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.