Tinnitus Awareness week – The noisy problem

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Rima


Shannon, October 10, 2011
Creative Commons License photo credit: pat00139

From 6th to 12th February 2012 it is National Tinnitus Awareness week.

 

So what is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is where a person can hear sounds or noises in their ears without there being an external cause for this noise.  The sounds themselves seem to be within the ear channels themselves but on examination there is no physical cause for it.  It seems that the brain gets confused by the nerve signals coming from ears.

The word ‘Tinnitus’ comes from the latin word meaning ‘ringing’.  This gives an indication as to what the sounds can be like.  Some sufferers hear ringing, for others it’s buzzing, hissing or whistling.

As well as the type of sound varying, the location, pitch and continuity of the sounds also varies from person to person.

Swan bell tower - Perth
Creative Commons License photo credit: Tamsin Slater

Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom of something else.  The exact causes for tinnitus starting is not fully understood by the medical world.

However the following may often preceed tinnitus:

  • Head injury
  • exposure to loud noise
  • Chemotherapy
  • Stress
  • Severe or chronic ear infections
  • Hyperactive thyroid disease
  • Anaemia

Tinnitus can occur to anyone of any age, it’s not just restricted to older people.  It is thought that up to 10% of the population suffers from tinnitus at some stage in their life.

The sounds can disrupt sleep and a lack of concentration.  This can lead to anxiety and even depression.

 

Treatments for Tinnitus

If someone is suffering from any ear disorders or noises in the ears it is best to get this looked at by a medical professional to rule out any serious problems.  They may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist too.

Generally, if there is an underlying cause and this can be found and it can be treated it will diminish the sounds.

Some sufferers find using ‘white noise’ a good way to mask out the sounds in their ears, as it’s usually most noticeable when sitting in silence.

Some people find that their tinnitus gets worse when they are stressed or anxious so some form of relaxation therapy could aid this.

If anxiety and depression are present the medical team may treat using anti-depressants and counselling.

A number of sufferers turn to Complementary Therapies as a way to manage their tinnitus.  Some use Reflexology, Ear Candling, Massage and Acupuncture.  There are some herbal remedies that some people find benefical too, but it’s always best to seek the advice from a medical herbalist first.

If you suffer from tinnitus and would like more information or support, or if you would like more information about how to help during Tinnitus Awareness Week then take a look at the British Tinnitus Association website.

Posted in Conditions, Relaxation, Stress Relief, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Therapy Focus: Ear Candling (Thermo-Auricular Therapy)

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Rima

There are so many different treatments available, and some with quite different sounding names.  I’m always getting asked more about what certain treatments are, or what could be better than something else so I’ve decided to describe a few on this blog.

Thermo-Auricular Therapy

The first treatment to focus on is Thermo-Auricular Therapy.  Now what is this weird sounding treatment, I hear you say….

Thermo-Auricular® Therapy or ear candling is the professional use of Ear Candles, which are used to aid relaxation, relief of ear, nose & throat conditions and associated problems.
Ear candles are hollow tubes made from sheets of organic flax (linen), which are impregnated with a special formula that includes honey, chamomile, sage, St. John’s Wort, betacarotene and is coated in beeswax.  Each of these elements has a beneficial and soothing effect on the ear, nose and throat.  The candles have a small filter at one end too.

 

The candles work on a chimney principle and a gentle vibration of air, which gently draws out impurities and stimulates the circulation of blood and lymph.  This has been shown to help to balance the pressure and fluid in the ears and head. At Calm and Clear we only use BiØsun® candles.  These are the best quality ear candles available, and have the CE mark (93/42-EEC) for medical devices in Europe.

A practitioner who has done a good, reputable course will have also received training in the use of an instrument called an otoscope.  This is similar to what a doctor would use to check inside your ears, but the one practitioners use is not as powerful.  The otoscope is vital for a practitioner to use prior to doing the treatment to ensure that there are no visible contraindications to the treatment itself, such as a perforated ear drum or infection.  The otoscope also allows the practitioner to see what the general health of the ears is like.

At Calm and Clear Complementary Therapies, we always do a Vodder Manual lymph drainage face massage following the ear candles.
This treatment can be done as a stand alone treatment for 1 hour, or it can be linked with other therapies such as Reflexology, Facial Rejuvenation, Indian Head Massage and Holistic Facials.

