Natural Remedies for Hearing Loss

To improve hearing acuity do the following-start to humm, once the humming is going open your mouth and continue the sound,then consciously move the sound up to the ear you have hearing problems with-keep the open mouthed hummm going and make it louder, if a problem in both ears move the sound from one ear to the other. You may be saying that this is impossible but you can really do this. When I practice the humming with the mouth open,(a totally different sound) the longer the better, my husband notices that I do not need the T.V. up as loud. The activity apparently stimulates the nerves in the ears. I read about this natural anecdote to hearing problems years ago. Of course it would depend on the nature of your hearing loss but it is worth a try and you must keep it up every day to retain the advantage.

When I saw KT's post, I was gladwilling to try turmeric. I have been taking turmeric capsules off and on because of it's inflammatory properties and had already discovered that it improved my mood. So I began taking two capsules of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) root 1,200 mg five days ago. On the third day, I noticed that I could carry on a conversation with a friend seven or eight feet away sitting on a different piece of furniture and not have to ask her what she said. And she has a European accent! I am continuing the two capsules daily and will report on the outcome. I have had noticeable hearing loss with bad tinnitus for about six years. No injury. I am 67 years old. Thank you, KT!

This post is a thank you to EC and Rob from Kentucky for the Vicks Remedy for Hearing Loss.

About 2 weeks ago, I washed my hair in the shower and it did not go well. I came out with only a little hearing left. I used all the usually cleaning methods that worked before, but they did not help this time. I resorted to the Q-tip to help remove excess wax. Three days passed and I still could not hear my own voice.

I recalled that Rob of Kentucky mentioned that Vicks Vapor Rub had the ability to dry out excess water. I cannot find that post. So about the fourth night, I put the Vicks around my left ear. When I woke up the next morning I had some hearing in that ear, Yaaay. So the next night I put Vicks around and on both ears. Wow, I could hear YouTube again without a hearing aid. Everyday my hearing got better, "Now I can hear better than before I took the shower! " I only used it about four or five days, but the healing continued. I also started taking Astragalus about the second day of using the Vicks.

Astragulus has helped my hearing before. That also was only taken about 5 days.

God is Good.

HisJewel

I was taking turmeric for inflammation after ingesting too much manufactured glutamic acid (MSG). It seemed to open my ears up and I could hear so much better.

It should be noted I had a fractured skull with ruptured eardrums decades ago that reduced my ability to hear well. After ingesting turmeric I don't have to have people keep repeating what they say. Sound is no longer "muffled".

Re Restored Hearing,

I just want you to know I still have my hearing. I thought I would update because my daughter complimented me because I have been hearing her without my hearing aid.

No, I cannot hear a whisper. I have been hard of hearing since I was a child, however I hear better now than I have in a long time. If I feel like my hearing is decreasing, I rub some Vicks on before I go to bed. Now I don't have to keep my hearing aid on in the house.

Hi HisJewel – Here is the article I wrote on the use of VaporRub for ear issues as a reference. I'm glad it worked for you. Vicks VapoRub for Earaches

Https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/natural-treatment-earaches8.html#vr

Hi MMSG,

I just rubbed it in back, and front of my ear and went to sleep. I could not find the post from Rob at that time. However I see from the bar he left for us a few days ago, that the Vicks Vapor Rub can also be put on a cotton ball and left in the ear over night.

Dear MtM,

Initially, it was a rounded 1/2 tsp. for my swollen fingers from eating leftover beef. No pepper or fat. It was after reporting that, that I learned from you guys about adding fat and or pepper. I had called my doctor to report about my fingers (his wife went through the same thing) and noticed I could hear better on the phone.

As I have mentioned to you before, I am reluctant to report things like this because I have been weeding hidden sources of MSG out of my diet for over two decades and I have learned how small sources add up. Just the flowing agent in salt that so many are ingesting has a lot to do with inflammation and fluid retention along with our now tainted food supply with the infiltration of GMO's that cannot be avoided. I believe my friend from Jr. Hi has become diabetic just because she ate so many grains, salads and fresh fruit.

My post was purposely intended for the Meniere's section here, on EC, for the benefit of a friend in CA that has a problem with fluid in his ears and nausea. He did report taking ginger for that. I gave him this site but in reviewing posts here under Meniere's I noticed there was no mention of turmeric so I felt it appropriate to mention what happened to me.

It seems trivial to talk about the flowing agent (hidden source of MSG) in salt but it can contribute to so much havoc. We need sodium for our hearts...it is the flowing agent in commercial table salt that is the culprit and causes fluid retention. Magnesium is important and can offer some protection against the damaging effects of MSG. It is hard to discuss one without mention of the other.

