Public opinion surrounding marijuana and cannabinoids has changed significantly over the past several decades. Cannabinoids, marijuana, and THC products are now legal for medical usage in many states. Far fewer states have legalized marijuana for recreational reasons, but even that would have been unimaginable even just ten or fifteen years ago.
Any compounds derived from the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, basically) are known as cannabinoids. In spite of their recent legalization (in some states), we’re still learning new things about cannabinoids. It’s a common notion 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 strong connection between cannabinoid use and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Various forms of cannabinoids
There are many varieties of cannabinoids that can be consumed nowadays. It’s not just pot or weed or whatever name you want to put on it. These days, THC and cannabinoids are available in the form of a pill, as inhaled mists, as topical spreads, and others.
The forms of cannabinoids available will differ state by state, and many of those forms are still technically federally illegal if the THC content is above 0.3%. That’s why many individuals tend to be quite cautious about cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well known and that’s the problem. Some new studies into how cannabinoids impact your hearing are perfect examples.
Studies About cannabinoids and hearing
A wide array of disorders are believed to be successfully managed by cannabinoids. According to anecdotal evidence vertigo, nausea, and seizures are just a few of the afflictions that cannabinoids can benefit. So researchers made a decision to find out if cannabinoids could treat tinnitus, too.
But what they discovered was that tinnitus symptoms can actually be triggered by the use of cannabinoids. Ringing in the ears was reported, according to the study, by 20% of the participants who used cannabinoids. And tinnitus was never previously experienced by those participants. What’s more, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to report experiencing tinnitus symptoms within 24 hours of consumption.
And for those who already cope with ringing in the ears, using marijuana could actually exacerbate the symptoms. So, it would seem, from this compelling research, that the link between tinnitus and cannabinoids is not a beneficial one.
It should be noted that smoking has also been associated with tinnitus and the research was unclear on how participants were using cannabinoids.
Unknown causes of tinnitus
Just because this connection has been found doesn’t necessarily mean the root causes are all that well comprehended. That cannabinoids can have an affect on the middle ear and on tinnitus is pretty clear. But it’s far less evident what’s causing that impact.
Research, undoubtedly, will continue. Individuals will be in a better position to make better choices if we can make progress in understanding the connection between the numerous forms of cannabinoids and tinnitus.
Beware the miracle cure
Recently, there has been lots of marketing hype surrounding cannabinoids. To some extent, that’s due to changing attitudes associated with cannabinoids themselves (this also shows a growing desire to get away from opioid use). But this new research clearly demonstrates that cannabinoids can and do cause some negative effects, particularly if you’re concerned about your hearing.
You’ll never be capable of avoiding all of the cannabinoid aficionados and evangelists in the world–the advertising for cannabinoids has been particularly aggressive lately.
But a powerful connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is definitely indicated by this research. So no matter how many ads for CBD oil you see, you should avoid cannabinoids if you’re worried about tinnitus. The connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is uncertain at best, so it’s worth using 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
