Over the last several decades the public opinion about cannabinoids and marijuana has changed significantly. 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 a decade 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. It’s a common belief that cannabinoid compounds have widespread healing properties. There have been contradictory studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research suggests there may also be negative effects such as a direct link between the use of cannabinoids and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Cannabinoids come in various forms
There are numerous varieties of cannabinoids that can be used presently. It isn’t only pot or weed or whatever name you want to give it. These days, THC and cannabinoids are available in pill form, as inhaled mists, as topical spreads, and more.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and many of those forms are still technically federally illegal if the amount of THC is over 0.3%. That’s why many people tend to be rather careful about cannabinoids.
The problem is that we don’t yet know very much about some of the long-term side effects or complications of cannabinoid use. A great example is some new research into how your hearing is impacted by cannabinoid use.
Research linking hearing to cannabinoids
A wide array of conditions are believed to be successfully treated by cannabinoids. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the conditions that cannabinoids can benefit. So researchers decided to see if cannabinoids could treat tinnitus, too.
Turns out, cannabinoids may actually cause tinnitus. Ringing in the ears was documented, according to the study, by 20% of the participants who used cannabinoids. And tinnitus was never previously experienced by those participants. And tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption were 20-times higher with people who use marijuana.
And for people who already experience ringing in the ears, using marijuana could actually exacerbate the symptoms. In other words, there’s some rather persuasive evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really work well together.
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.
Unknown causes of tinnitus
Just because this connection has been uncovered doesn’t necessarily mean the underlying causes are all that well understood. That cannabinoids can have an influence on the middle ear and on tinnitus is pretty clear. But it’s much less clear what’s causing that impact.
There’s bound to be more research. Cannabinoids today are available in so many selections and forms that understanding the fundamental link between these substances and tinnitus could help people make better choices.
Beware the miracle cure
There has certainly been no lack of marketing publicity associated with cannabinoids recently. That’s in part because perceptions associated with cannabinoids are swiftly changing (this also shows a growing wish to get away from opioid use). But this new research makes clear that cannabinoids can and do produce some negative effects, especially if you’re uneasy about your hearing.
You’ll never be capable of avoiding all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts and devotees in the world–the advertising for cannabinoids has been especially aggressive lately.
But a strong link between cannabinoids and tinnitus is certainly implied by this research. So if you are dealing with tinnitus–or if you’re worried about tinnitus–it might be worth avoiding cannabinoids if you can, no matter how many adverts for CBD oil you might come across. It’s not exactly clear what the connection between tinnitus and cannabinoids so use 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