Public opinion surrounding marijuana and cannabinoids has changed remarkably over the last several decades. Cannabinoids, marijuana, and THC products are now allowed for medical use in many states. Substantially fewer states have legalized pot for recreational purposes, but even that would have been unimaginable even just ten or fifteen years ago.
Any compounds produced by the cannabis plant (the marijuana plant, basically) are known as cannabinoids. And we’re still learning new things about cannabis in spite of the fact that it’s recently been legalized in a number of states. We frequently view these specific compounds as having widespread healing properties. There have been conflicting studies about cannabinoids and tinnitus but research indicates there might also be negative effects such as a direct link between cannabinoid use and the development of tinnitus symptoms.
Cannabinoids come in numerous forms
There are numerous varieties of cannabinoids that can be used nowadays. It’s not just pot or weed or whatever name you want to give it. These days, THC and cannabinoids are available in the form of a pill, as topical spreads, as inhaled mists, and more.
Any of these forms that contain a THC level above 0.3% are technically still federally illegal and the available forms will fluctuate by state. So it’s essential to be cautious when using cannabinoids.
The long-term complications and side effects of cannabinoid use are not well understood and that’s the issue. A great example is some new research into how your hearing is impacted by cannabinoid use.
Studies connecting hearing to cannabinoids
A wide array of disorders 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 the researchers wondered if cannabinoids could help treat tinnitus, too.
But what they discovered was that tinnitus symptoms can actually be caused by the use of cannabinoids. According to the research, more than 20% of study participants who used cannabinoid products reported hearing a ringing in their ears. And that’s in individuals who had never experienced tinnitus before. Furthermore, marijuana users were 20-times more likely to describe 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. Put simply, there’s some fairly persuasive evidence that cannabinoids and tinnitus don’t really mix all that well.
It should be mentioned that smoking has also been linked with tinnitus and the research was unclear on how participants were consuming cannabinoids.
Unknown causes of tinnitus
Just because this link has been uncovered doesn’t automatically mean the underlying causes are all that well understood. That cannabinoids can have an affect on the middle ear and on tinnitus is pretty clear. But it’s far less evident what’s producing that impact.
There’s bound to be more research. Cannabinoids today come in so many selections and forms that comprehending the root link between these substances and tinnitus could help individuals make smarter choices.
Beware the miracle cure
There has undeniably been no lack of marketing hype surrounding cannabinoids in recent years. That’s partly because perceptions associated with cannabinoids are quickly changing (and, to an extent, is also an indication of a desire to turn away from opioids). But some negative effects can result from cannabinoid use, particularly with regards to your hearing and this is demonstrated in this new research.
You’ll never be able to avoid all of the cannabinoid aficionados and devotees in the world–the advertising for cannabinoids has been especially intense lately.
But a powerful connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus is definitely implied by this research. So if you have tinnitus–or if you’re worried about tinnitus–it may be worth avoiding cannabinoids if you can, no matter how many advertisements for CBD oil you may come across. The connection between cannabinoids and tinnitus symptoms is unclear at best, so it’s worth using some caution.
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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