 

Benefits of Thermo-Auricular® Therapy

Thermo-Auricular® Therapy is a Holistic therapy and has been know to be used to aid any of the following issues:

  • Earwax problems
  • General earache
  • Sinusitis and catarrh
  • Tinnitus
  • Seasonal allergies – including hayfever and rhinitis
  • Migraines and headaches
  • Sore throats
  • Hearing loss and blocked ears
  • Blockages from swimming and air travel
  • Irritation in the ears
  • Glue ear
  • Colds (if nose is not streaming)
  • Vertigo and labrynthitis
  • Stress

Ear Candles cannot be used if:

  • grommets or cochlea implants are currently in place
  • there is a recent ear perforation.  If the perforation is not recent then please contact us to discuss if this treatment will be of benefit to you.
  • Recent ear surgery
  • Auricular cysts
  • Acute mastoiditis
  • Otosclerosis
  • Otospongiosis
  • Ear Tumour

In addition:

  • Please do not use any oils or drops in the ears for at least 24 hours before coming for a treatment.
  • Wait 24 hours after the commencement of any antibiotics before coming for a treatment.
  • Please contact us if you have any other concerns or questions regarding the suitability of this treatment or if you have allergies.
Posted in Holistic treatments, Sinus problems, Therapy Focus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Aromatherapy – An introduction

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Rima

5/365 Rose Art
Creative Commons License photo credit: carterse 

The word “Aromatherapy” is thrown around a lot these days.  You find it not just on natural products, but it can be seen on your bubble bath, washing powder, deodorant and even on floor cleaner.  However, what really is “Aromatherapy”, where does it come from and how can it be used?

Over the coming months I’m going to go through the facts and myths about “Aromatherapy” and include a number of essential oil profiles that are a must for every household.
So let’s start at the beginning….. 

What is Aromatherapy?

If we break the word down into 2 parts it gives us a clue: “aroma” meaning scent or smell and “therapy” meaning treatment or therapeutic. 

So we could say that:

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of aromatic substances. Therapeutic use covers both mind and body, and the aromatic substances tend to be the essential oils. As a treatment, it is usually combined with body-contact therapy in the form of massage. The nature of aromatherapy is as a holistic treatment, restoring balance to mind and body as well as its specific use in treating a wide range of symptoms.
Following on from this we can look deeper at these aromatic substances known as “Essential oils”. 

Essential oils

Natural aromatherapy and essential oil bottles

 

What are Essential oils?

Essential oils come from plants and are held somewhere on the plant. Essential oils are pure, concentrated plant extracts obtained specifically for their fragrance and therapeutic value. The chemical composition of these oils is exceedingly complex – often tens or hundreds of constituent parts.

Any part of a plant may contain its essential oil – flowers, leaves, fruit, stems, wood, bark, seeds, resin, berries and roots.

It is the essential oil that gives the plant its characteristic smell and flavour. 

The purpose of the essential oil in the plant is not yet fully understood as not all plants contain significant amounts of essential oil.  There are, however, several theories:

  • The oils’ fragrance may attract or repel insects and other animals.
  • Essential oils have anti viral and anti fungal properties for the plant and can be understood as part of the plants’ immune system.
  • They may act as plant ‘hormones’ and as an internal transport system (as with blood in animals).

Examples of common essential oils include lavender oil, rose oil and peppermint oil.

The method of extraction used varies according to the type of plant and the part of the plant to be used.  The quality of the oil will depend on the method of extraction and the quality of the plant. Major influences are the area where the plant is grown, and the weather during the growing season.  These are reflected in the price of the oil as with any crop.

Posted in Aromatherapy, Essential oils, Holistic treatments, Stress Relief | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hello world!

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Rima

Hello to everyone!

This is my very first blog post on my lovely new blog.

I’m hoping to bring you lots of interesting and fun posts, but if there are any specific subjects which you are interested in seeing on this blog then please do let me know.

I hope to bring you another post or 2 over the next couple of weeks, but until then I hope you stay well.

Best regards

Rima

Relax – Refresh – Revive

Posted in General | 1 Comment