Over the last several decades the public perception of cannabinoids and marijuana has changed considerably. Cannabinoids, marijuana, and THC products are now allowed for medical use in many states. Substantially fewer states have legalized pot for recreational purposes, but even that would have been unthinkable even just ten or fifteen years ago.
Any compounds produced by the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, essentially) are known as cannabinoids. Despite their recent legalization (in some states), we’re still learning new things about cannabinoids. We frequently think of these specific compounds as having widespread healing qualities. But research suggests a strong connection between the use of cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms but there are also conflicting studies.
Many forms of cannabinoids
Today, cannabinoids can be used in a number of forms. It isn’t only pot or weed or whatever name you want to give it. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, inhaled vapors, pills, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will vary state by state, and many of those forms are still technically federally illegal if the THC content is over 0.3%. So it’s essential to be cautious with the use of cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well known and that’s the issue. A great example is some new research into how your hearing is impacted by cannabinoid use.
Studies linking hearing to cannabinoids
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been linked with helping a wide range of medical disorders. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the conditions that cannabinoids can help. So the researchers wondered if cannabinoids could help treat tinnitus, too.
Turns out, cannabinoids might actually cause tinnitus. Ringing in the ears was reported, according to the study, by 20% of the participants who used cannabinoids. And that’s in individuals who had never experienced tinnitus before. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to describe experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
And for individuals who already experience ringing in the ears, using marijuana would actually worsen the symptoms. So, it would seem, from this persuasive research, that the relationship between cannabinoids and tinnitus is not a positive one.
The research is unclear as to how the cannabinoids were consumed but it should be pointed out that smoking has also been connected to tinnitus symptoms.
Causes of tinnitus are not clear
Just because this link has been found doesn’t automatically mean the root causes are all that well known. That cannabinoids can have an affect on the middle ear and on tinnitus is fairly obvious. But it’s far less evident what’s producing that impact.
Research, obviously, will carry on. Cannabinoids today come in so many selections and types that understanding the fundamental link between these substances and tinnitus could help individuals make better choices.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
In recent years, there has been a great deal of marketing publicity surrounding cannabinoids. To some extent, that’s the result of changing perceptions associated with cannabinoids themselves (this also shows a growing desire to get away from opioid use). But some negative effects can result from cannabinoid use, particularly regarding your hearing and this is demonstrated in this new research.
You’ll never be able to avoid all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts and devotees in the world–the marketing for cannabinoids has been especially aggressive lately.
But a powerful link between cannabinoids and tinnitus is certainly indicated by this research. So if you are dealing with tinnitus–or if you’re concerned about tinnitus–it might be worth avoiding cannabinoids if you can, no matter how many adverts for CBD oil you may come across. It’s not completely clear what the link between tinnitus and cannabinoids so use some caution.
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References
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lio2.479
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855477/
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaohnsf/82180