Homeopathic treatment for tinnitus: a proven success?

Homeopathy, defined as the theory that disease can be treated by taking small doses of drugs that can produce the same symptoms of disease in a healthy adult. This theory has some basis in proven medical science called vaccinations. But is there any scientific basis as a homeopathic treatment for tinnitus?

Similar to strengthening the immune system by administering inactive doses of disease, homeopathy remarkably resembles the modern practice of vaccinating for once-catastrophic diseases like polio, tetanus, and smallpox.

Allergists use a form of homeopathy to relieve chronic allergy sufferers, injecting into the victim’s bloodstream minute amounts of the allergens that cause the allergic reactions themselves: sneezing, watery eyes, and a myriad of other illnesses.

The question is, will a homeopathic treatment for tinnitus sufferers alleviate the maddening hissing, roaring and squeaking sounds? The answer is a resounding yes and no.

Donald I. Simpson, a medical researcher at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Birmingham School of Medicine, UK, authored a double-blind study to determine whether a homeopathic treatment for tinnitus actually worked. Of the 28 people who participated in the experiment, 14 preferred homeopathic treatment over placebo. Unfortunately, the sophisticated audiological measurement device could not perceive a real improvement.

The results are interesting, since while the majority of tinnitus sufferers have sympathetic tinnitus (where only they can hear the sounds), how is it possible that the medical team can detect the improvement (or not) of the individual’s tinnitus? ? The official conclusion was that homeopathic treatment was no more effective than a placebo. But didn’t 50% of the test subjects feel that the homeopathic remedy provided some relief compared to a placebo? And wouldn’t that be considered a great success for homeopathic treatment for tinnitus? 50% of the people who took the treatment considered it a success.

As is the case with tinnitus, the success of the treatment must be measured by the patients who suffer from it. Those seeking some type of homeopathic treatment should have an open mind and judge the results for themselves.