What Is the Best Strain for Tinnitus?
Tinnitus patients sometimes find relief—at least temporarily—from their symptoms by consuming certain cannabis strains. Depending on the cause of their symptoms, cannabis might help by reducing the sensation of sounds in your ear, providing a distraction, or simply helping you relax.
While no clinical evidence supports the consumption of whole-flower cannabis for treating tinnitus, some tinnitus sufferers have found that certain strains have helped. If you find that the sound worsens after consuming cannabis, discontinue use and talk to a doctor for a diagnosis and evidence-based treatments to relieve tinnitus symptoms long-term.
Best Strains for Tinnitus Symptoms
There are nine strains that consumers have specifically cited as being great for tinnitus, but most are a little hard to find. Keep in mind that some properties of a given cannabis strain are shared with a parent or child strain. So if you can't find these exact cultivars, a related cultivar could still help.
Cannatonic
Parent strains: MK Ultra x G13 Haze
Type: 50% sativa/50% indica
Cannabinoid levels: 7-8% THC, 14% CBD, 1% CBN
Reported effects: Relaxing, soothing, and calming
Atomic Bomb
Parent strains: (Chemdawg x Emerald Triangle Kush) x THC Bomb
Type: 50% sativa/50% indica
Cannabinoid levels: 22-26% THC
Reported effects: Hard-hitting euphoria, relaxation, and sedation
Death Bubba
Parent strains: descendent of Bubba Kush
Type: 70% indica/30% sativa
Cannabinoid levels: 25-27% THC
Reported effects: Uplift, spaciness, relaxation, and heavy sleep
Candy Jack
Parent strains: Jack Herer x Cotton Candy
Type: 50% sativa/50% indica
Cannabinoid levels: 27% THC, 1% CBD, 1% CBN
Reported effects: Energy, focus, euphoria, and hunger
Glass Slipper
Parent strains: The White x Cinderella 99
Type: 50% sativa/50% indica
Cannabinoid levels: 20% THC
Reported effects: Strong heady high, happiness, and euphoria
Mars OG
Parent strains: Mars x OG
Type: 50% sativa/50% indica
Cannabinoid levels: 16% THC, 1% CBD
Reported effects: Happy, giggly, lazy, and relaxed
Love Potion #1
Parent strains: G13 x Columbian Gold
Type: 70% sativa/30% indica
Cannabinoid levels: 15-18% THC
Reported effects: Uplifted, energized, euphoric, and aroused
Alien Grapevine
Parent strains: Tahoe Alien x Blueberry Underdog
Type: 70% indica/30% sativa
Cannabinoid levels: 15% THC
Reported effects: Cerebral, sleepy, and relaxing
Sugar Biscuit
Parent strains: Animal Cookies x Dosidos
Type: 70% indica/30% sativa
Cannabinoid levels: 23-26% THC
Reported effects: Complete mental and physical relaxation
Strains for Related Issues
Other strains that are more common—especially around Seattle WA where our dispensaries are located—might not necessarily reduce the ringing, buzzing, roaring, or hissing sensations of tinnitus but could help indirectly by promoting sleep, reducing anxiety, and boosting mood.
Insomnia
For sleep, we generally recommend indica-dominant strains as they tend to be more body-focused and relaxing than sativas, which are more energizing and cerebral. The best indica strain for sleep is highly individual, but a lot of people find that they sleep well with:
Blueberry
Girl Scout Cookies
Granddaddy Purple
Anxiety and Stress
Tinnitus symptoms can tend to make the sufferer feel anxious and stressed (seriously, who wouldn't feel stressed with constant noise in their ear?), making these popular cannabis strains for anxiety another potential short-term solution.
Cannatonic
Canna-tsu
Blue Dream
Depression
If tinnitus symptoms have got you down, consumer-recommended cannabis strains for depression may help to lift your mood. Try:
Harlequin
Jack Herer
Be Sure to Address the Root Cause
Tinnitus can be a symptom of a wide range of problems, so before even asking "does cannabis alleviate tinnitus" or self-medicating with medical marijuana strains, it's essential to know what's causing your tinnitus symptoms and address the root cause.
While it's sometimes a result of degenerative hearing loss, tinnitus symptoms can also be caused by:
A buildup of wax in the ear canal
A middle ear infection (otitis media)
Glue ear
Acoustic trauma-induced tinnitus, which involves nerve damage to the inner ear from exposure to damaging levels of noise, such as from gunfire, explosions, or loud music
Otosclerosis, which is a genetic condition that causes abnormal bone growth in the middle ear
Ménière’s disease, which affects the inner ear and can affect hearing and balance
Acoustic neuroma, which is a growth that affects the nerves located in the inner ear
Injuries, including head injuries and perforated ear drums
Health conditions, including anemia, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries), or an overactive thyroid
Adverse reactions to certain medications
Substance abuse
Depending on the cause, the experience of tinnitus can also vary. Subjective tinnitus can only be heard by the patient. Objective tinnitus can be heard by a physician through a stethoscope. Pulsatile tinnitus describes tinnitus symptoms that synchronize with the patient's heartbeat.
In all cases, it's essential to treat the root cause (via ear-wax cleaning, medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, or sound therapy) before attempting to treat tinnitus with cannabis—especially considering that cannabis consumption may make tinnitus symptoms worse.
Tread Carefully and Keep Your Doctor in the Loop
Some people have found relief from tinnitus symptoms with cannabis, even though there is less evidence for its effectiveness for this condition than for things like muscle spasms or chronic pain. In some cases, consuming cannabis may make the problem worse.
If you're experiencing uncomfortable sensations in one or both ears, see your doctor for a diagnosis and consider the range of treatment options available to you. Hopefully, as more research is conducted on the relationship between tinnitus and cannabis, we will have a better understanding of how the two interact.