Citronella Oil Used to Successfully Treat Tinnitus Caused by Phlegm Congestion

I thought the following was a pretty extraordinary testimonial (at THIS SITE). I suspect this successful phlegm associated tinnitus treatment could be very helpful for just about any kind of chronic sinus issues, and very possibly preventing or treating COVID-19.

Posted by Notsonosy (Singapore) on 06/17/2018


I had been suffering from tinnitus for about 2 years. I used to hear a roaring-booming noise like "ommm, ommm, ommm, ommmm" mostly in my right ear. Even stroking my right chin towards the right ear aggravated it. I thought it could be phlegm becoming lodged in my inner ear cavity because in the past during a cold or bout of a runny nose I did encounter this issue to a lesser degree and expelling the phlegm by inhaling forcefully and spitting out the phlegm brought about relief. But not anymore.

My tinnitus had become chronic and I was desperate and troubled. In enclosed spaces like a restaurant with poor acoustics when family members and many other people were chatting away close by I felt "drowned" and kind of tormented, being bombarded by so much noise even while others were enjoying themselves. I reckoned it could be phlegm stubbornly lodged in the inner ear cavity caused by a runny nose for some time.

In Chinese medicine, tinnitus is often traced to phlegm. Yes, so I consulted 2 TCM physicians but to no avail. I also tried other methods like stretching my earlobes, massaging them with essential oils, using a pharmaceutical nasal spray for blocked nostrils without much avail. I also drank Atractylodes decoction to fight internal dampness. That resolved the tinnitus for a time like a few months and I was elated. But the problem returned. Then one day because of sneezing and runny nose I decided to stop it with Citronella Essential Oil instead of taking Chlorpheniramine an anti-histamine pill that although could help my sneezing and runny nose had the side effect of making me drowsy.

This is what I did.

I folded a handkerchief into a 1 and a half inches width and poured a few drops of Citronella Essential Oil on it. I laid down on my bed and placed the handkerchief over my nose in contact with the oil. I breathed in and out through the handkerchief for half an hour. I felt the sting of the Citronella fumes in my sinuses, so I controlled my inhaling to prevent too much pain. But other than that there was no harm experienced by me by inhaling this oil.

Anyway, after half hour of such inhalation, I experienced a discharge of watery mucus from my nostrils like having a cold. I sensed something good about it. I cleared my nose. After that my tinnitus of 2 years was gone for good! Imagine after despairing for so long and searching here and there on the Internet for a cure, I bumped into one myself. And this happened like 10 months ago and the tinnitus has never returned. I am completely cured.

Now let me try to conjecture why I got that kind of tinnitus and why the said treatment worked. I believe in the past I had not nipped my frequent runny nose in the bud by taking medicine (like anti-histamine pills which I was not aware of in those days) to suppress it but had allowed it to fester so that phlegm had collected in the inner ear. This, in turn, promoted the rise of bacteria and/or viruses of whatever kinds I cannot tell. And like the BIOFILM which some scientists have found in intestines of IBS sufferers, BIOFILM (aka mucus or phlegm in common lingo) becomes a very strong castle-like habitat of bacteria and viruses.

I believe it is the same with phlegm lodged in the inner ear cavity. So when I inhaled the Citronella Essential Oil it penetrated the phlegm and effectively killed these bad bacteria and inactivated any viruses. I write this in the hope that some sufferers might benefit from this testimony. If your tinnitus is caused by a history of rhinitis (runny nose, sneezing, mucus, cough) then it is possible this method might help.

Good Luck!​

 

This a great story. We need more info on here about tinnitus caused by stuff other than noise.

The latter is important but it's a complex issue with more causes than people think. My worst tinnitus spikes have been during colds and having COVID-19.

 

I just ordered some...!

 

We're all going to be huffing some kind of herb! Haha till we tip over.

 

Do you have sinus issues? I hope this helps you! Let us know how you go.

 

Well I've tried just about everything else, I'll let you all know if it works.

 

I have deviated septum. Thats about it...

 

I'm going to try Citronella Oil as I suffer with nasal congestion along with post nasal drip and other Eustachian related issues and I find it quite hard to breathe through my nose. And it's natural so it can't cause harm.

