Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is one of the thousands of compounds that make up the flowers, leaves, and buds of cannabis plants. It has gained an immense following in recent years as its positive effects have been associated with everything from sleep disorders to back pain.
As it turns out, one of the areas of research active around CBD is how it may work to relieve hearing disorders. Specifically, how it can help people who suffer from tinnitus.
What Does the Research Say?
So far, researchers have identified two receptors in the brain that respond to CBD. They’re called, appropriately, CB1 and CB2.
As you can imagine, a ton of research is being done around these two receptors, the findings of which indicate their role in hearing and balance. Some have hypothesized that this could mean CBD has an effect on hearing disorders, such as tinnitus.
Unfortunately, the science doesn’t bear that out just yet. In a study on lab rats, CBD was used to treat tinnitus with discouraging results. Not only did it not help the rats, but it seems to make it worse in some cases.
However, there is a lot of evidence linking CBD to reductions in stress levels. It has also been linked to reduced anxiety as well. For people to whom stress and anxiety are a trigger for tinnitus, this could be a way to reduce symptoms, at least in the short-term.
Additionally, tinnitus itself causes stress, especially if it’s long-lasting. Using CBD to reduce the stress caused by tinnitus might also be a viable application.
