Public opinion about marijuana and cannabinoids has changed remarkably over the past several decades. Cannabinoids, marijuana, and THC products are now legal for medical usage in many states. The concept that some states (fewer) even allow the recreational usage of pot would have been hard to imagine 10 years ago.
Cannabinoids are any substances derived from the cannabis plant (basically, the marijuana plant). Despite their recent legalization (in some states), we’re still discovering new things about cannabinoids. We frequently think of these particular compounds as having widespread healing qualities. But research implies a strong link between the use of cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms but there are also contradictory studies.
Numerous forms of cannabinoids
There are many forms of cannabinoids that can be consumed today. It isn’t just pot or weed or whatever name you want to put on it. These days, THC and cannabinoids are available in pill form, as topical spreads, as inhaled mists, and more.
Any of these forms that contain a THC level over 0.3% are technically still federally illegal and the available forms will vary by state. So it’s essential to be careful with the use of cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well understood and that’s the issue. Some new studies into how cannabinoids affect your hearing are perfect examples.
Studies linking hearing to cannabinoids
A wide array of conditions are believed to be effectively managed by cannabinoids. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the conditions that cannabinoids can benefit. So researchers made a decision to see if cannabinoids could help with tinnitus, too.
Turns out, cannabinoids might actually trigger tinnitus. According to the research, more than 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products documented hearing a ringing in their ears. And tinnitus was never formerly experienced by those participants. Furthermore, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to report experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
And for those who already experience ringing in the ears, using marijuana may actually worsen the symptoms. In other words, there’s some fairly convincing evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really mix all that well.
It should be noted that smoking has also been linked with tinnitus and the research was unclear on how participants were using cannabinoids.
Unknown causes of tinnitus
Just because this link has been uncovered doesn’t automatically mean the root causes are all that well known. It’s pretty clear that cannabinoids have an influence on the middle ear. But it’s far less evident what’s producing that impact.
There’s bound to be further research. Cannabinoids today are available in so many varieties and forms that comprehending the underlying link between these substances and tinnitus might help people make better choices.
Don’t fall for miracle cures
Recently, there has been plenty of marketing hype around cannabinoids. That’s partly because perceptions surrounding cannabinoids are swiftly changing (and, to an extent, is also a reflection of a desire to get away from opioids). But some negative effects can come from the use of cannabinoids, especially with regards to your hearing and this is reflected in this new research.
Lately, there’s been aggressive advertising about cannabinoids and you’ll never avoid all of the cannabinoid enthusiasts.
But a powerful link between cannabinoids and tinnitus is certainly indicated 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. The link between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is unclear at best, so it’s worth using some caution.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855477/
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaohnsf/82180