If you are reading this, you, or somebody you know, is probably struggling with tinnitus, an unending ringing, whirring, roaring noise in the ears. This condition can be anything from a minor inconvenience to a major health trouble, preventing sufferers from working, keeping relationships, even thinking right.

In this article we'll first talk about possible causes of your tinnitus. Next we will look at some of the possible remedies. Finally, we will talk about why a holistic approach to the problem is your best chance for a cure.

It is difficult to be sure how many people are living with this annoying affliction. According to Richard S. Tyler's Tinnitus Handbook, studies have shown anywhere from 13% to more than 30% of the United States population is affected to some extent. Even making use of the lowest level figures, it means there are tens of millions of people with tinnitus in the United States alone.

With so many victims, you would think there would be an effective treatment by now. But tinnitus is not triggered by just one thing. There are numerous potential causes, making it very hard to deal with using normal medical practices. To see why this is so hard, have a look at this list of things that can all cause ringing in your ears:

* Blockages or fluid buildup, which can be caused by things like excessive ear wax or infections can cause Tinnitus. Ear wax? Believe it or not, excessive Ear Wax can trap dirt and cause bacterial growth within your inner ear, which in turn can cause ringing ears.

* Diseases. Some conditions that influence the middle ear bone framework or the ear drum can also cause ringing ears. Meniere's illness is an inner ear condition that additionally triggers tinnitus. Any conditions that make it harder for blood to flow properly in your ear can trigger tinnitus.

* Medicines. Some medications, even common ones like aspirin, have actually been known to trigger tinnitus. Quinine, antibiotics, and diuretics can also cause tinnitus. Numerous cancer treatments can have this undesirable side effect.

* Injuries. Head and neck injuries often cause tinnitus. One of the most common causes of ringing ears is damage to the nerves of the inner ear. Damage to the hairs in your inner ear, if they get bent or broken, can cause the problem too.

* Loud Noises. People often ignore the fact that loud noise or noises are a common source of tinnitus and hearing loss. Extended exposure to things like loud music or portable music players turned up extremely loud can cause long-lasting problems.

* Foods. Certain things we eat can make tinnitus even worse. Stimulants like caffeine can make tinnitus worse for many people. Sugary meals trigger ringing ears for some people as well.

* Stress and Depression. Stress and depression can cause tinnitus or make the symptoms worse. This tends to increase as we get older, and the effects of a stressful life accumulate.

As you can see, there are numerous potential reasons for your tinnitus. Now let's look at some of the feasible treatments.

* Reducing your blood pressure. High blood pressure could trigger tinnitus symptoms. That implies anything that lowers your blood pressure may help with your tinnitus. Things like using less salt, exercising more, and minimizing your worry level could all help here. In severe cases, blood pressure treatments might be required too.

* Reducing the amount of noise in your life. Loud sounds can damage your ears. One way this damage can show up is through tinnitus. This may not cure your current tinnitus problem, but may keep it from getting worse. There are also some special sound therapies that may help.

* Another technique is to make use of the healing aspects of aromatherapy and necessary oils. Lavender and peppermint are stated to be very enjoyable (which would presumably reduce stress). Cypress oil is said to assist with circulation issues.

* Herbs could help too. For instance, Ginkgo Biloba is said to enhance circulation. Other natural herbs could possibly assist with other sources of tinnitus.

* Exercise. Getting enough of the right kinds of exercise has general positive effects on your health. This can help with most of the possible causes of tinnitus.

* Healthy eating. Because some common foods could make tinnitus even worse, it just makes sense that not eating those foods could help with the problem.

All of this should make it clear why dealing with tinnitus isn't really as simple as getting a pill from your doctor. The condition is too complicated.

To make things more difficult, things that cause tinnitus can combine to make each other worse. For example, anything that causes your ears to ring can increase your stress level. And increased stress can cause increased tinnitus symptoms, making a bad situation worse.

But all is not lost. The same way that sources of tinnitus can combine to make things even worse, the treatments for tinnitus can work together too. Combine the various treatment options and you have an excellent chance to eliminate your tinnitus problem. This approach is the secret to a holistic approach to treating your tinnitus.