Natural Remedies for Tinnitus

Written by Institute for Natural Medicine Staff

Medically Reviewed by Signe Poquette, ND

Published April 29, 2025
Last Updated April 29, 2025

Ringing, roaring, buzzing, clicking, and hissing—these are the sounds of tinnitus. They may be loud or muted, constant or irregular, in the left ear or right, and sometimes, shifty, from one ear to the other. Commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears,” tinnitus is an auditory problem that can affect hearing, concentration, memory, and sleep. In severe cases, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues may arise.

Some 10 to 20 percent of U.S. adults have tinnitus. Because there is no cure or FDA–approved treatment, effectively managing the condition involves a combination of lifestyle changes, natural medicines, and therapy.¹

Tinnitus symptoms, causes, and diagnosis

The term tinnitus comes from the Latin tinnire, which means “to ring.” High-pitched ringing or humming is a hallmark sign of the condition. This sound comes from inside the body and can only be heard by the person affected.² In some cases, noises also pulsate, which could be indicative of vascular tinnitus.³ Non-pulsatile tinnitus might be accompanied by vertigo or headache and may result from trauma or a mental health condition.⁴

Tinnitus is not considered a disease but a symptom of an underlying problem.³ A detailed health history and physical exam that rules out urgent or dangerous causes is usually the first step in diagnosis.

Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss resulting from damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, and it can occur spontaneously. However, in many cases, the cause is unknown or unclear.⁵ The most common cause of subjective tinnitus is hearing loss related to loud noise exposure. Certain medications, heart disease, hypertension, metabolic diseases like diabetes, and ear diseases like Meniere’s, may also be responsible.²Tinnitus is also linked to head and neck injuries, earwax impaction or removal, and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi.⁵

Research suggests that people with low serotonin levels are more susceptible to tinnitus.⁶ It’s currently unclear whether antidepressants that raise serotonin levels can also improve tinnitus symptoms.⁷

Treating and managing tinnitus

Woman lies on table while practicing sound therapy

Common treatments for tinnitus include stress reduction techniques, therapy, sleep improvement, and sound masking, which involves offsetting distracting sounds with relaxing music, white noise, or other pleasant auditory stimuli.¹ Cognitive–behavioral therapy, which helps people develop practical coping strategies, is considered the most effective approach for managing tinnitus symptoms.³^,⁵ Additionally, hearing aids can be beneficial for people with varying degrees of hearing loss.⁸

Some therapeutic programs focus on teaching patients how to ignore perceived noise.¹ Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a widely used approach that helps patients adapt to tinnitus by promoting “habituation.” Research supports TRT’s efficacy in managing tinnitus, with some studies indicating it may be more effective than sound masking.⁹

Natural remedies

“Tinnitus can be a difficult symptom to treat because it is complex and multifactorial,” explains Julie Tran–Olive, ND, LAc, founder of Silicon Valley Natural Health in San Jose, California. “Naturopathic medicine is best poised to help people with tinnitus because it utilizes a multifactorial approach that looks at uncovering and treating the root cause.”

A 2025 analysis of 10 studies found that greater consumption of fruit and dietary fiber can help reduce tinnitus occurrence.¹⁰

What you don’t eat matters too. “It’s important to look at possible food intolerances that could be contributing to the tinnitus,” notes Dr. Tran–Olive.

For instance, people with sulfite sensitivity, commonly triggered by preservatives in beer, wine, processed meats, and condiments, often experience hyperacusis (heightened sound sensitivity) and lower serotonin levels—both of which may increase the risk of tinnitus.¹¹

Certain food products and add-ins may worsen symptoms. Sodium, aspartame, sugar, and unhealthy fats are all problematic for tinnitus.¹² A 2024 study found that low zinc levels increased tinnitus risk by 44 percent, while low iron levels raised the risk by 35 percent.¹³ On the other hand, higher intake of vitamin B12 and D, along with staying well hydrated, is associated with significant symptom reduction.¹²

Supplements

Herbal remedies may also offer relief. A 2024 study linked ginkgo biloba to fewer doctor visits for tinnitus, while a 2020 clinical trial showed the herb improved hearing aid effectiveness and reduced tinnitus symptoms.¹⁴^,¹⁵ Korean red ginseng improved both symptoms and overall quality of life for people with chronic tinnitus in a 2015 study.¹⁶

Alpha-lipoic acid is another supplement worth considering. A 2023 study reported improvements in people with metabolic syndrome who had tinnitus tied to cochlear dysfunction.¹⁷

Acupuncture

Preliminary studies suggest acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture and acupoint embedding, can significantly reduce tinnitus severity.¹⁸ Dr. Tran–Olive recommends acupressure to a pressure point called KID 1, on the sole of the foot. Since stress can contribute to tinnitus, she also teaches deep breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques.

