Over the last several decades the public perception of cannabinoids and marijuana has changed considerably. Many states now allow the use of marijuana, THC, or cannabinoid products for medicinal purposes. The concept that some states (fewer) even allow the recreational use of pot would have been unimaginable 10 years ago.
Any substances produced by the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, basically) are known as cannabinoids. In spite of their recent legalization (in some states), we’re still discovering new things about cannabinoids. It’s a common idea that cannabinoid compounds have extensive healing attributes. There have been conflicting studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research indicates there may also be negative effects like a direct link between cannabinoid use and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Various forms of cannabinoids
There are numerous forms of cannabinoids that can be utilized today. It’s not only pot or weed or whatever name you want to put on it. Other forms can include topical spreads, edibles, inhaled vapors, pills, and others.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and many of those forms are still technically illegal under federal law if the amount of THC is above 0.3%. That’s why many individuals tend to be rather cautious about cannabinoids.
The problem is that we don’t yet know much about some of the long-term side effects or complications of cannabinoid use. Some new studies into how cannabinoids impact your hearing are perfect examples.
Studies About cannabinoids and hearing
Whatever you want to call it, cannabinoids have long been connected with improving a wide variety 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 may actually trigger tinnitus. According to the research, more than 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products reported hearing a ringing in their ears. And tinnitus was never previously experienced by those participants. Furthermore, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to describe experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
And for people who already experience ringing in the ears, using marijuana would actually worsen the symptoms. Put simply, there’s some pretty convincing evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really mix all that well.
The research isn’t clear as to how the cannabinoids were consumed but it should be noted that smoking has also been connected to tinnitus symptoms.
Causes of tinnitus are unclear
The discovery of this link doesn’t expose the root cause of the relationship. That cannabinoids can have an influence on the middle ear and on tinnitus is pretty clear. But what’s causing that impact is much less evident.
Research, obviously, will continue. Cannabinoids today come in so many varieties and forms that comprehending the underlying connection between these substances and tinnitus could help individuals make smarter choices.
Beware the miracle cure
There has certainly been no lack of marketing hype surrounding cannabinoids in recent years. That’s partly because mindsets about cannabinoids are rapidly changing (this also reflects a growing wish to get away from opioid use). But some negative effects can come from cannabinoid use, especially regarding your hearing and this is demonstrated in this new research.
You’ll never be able to avoid all of the cannabinoid aficionados and evangelists in the world–the marketing for cannabinoids has been especially aggressive lately.
But a strong connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is definitely implied by this research. So no matter how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should steer clear of cannabinoids if you’re concerned about tinnitus. It’s not exactly clear what the connection between tinnitus and cannabinoids so exercise some caution.
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