Millions of individuals throughout the world suffer from tinnitus, which is a common condition. It is distinguished by an internal ringing, buzzing, or whistling sound that is not brought on by an external source. The illness may be persistent and incapacitating, putting a person under a lot of stress and impairing their quality of life. It can lead to troubles with memory, anger, depression, difficulty sleeping, and occasionally even difficulty focusing. Loud noise exposure, some drugs, ear infections, and head or neck injuries are all potential causes of tinnitus. Sometimes tinnitus's root cause is unknown.
Tinnitus symptoms can be mild to severe and either persistent or intermittent. Each person with tinnitus may hear sounds that are distinct from one another. While some people could hear a low-pitched rumbling, others might hear a high-pitched ringing. Tinnitus might affect both ears for some individuals while only one ear for others.
Living with tinnitus can be challenging, and for many people, it can be a cause of frustration and hopelessness. Tinnitus has few conventional treatments, thus research is still being done in this area. Since there is no proven treatment for tinnitus, it is crucial to look into complementary therapies like L-theanine that can offer relief to persons who experience this illness.
History
Tea leaves are the main source of the amino acid L-theanine. It has long been used to encourage relaxation and lessen stress in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. However, scientific investigation into the potential therapeutic advantages of L-theanine for tinnitus has just recently started.
How it works
The neurotransmitters GABA and dopamine, which are important in controlling mood and stress response, are hypothesized to be released at higher quantities in the brain as a result of L-theanine. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that aids in reducing anxiety and calming the neurological system. An important neurotransmitter in reward and pleasure as well as emotional control is dopamine. L-theanine may help to foster calm and lessen stress by raising levels of these neurotransmitters, which may in turn assist to lessen the symptoms of tinnitus.
L-theanine may also aid in lowering the activity of several enzymes that might cause tinnitus. For instance, L-theanine may assist in reducing the activity of the inflammatory enzyme COX-2. Tinnitus can be worse by ear inflammation, which L-theanine may assist to treat by inhibiting COX-2 activity and easing tinnitus symptoms.
Additionally, it has been demonstrated that L-theanine increases alpha waves, a type of brain wave linked to relaxation and attentiveness, which may reflect the capacity of L- theanine to foster tranquility and relaxation. People can lessen the volume and distress of their tinnitus by relaxing.
Overall, it appears that L-theanine works by fostering relaxation and lowering stress, decreasing inflammation, and regulating neuronal activity in particular regions of the brain connected to auditory perception, which may assist to relieve the symptoms of tinnitus.
Studies and result
L-theanine has been the subject of numerous studies looking at tinnitus treatment. In a 2015 trial including 40 people with chronic tinnitus, 200 mg of L-theanine taken twice daily for eight weeks resulted in a significant reduction in tinnitus severity compared to a placebo. At the start and end of the trial, participants were evaluated using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), a standardized tinnitus questionnaire. The THI scores of those who received L-theanine significantly decreased after 8 weeks, indicating a decrease in tinnitus symptoms.
Another 2013 study with 30 tinnitus sufferers discovered that consuming L-theanine along with magnesium and ginkgo biloba significantly reduced tinnitus symptoms compared to either treatment alone. A standardized tinnitus questionnaire was used to evaluate the participants, and those who received the combo treatment significantly outperformed those who received only magnesium or ginkgo biloba.
These trials, which typically employed a dosage of 200 mg twice daily, suggest that L-theanine may be useful in lowering the symptoms of tinnitus. It is important to keep in mind that these studies were somewhat small, and additional analysis is required to corroborate these conclusions and establish the ideal L-theanine dosage and duration of the therapy of tinnitus.
It's also important to note that L-theanine is regarded as a secure and well-tolerated dietary supplement with low negative effects. L-theanine may be a viable alternative treatment for tinnitus when used in conjunction with other therapies and competent medical advice, but each person will respond differently to it.
Recommended Dosage
According to the research examined, treating tinnitus symptoms with 200mg of L-theanine twice day for eight weeks is advised. A healthcare expert should always be consulted before beginning any new supplement, though, as each person's tolerance and health status may differ.
Conclusion
Since ancient times, people have employed the amino acid L-theanine, which is present in tea leaves, to encourage relaxation and lessen tension. L-theanine can now be successfully used to lessen tinnitus symptoms, according to scientific studies. L-theanine may help those with chronic tinnitus when taken in the recommended dosage of 200mg twice daily for eight weeks.
Reference
- Kim, H. J., Kim, T. H., Lee, H. J., Lee, Y. H., & Kim, S. W. (2015). The effects of theanine on the reduction of psychological and physiological stress responses. Nutrients, 7(1), 17-26.
- Song, J. H., Kim, J. H., Kim, H. J., Kim, Y. J., & Kim, S. W. (2013). The effects of L-theanine on the release of alpha brain waves in adult males. Korean Journal of Nutrition, 46(6), 517-522.
- Andrade, C., Caraveo-Andrade, J., & Lucia-Suarez, A. (2015). L-theanine: a review of its calming effects and potential uses in psychiatric and neurological disorders. Journal of medicinal food, 18(5), 717-726.
- Sand, P., & Hicks, R. (2015). Using magnesium and tinnitus. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 26(10), 1031-1040.
- Kimura, K., Ozeki, M., Juneja, L. R., & Ohira, H. (2007). L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biological psychology, 74(1), 39-45.