Back to the turmeric...because it was reported to contribute to constipation (you know I don't need that! ) I combined a rounded 1/4 tsp. with cayenne or ginger at different times throughout the day. After I heard from you about taking fat and/or pepper with the turmeric, I started that but did not notice a difference. If I have eaten something that closes my ears, like too much cheese, I take 1/2 tsp. in some warm water.

Sometimes our earaches and hearing loss need more than the usual help. I happened upon some terrible ear pain. I used the usual helpers to get rid of an infections, I sprayed rubbing alcohol that I mixed with a few drops of iodine. At night, I rubbed on the vapor rub, for supplements I took oregano oil gel caps, and astragalus. I even went back to the olive oil and hydrogen peroxide earwax removal.

It took about a week or two to kill the possible infection and stop the soreness. By the time the pain was gone, I had "No hearing in that ear".

What I had not thought to do was to wash out the wax and oils by using an ear syringe, I figured all would slide out as usual with bent over head.

My daughter bought an ear syringe for herself, guess who used it, that's right little old me. This is about the fourth day that I have used it, and thank God some of my hearing is returning again. First I put in some Sweet Oil (olive oil) it comes with a dropper, for about five minutes. Then I use the ear syringe with warm water to wash out the oil and wax. It works!

Years ago I went to the doctor to have my ears washed out, I don't know if they still provide this service.

HisJewel

Once I woke up with almost (95%) total hearing loss - I was really desperate. It took only one visit to ENT specialist who cleaned my ears of awful earwax buildup (I blame partially the ear candles which condensed it and pushed back)and my hearing was better than before! You can do it yourself if you are skillful and daring. There was a clue it was earwax: sometimes I heard a popping sound followed by second-long better hearing.

For hearing loss,

Just leave out all, and I mean aaalll, vegetable oils in any form. They clog eyes and ears..

Dear Edy,

You could try sprinkling turmeric on her food but it may take awhile to notice improvement because it would depend on what else she eats. Add a little ginger because it also reduces inflammation. I believe it is our tainted food supply that is more of a cause for my hearing loss than the injuries. When I can notice improvement on ingestion I think that speaks for itself.

KT

HJ, where on your ear do you rub the Vick's onto?

yes, I (64yrs) feel raw tamarind powder should too work....I am too suffering from hearing loss(total) in my right year for last 5/6 months, I had mild stroke in july 16, since then found High BP & diab & on meditations since then & feel hearing loss is due to these medicine....searching for such natural/herbal ways out to recover hearing loss, otherwise have to go for hearing aid(didnt like it), please help or suggest... refer to have dal chinni & honey.... as is subject of this discussion.

About a rounded 1/2 tsp. in 1/2 C warm water.

You might want to start with 1/4 tsp. a couple times a day until you know how it affects you. It is high in oxalates. Foods/spices that are high in oxalates in combination can contribute to stones.

I too am experiencing quite a bit of hearing loss in the past year. I'm 67 years old and have a ruptured ear drum, but it hasn't bothered me until now. So....I believe tumeric is best with black pepper and a bit of heat to get it going for us. My mother is almost deaf and boy is it frustrating to talk with her, I hope I don't end up like that! LOL

Orange Juice/Potassium/Hormone Aldosterone May Cure hearing loss

The other day I drank 6 ounces of OJ and noticed a dramatic, immediate (<5 minutes) improvement in my hearing. After that I researched potassium relative to hearing loss and found there is a correlation between the two. Of course OJ is loaded with potassium. Blood tests can determine if a person is low in the hormone aldosterone and can be added as a supplement

EC: More about Aldosterone on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldosterone

Thank you, HJ, it's amazing that it worked from the "outside"! I guess the fumes get in.

I read something interesting about hearing loss. As I understand it, your inner ears have many small capillaries. People who don't have good circulation can have impeded blood flow in the small capillaries of the ears (and also the eyes, I would assume). Poor circulation can come with age, ill health, heart disease, etc.--the very same things associated with hearing loss.

Therefore, I do believe that saunas and hot baths as well as vigorous exercise (as much as can be safely tolerated), are likely to be very helpful to maintaining and improving one's hearing (as well as eyesight!). Also, it pays to be aware that some prescription medications can have ototoxic effects--as in, they can damage the hearing. In my experience, doctors won't typically warn you because this side effect is considered "rare" (or more likely, hard to definitively link to medication). So the internet is your friend, and just generally, it's best to avoid prescription medications whenever possible, since most of them are prescription-only because they have the potential to cause nasty side effects.

It's not comforting that a serious side effect is rare if you happen to be the one who experiences it.

