There are many rumors about Vicks Vaporub for Tinnitus being an effective treatment option But, is it true? Can Vicks Vapor Rub help Tinnitus? How do you apply Vicks for Tinnitus? How should you NOT apply Vicks Vaporub for Tinnitus? We clear this all up below.
How can Vicks Vaporub Help Relieve Your Tinnitus Condition?
Vicks Vaporub has pretty simple active ingredients. They are camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol. All three active ingredients primarily provide decongesting benefits, with some analgesic properties (pain relieving) as well.
What is Your Tinnitus Handicap Score?
Calculate your THI Score in about 2-3 Minutes
Vicks Can Unblock a Clogged Eustachian Tube that may be Causing Tinnitus
Eustachian Tube Anatomy and Purpose
Your Eustachian tube connects your nasopharynx (the sinus cavity behind your mouth and nasal cavity) to your middle ear. It’s primary role is to ensure that the pressure inside your ear canal is the same as the atmospheric pressure outside.
How Clogged Sinuses Affect Your Eustachian Tube?
When you have a cold or aggravated sinuses, your Eustachian tube can become clogged. It then becomes unable to balance the pressure in your ear canal. This can in turn lead to various problems such as fullness in the ears, pain in the ears, compromised hearing and the problem we are discussing here today, Tinnitus. You can learn more about Eustachian tube dysfunction here. Eustachian tube dysfunction will also usually respond to antihistamines. Read more about antihistamines and Tinnitus here.
How Vicks Unclogs Your Eustachian Tube?
The menthol, eucalyptus and camphor help relieve sinus pressure by unclogging your sinus cavities. As blocked sinus fluid begins to flow through your nasal cavities, the Eustachian Tube’s function begins to normalize. As it normalizes, it can begin to resume controlling the pressure balance in your ear canal. This in turn relieves undue pressure that might have been affecting your ear drums, your middle ear or your inner ear.
How Severe is Your Tinnitus?
Find out by using this THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) Scoring Calculator
Similar to Vicks, Flonase is also often used as a off-label treatment for Tinnitus.
How Your Eustachian Tube Can Stop Tinnitus?
Your brain constantly contacts your ears, whether or not there are any sounds to process. When your ear drums or inner ear are subject to pressure caused by a clogged Eustachian tube, they go unusually quiet or send out erratic signals. The brain then begins to think that your ears aren’t functioning like they should be. So, it invents a phantom noise to make up for the absence of noise inputs that it is usually accustomed to receiving from the ear.
When your Eustachian tube is cleared and your ear drums, middle and inner ear begin to work like normal, your brain gets a clear signal that all is well. It then shuts off your Tinnitus sound and you can finally enjoy relief from the constant ringing in the ears.
How to Apply Vicks Vaporub for Tinnitus?
- Take a small dab of Vicks Vaporub and rub it between your fingers
- Smear small amounts under both your nostrils
- If smearing Vicks under your nostrils irritates you;
- Smear it on your temples
- Smear it on your chest
- Or, Smear it on your wrist to take whiffs now and then
- If smearing Vicks under your nostrils irritates you;
- Reapply two to three times a day, as the vapors subside
How Not to Apply Vicks Vaporub for Tinnitus?
- Do not apply Vicks Vaporub into your nostrils
- Never apply Vicks Vaporub into your ears
- Do not consume Vicks Vaporub through your mouth!
Will Vicks Vaporub Cure My Tinnitus?
It is very unlikely that Vicks will cure your Tinnitus. It can however temporarily relieve the intensity of your Tinnitus if a clogged Eustachian tube has worsened the ringing in your ears.
Sadly, there are no other cures or treatment options available for Tinnitus at the moment. If you think your Tinnitus gets worse during allergy season, you might also want to read our post on how allergies can cause Tinnitus.