Although there is no known cure for tinnitus, many strategies can help manage the condition and reduce symptoms. A whole-health approach that emphasizes coping tools, dietary adjustments, supplements, restful sleep, and stress management is often the most effective.

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Footnotes

1
Dinces E. Etiology and diagnosis of tinnitus. In: UpToDate, Deschler DG (Ed), Wolters Kluwer. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/etiology-and-diagnosis-of-tinnitus
2
Grossan M, Peterson DC. Tinnitus. StatPearls. 2023;Mar 20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430809
3
Han B, Lee H, Ryo S, Kim J. Tinnitus update. J Clin Neurol. 2021;17(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2021.17.1.1
4
Miller RM, Dunn JA, O’Beirne GA, Whitney SL, Snell DL. Relationships between vestibular issues, noise sensitivity, anxiety and prolonged recovery from mild traumatic brain injury among adults: a scoping review. Brain Inj. 2024 Jul 2;38(8):607-619. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2024.2337905
5
Dalrymple SN, Lewis SH, Philman S. Tinnitus: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(11):6630671. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0601/p663.html#afp20210601p663-t1
6
Rauschecker JP, Leaver AM, Muhlau M. Tuning out the noise: limbic-auditory interactions in tinnitus. Neuron. 2010;66(6):819-826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2010.04.032
7
Baldo P, Doree C, Molin P, et al. Antidepressants for patients with tinnitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003853.pub3
8
Folmer RL, Carroll JR. Long-term effectiveness of ear-level devices for tinnitus. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;134(1):132-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2005.09.030
9
Gold SL, Formby C, Scherer RW. The tinnitus retraining therapy counseling protocol as implemented in the tinnitus retraining therapy trial. Am. J. Audiol. 2021;30(1):1-15. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2020_AJA-20-00024
10
Zhang M, Wang X, Zhang S, et al. Association of 15 common dietary factors with tinnitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. BMJ. 2025;15(3). https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e091507
11
Kronberg MT. Sulfite intolerance: a cause of tinnitus? Biosci. Hypotheses. 2008;1(4):185-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bihy.2008.06.010
12
Wadhwa S, Jain S, Patil N. The role of diet and lifestyle in the tinnitus management: a comprehensive review. Cureus. 2024;16(4). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59344
13
Tang D, Shekhawat GS, Burlutsky G, et al. The association between dietary intakes of vitamins and minerals with tinnitus. Nutrients. 2024;16(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16152535
14
Langguth B, Reineke T, Burkart M, Kostev K. Ginkgo biloba extract prescriptions are associated with less frequent repeat visits to ENT doctors due to tinnitus: a retrospective cohort study. Front Neurol. 2024;14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1402978
15
Radunz CL, Okuyama CE, Branco-Barreiro F, et al. Clinical randomized trial study of hearing aids effectiveness in association with Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB 761) on tinnitus improvement. Braz. J. Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;86(6):734-742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2019.05.003
16
Kim T, Lee H, Chung J. The effect of Korean red ginseng on symptoms and quality of life in chronic tinnitus: a randomized, open-label pilot study. J Audiol Otol. 2015;19(2):85-90. https://doi.org/10.7874/jao.2015.19.2.85
17
Sacchetto L, Monzani D, Apa E, et al. The effect of alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of chronic subjective tinnitus through the tinnitus handicap inventory scores. Audiol. Res. 2023;13(4):484-494. https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13040043
18
Yu S, Wu J, Sun Y, Lyu J. Advances in acupuncture treatment for tinnitus. Am J Otolaryngol. 2024;45(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104215

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Natural Remedies for Tinnitus

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Tinnitus symptoms, causes, and diagnosis