Deat Barbara,

This is a thank you note to thank you for your thank you note! I just want to mention I cannot take capsules. They are a hidden source of MSG, which can affect hearing. I put the turmeric powder in warm water to make a tea and/or sprinkle it on my food. I would bet you could open just one capsule, take the contents and get similar results.

Dear KT,

How wonderful!
How much turmeric and how often?
Do you happen to take it with black pepper and/or fat?

Thank you!
~Mama to Many~

Dear Sheetal,

I had ruptured eardrums forty-seven years ago and was hard of hearing. I tried using a hearing aid for only a week and did not care for it. In the last several years I discovered turmeric helps me. You could try making a tea with 1/4 tsp. in about 1/2 C warm water two or three times a day. Maybe increase to 1/2 tsp. when you find out how you tolerate it. Because it can be constipating you can sprinkle it on vegetables. It is beneficial to use a little black pepper with it. Wishing you luck. <><

KT

I like KT's reply, on hearing loss, I am 64, gradually lost (sudden loss) of hearing in right ear, tried cinnamon+Honey, Turmeric etc, but not found any improvements, finding better with garlic (in the ear, over night, till morning, feel 1% better everyday, doing for last 25 days), will seek advice help guidance on this matter to recover hearing loss (since last 6months, I am diabetics for last 1yrs)

Michael to Michael! As I understand it, Cinnamon is grown now in many countries from India to the Malabar Coast, Vietnam, Indonesia, China and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) to name the most widely known ones.

Chinese Cinnamon is known as "Cinnamomum Cassia" and Sri Lankan Cinnamon is known as "Cinnamomum Verum".

If a person can afford to do so, I would recommend the Sri Lankan variety, as it seems to be considered to be the best one by most sources I have looked at. If you think the price is high, you might be interested to learn how incredibly labour-intensive it is to produce. Such a business to process! The Portuguese, the Dutch and the British in turn, all sought to dominate the trade in Cinnamon hundreds of years ago. Colourful history there!

Cheers, M

P.S. Ingesting too much Cinnamon can be bad for the liver as you say but Sri Lankan Cinnamon is possibly the safer one to try first in small doses.

For hearing loss, leave out all, and I mean all, vegetable oils in any form. They clog eyes and ears..

Alan,

What about avocados and coconut oils?

Organic:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil are absolutely the only oils to use.

I read something interesting about hearing loss.

As I understand it, your inner ears have many small capillaries. People who don't have good circulation can have impeded blood flow in the small capillaries of the ears (and also the eyes, I would assume).

Poor circulation can come with age, ill health, heart disease, etc.--the very same things associated with hearing loss.

Therefore, I do believe that saunas and hot baths as well as vigorous exercise (as much as can be safely tolerated), are likely to be very helpful to maintaining and improving one's hearing (as well as eyesight!).

Also, it pays to be aware that some prescription medications can have ototoxic effects--as in, they can damage the hearing. In my experience, doctors won't typically warn you because this side effect is considered "rare" (or more likely, hard to definitively link to medication). So the internet is your friend, and just generally, it's best to avoid prescription medications whenever possible, since most of them are prescription-only because they have the potential to cause nasty side effects.

It's not comforting that a serious side effect is rare if you happen to be the one who experiences it.

Very interesting, Lydia, thank you for posting that.

My mother had horrendous hearing loss and now that I think about it, it probably got worse after she stopped exercising when she was in her 70s. I know people in their 80s and 90s with great hearing, so it's possible!

Makes sense that increasing circulation to the body would help the ears.

What dosage of turmeric did you have?

I so relate with my sister, and no, I don't want to have that happen to others trying to talk to me if I can avoid it. My tinnitus was so loud day before yesterday it did actually obstruct me from hearing a guy talking to me, then he began to speak up which did help. I'm going to try the turmeric when I am ready to take a chance on trying something again:)

KT,

What form of turmeric were you having?

Powdered Turmeric Root that I order is from Penzeys Spices in WI.

Hi,

I am 28 years old and have about 30% high frequency hearing loss in both ears and also suffer from tinnitus. Can you recommend something for my ears?

Thank you

Dear Ks,

Do you know the cause of the hearing loss? Is this new?

Do you use ear buds or have to work around loud machinery, noises or music? In this day and age, there are so many things that put the delicate ear at risk.

Do you have a history of ear infections? One of my sons seemed to have subclinical seasonal hearing loss which affected his learning to read. If this is a possibility, you could look at Earth Clinic's cures for ear infections.

You might also look at the cures for tinnitus.