 

*Update*

I bought some Citronella oil today. The smell is very overpowering; it's making me feel very nauseous. I had a few sniffs like the review said and I had to stop. The headache I have at the moment might not be helping the cause right now. I will try again soon.

 

Just to mention, after I showed this Citronella oil testimonial to my wife, she shared with me an experience that she had. She'd been doing a lot of research on lymphatic drainage, especially areas around the head. They cautioned that once you get the lymph flowing properly in your head again, you could experience a major discharge resembling a cold. Turns out she did experience that, and was constantly blowing her nose for hours one day.

I would guess that some people on this forum probably have some degree of lymphatic congestion in their heads/Eustachian tubes, sinuses, etc., and if they could clear that out, it "might" improve their tinnitus. Especially if that congested lymph is housing various kinds of low-level infections. I can easily imagine how various bacterias, fungi, viruses, etc. thrive on that stuff. I wonder if it's possible the Citronella oil actually stimulated some lymphatic drainage, and contributed to his tinnitus going away.

 

It is impossible to be confident about what the mechanism for the tinnitus clearing up actually was. At the moment all we have is 1 anecdote and nobody else has confirmed a success. I have had a partial congestion in my nose as long as I can remember. Sometimes - usually early in the morning - it clears and I enjoy the bliss or breathing perfectly through both nostrils. The congestion is obviously caused by narrowing of the nasal passages due to swollen blood vessels. The doctor told me 25 years ago there is an op - surgery - for people with my problem - but he did say it can return and put you back to square one - so I forgot about it. As an aside - a friend of mine had the same problem - he told me he was in a fight and had his nose broken - and his breathing has been clear since that day (maybe I will get into a fight LOL). I really doubt it has anything to do with my tinnitus. But maybe manual lymph drainage would be an idea? How else does one clear the lymphatic system in the face?

 

Hi @Stuart-T -- I've bookmarked a number of videos on lymphatic drainage. Here's a couple to get you started:

Lymph Drainage for the Ears from Louisville Massage Therapist at MassageByHeather.com

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction ETD Exercises and Massage Techniques for Ear Fullness

And be sure check out at least the last 3 minutes of this video:

Q&A ETD - Eustachian Tube Dysfunction - Other remedies to try

One more tidbit:

Eustachian Tube Drainage
What? This is a naturopathic technique used to relief congestion in the tube behind the eardrum by draining fluid away from the ear. Ideally you can find your local naturopath to show you this technique; if not, you can give it a whirl on your own. This practice will help your tinnitus if it’s due to congestion of the ear, nose or throat. It’s also a good technique to expedite curing a simple ear infection, or unblocking your ears after diving or flying.

First, make sure your hands are clean. With your mouth not too wide open, gently find your back molars on one side with your index finger. Beyond the molars is the curve of flesh-covered bone that creates the hinge between the upper and lower jaw. Gently go beyond the hinge, towards the back of the throat until you find a stringy vertical tendon. This is called the “tonsillar pillar”. Touch here will make most people gag, so go softly and carefully.

Just behind the tonsillar pillar, down low near the root of the tongue, is the Eustachian tube, which feels like a small “mole tunnel” under the flesh. It may be impossible to feel, but if you got the tonsillar pillar you’re in the right area. Gently stroke the Eustachian tube from the ear side of the back of the throat towards the middle (towards the tongue) several times until you can’t stand it. Same thing on the other side if the tinnitus is bilateral. Do this daily and consistently for up to a week. Repeat as needed.​

 

Trying this, too. My onset is sinus-related, and I had recurring ear infections and sinusitis when young. Often had two-day tinnitus periods at the end of bad sinus infections, so the inflammation and mucus observations makes sense.

My highest tinnitus volume is morning waking, after lying down all night; lowest is after dinner and Navage flushing, when things drain. Anyone else have these symptoms, or thoughts about them?

 

Like Stuart-T said nearly a year ago, there doesn't seem to be any factual stuff on Citronella Oil other than that single anecdote, and no one here has chimed in w/ anything positive since then. Looks like we can let this go. Of course, having your head congested is going to increase many people's tinnitus, but simply clearing that up isn't going to get rid of it from all available information.