Can Horseradish Actually Help Control Ringing In The Ears (Tinnitus)?

Q. I have tinnitus and once when having a meal containing horseradish, the ringing and hissing in my ears completely went away. I eat it periodically to see if it still works and it does. Just wanted to share my experience.

A. We are amazed by your report. As far as we can tell, there is nothing in the medical literature that would suggest horseradish could be helpful in dealing with the terrible manifestations of tinnitus (sounds that can seem like crickets chirping for some, hissing, ringing or a high-pitched whine for others).

We found one story on the web about grating horseradish root and combining it with sour cream. The recommendation was to eat a teaspoon of this glop with food. We could find no verification that this approach would work and we have no mechanism that might explain it should it be helpful.

To learn more about tinnitus and what causes it and some possible treatment, here is a link to a radio show we conducted on this topic:

We did hear from one person who got benefit with an antiseizure drug called Tegretol:

“I was experiencing a loud static type sound in my right ear that came on and off every 15 seconds. A doctor prescribed Tegretol for this problem. I took the drug for about a month, and the condition went away.

“The tinnitus came back years later, and again I used Tegretol to get rid of the annoying noise.”

Unfortunately, a review of the scientific literature did not find convincing support for the use of Tegretol (carbamazepine) or other such drugs (gabapentin, lamotrigine) against tinnitus.

If anyone has had success with a medication or a home remedy in the treatment of tinnitus we would love to hear about it. Share your story below.