~Mama to Many~

Hiii I am 25yrs old I am suffering from hearing loss in both ears and I am using hearing machines from last 5 years.can you plz recommend me any natural remedies for restoring my hearing.I will be very much grateful to you. Thank you

Dr Sir, M suffering from sensorineural loss from past 5months tired of trying all type of treatment plz help me m still 36yr old have a sweet little daughter who is 1yr. I love to hear her voice. Does drinking magnesium oil along with milk or water helps me or garlic with sesame oil? helps me plz suggest me or earth clinic located anywhere in Bangalore

Hello Ravindra from Bangalore,

Concerning your hearing loss, you said you are 36 years old and the loss of hearing has started in the past 5 months. Tell us more; are you on a medication that might have side effects? Is the hearing loss on one side or both sides? Have you had recent sinus/ ear infections that might indicate you have a bacterial/fungal or viral infection...Also an infection in both ears might have come from swimming in a pool that was infected...there are lots of pathogens that are water borne. I'm suggesting that "something" happened six months ago (right before the onset of hearing loss) that caused the loss of hearing.

If the onset is suspected to be caused by a virus I'd try using an ear syringe with colloidal silver or some other anti viral you might have in India. I do know that the use of silver is common in India...even consumed as a silver leaf over rice...but silver might not work so well against some fungi. I don't think CS is effective against "microsporum canus" (ringworm) for instance. But there are effective anti-fungals. The point is, if you suspect any of the 3; bacteria, virus, or fungus one could try agents that are known pathogen killers. I once studied major ear diseases and as I recall, 3 of the 4 major ear diseases were linked to pathogens.

Still, try to remember if there was some event prior to your onset of hearing loss 5 months ago. I'm guessing there was and that might help determine what to suggest more specifically than I have been able to do herein.

Dear Sir,

i have sensorinural loss in left ear 78percent & in right earing loss more than 15yrs. it happned naturally not through any infection always ringing sound in ear m using behind ear hearing aid in right ear left I cant use since the voice I hear is not clear its mixed hearing plz send me the remidy to my personnel mail id please or whom to contact in bangalore do tell me sir thankx for ur reply

I am sorry that you are going through this. It is tough I am now watching My husband who is 31yrs old suffer from this as well, please let me know if there's anything you came across.

I am not sure where this post should go or how it should be catagorized? Not sure if "glue ear" is similar to an ear infection or not. Maybe hearing loss too?

Bottom line, this is not a cure but will help drain your ear if you've got a bunch of gunk in it. It did not work right away for me, but over time I could feel the blockage draining.

This worked for me so I just thought I would pass it on. It's called the Galbreath Technique

and it's very easy to do. Basically you are mildly (painlessly) dislocating your jaw in order to open up the passage way that will allow your ear to drain. I did this 3 times yesterday and then once before bed and once when I woke up this morning. I feel much better today.

This is not a cure per say, but there is no doubt getting rid of all that pressure in my ear is a good thing and I believe it will help me on the road to recovery much quicker.

Here's a good picture of the method with accompaning text of an "assisted" Galbreath Technique.

http://www.acofp.org/resources/OMT/articles/1004_1_3.html

Once you grab the concept, you can do this own your own with your own hands.

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I did not try this but there is another alternative way to deal with "Glue Ear". Basically it is blowing up a balloon with the single nostril of the effected side. I imagine this to be a much safer method than blowing out your ears by holding your nose and breathing out. there is a clinical name for this, but I forgot it already.

http://www.gluear.co.uk/parents/how-does-otovent-work.ashx

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And last but not least here is a youtuber with a Glue Ear remedy. I didn't try this, but was just about to, but then the Galbreath Technique did it's thing for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNqpmI-Lfew

I have read that cinnamon and honey help restore hearing loss? I have searched but I can't find what types of hearing loss. All I keep seeing is this: HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restore hearing. " Two of my children have a sensori-neural hearing loss and I was wondering if this mixture would benefit them.

Dooright17, be aware of the dangers of cinnamon. I didn't know about them till I read a posting here, did some research and indeed, cinnamon shouldn't be taken in big quantities. One thing is a bit in a cake or a pudding, another one is to take it by the spoonfull.

Do your kids have one sided or both sides, is it unexplained and sudden or have they always had it?

What if you made the cinnamon/honey weight-loss tea? You take 1/2 tsp. Ceylon cinnamon (available online) and let it steep for 1/2 hour covered. Then add 1 tsp. raw honey (also available online). Drink it right before bed. Actually, you're supposed to drink half at night and the other half in the morning after you refrigerate it overnight. Try that method. You don't want to ingest a straight teasponful because, as I understand it, it could be harmful to the liver that way.

I use to take cinnamon until I got dizzy and I ended at the emergency hospital. Cinnamon is toxic for people with a weak liver.