredness, dullness, very imbalanced gait
Conium maculatum – gradual onset, vertigo on turning in bed, vertigo when moves eyes/head, “like turning in a circle”
Salicylicumacidum – loud roaring; due to aspirin

Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yin & Yang

2 main diagnoses for Meniere’s Syndrome:

Acupuncture points are chosen based on diagnosis and treatment principles
For example, for
Excess Liver Yang – calm Liver Yang
LV 3, TW 17, PC 6
Kidney Yin Deficiency – nourish Kidney Yin
KI 3, CV 4, ST 36

Foods are recommended or restricted depending on their properties
For example, for Kidney Yin Deficiency
Millet, oats, black beans, chicken, blueberries, beets, olive oil are beneficial
Chillies, coffee, vinegar, citrus, shrimp, veal, pickles, alcohol should be restricted

Counselling
Lifestyle counselling
Smoking cessation
Alcohol cessation
Stress management – deep breathing, meditation, tai chi, journaling, biofeedback
Exercise – aids in blood circulation, decreases inflammation

Counselling
Mind-Body Connections
Examining mental & emotional aspects
Issues you have trouble “hearing” about?
Listening to our inner voice?
From a TCM perspective, each organ is related to specific emotions
Kidneys – fear, willpower
Liver – anger, frustration

Environmental Toxins
Exposures?
Impaired detoxification?
Candida or yeast overgrowth?
Mercury and lead toxicity most commonly associated
Solvents, pesticides, wood preservatives, etc.
Urine testing or hair analysis

Dental Health
Lots of anecdotal evidence related to Root Canals
Do your symptoms worsen at night? – possible underlying infection inherent to root canal
Creates inflammation, heat – from a TCM perspective they decrease Yin (remember Kidney Yin Deficiency)
Stress on immune system
Extracted root canal teeth often test very toxic

Summary
Examine possible factors that are unique to you
What was going on in your life when it began?
What other symptoms are you experiencing? (all organ systems are connected)
Toxin exposures?
Emotional component?
Treat holistically – physical, mental, emotional
Prevention

Thank You
Questions?
Candice Esposito, ND
(705) 575-7560
candice@healingclinic.ca
Visit
to download my free e-book,
“A Layperson’s Guide to Chinese Medicine”

Tinnitus & Meniere's Syndrome: A Natural Approach

by Candice Esposito

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Tinnitus & Meniere’s Syndrome: A Natural Approach Presentation Transcript