DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DOCTOR or a medical health professional. Always speak with your doctor before trying any new drug, supplement, or treatment.

If you follow any of the tinnitus or Meniere’s disease Facebook groups, you’ve probably seen people talk about a supplement called Cannabidiol (or CBD for short).

For a while now, CBD has been on my radar. And not just from the support groups. I’ve seen so many headlines praising CBD for it’s seemingly endless list of potential benefits. So I decided to try it for myself.

I’ve been taking CBD oil every single day for the last few weeks, and I have to say, I’m impressed!.

But first, let’s start with the basics.  CBD is one of 113 different cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant. On its own, it’s non-psychoactive which means you will not get high from consuming CBD. Yet it’s believed to be responsible for many of the medicinal effects of cannabis.

Studies have shown CBD to have a wide variety of medicinal properties, from anti-inflammatory to anti-anxiety and anti-nausea. It’s also neuroprotective, has pain-killing properties, and can help to lower blood pressure, amongst many other benefits.

Products and Consumption:

CBD is a component of marijuana and hemp, but it can also be extracted and taken on its own as a supplement.

Because of this, as long as a CBD product contains .3% THC or less, it’s considered to be a hemp product, and is legal in the US and many other countries.

(It’s worth noting that hemp seed oil is a different thing altogether, and contains little to no cannabidiol. So hemp seed oil is not what we’re talking about here today.)

There are many different forms of CBD products available on the market, from isolated CBD powders, to vape ready concentrates, as well as full spectrum plant tincture oils, which is what I’ve been using.

And there are also multiple ways to ingest CBD. It can be consumed orally, vaped or smoked and absorbed through the lungs, or taken sublingually and absorbed through the capillaries under the tongue.

For the sake of this post, however, I will be focusing on my experiences with full spectrum hemp oil, of which, CBD is the primary component.

And I have to say, my experiences have been incredible.

What it’s like:

To be clear, CBD does not seem to have any direct effect on either my tinnitus or Meniere’s disease symptoms.

But indirectly, it’s a Godsend, because it reduces my anxiety and stress more than anything else I’ve ever tried by far. And when my stress and anxiety levels go down, my tinnitus is so much quieter and my Meniere’s symptoms improve.

When I first tried CBD, I was having a lot of anxiety. I’ve been dealing with an ongoing neck injury, and after getting a massage, I noticed they were selling the Charlotte’s Web brand of CBD oil at the spa.

I had heard of this brand before, and I was curious, so I decided to give it a shot. And within 15-20 minutes of ingesting it, my anxiety was gone. Not just diminished, but gone – entirely.

It’s hard to describe what it feels like, because honestly, I’ve never felt anything quite like it before.

An amazing experience:

The first thing I noticed was a subtle but wonderful feeling in my body. My muscles were relaxed and I felt great physically. Almost immediately, the physical symptoms of my anxiety went away. The uncomfortable tension in my chest and stomach disappeared.

Mentally, I was calm and focused, but more importantly, I was not impaired. Though I realize now that the recommended dosage I took initially was much more than what I actually needed.

At these higher doses, I noticed a slight, somewhat uncomfortable pressure on my head. It was also a bit sedating, as well.

I ultimately found that I needed much less to control my anxiety, with as little as 25% of my initial dose being just as effective but without the side effects. Finding the right dosage seems to involve a lot of trial and error for most people.

The CBD has also greatly improved my sleep. But again, I think this is more a product of the stress and anxiety relief than anything else. It’s much easier to fall asleep when your body is calm and your mind isn’t racing.

Your milage may vary:

Everyone seems to have a different experience with CBD.

Many people do experience the benefits immediately, like I did, while for others it’s a cumulative effect, requiring daily consumption. And some people don’t really notice any effects at all.

But my experience has been transformative, because I’ve struggled with anxiety for most of my life. Finding a tool like CBD that provides such a remarkable level of relief is wonderful beyond words!

How to purchase CBD?

There are quite a few reputable vendors with very high-quality CBD products offered at reasonable prices. I say reasonable because even when the pricing is competitive, CBD isn’t cheap.

And the cost is certainly prohibitive. I have a feeling that it’s going to be more accessible as time goes on, but for now, you can expect to pay anywhere between 25¢ and $3.00+ per dose depending on the concentration, how much you need to take, and how much you purchase at once.

But at the end of the day, it’s been worth it for me and I plan to continue to use it on an as-needed basis.

And it just be worth it for you too.

Reputable Vendors:

More Information about CBD:

(NOTE: Some of the links featured in this post are affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a product through these links, Mind Over Meniere’s may receive a small commission that goes toward the maintenance cost of the website.)

  1. Thanks for posting this information Glenn. I have not had time to digest the added resource list for CBD, but I look forward to reading through them. I don’t consider myself an anxious person and have not suffered from anxiety or depression, however, Meniere’s and tinnitus can make us extremely anxious at times and depressed. I’m not sure how CBD is that different than Valium though, with the exception that CBD is faster acting. I do know that Valium has side effects such as memory loss and a symptom of MD is memory loss, so I will be interested in finding out if CBD has any side effects (keep in mind I have not read through the studies). Glad this is working for you as we don’t need any more stress than MD and tinnitus already gives us.

    Thanks!
    Jill

    • Hi Jill, CBD and benzodiazepines like Valium work on anxiety by entirely different mechanisms. Valium is likely much better at stopping vertigo, as it’s a vestibular suppressant, but it’s also very addicting and difficult to come off of if you develop a dependency. Both CBD and Valium have side effects though for some people. I mentioned some of what I experienced in the video – at higher doses it made me feel a little bit sedated and created an uncomfortable feeling of pressure across my head. At lower doses, however, I don’t experience any side effects.

  2. Thanks for putting this up glen. CBD is a great great drug if you want to call it that for many many types of neurological and gastrointestinal diseases. As for the comment above anout checking into the side effects of CBD compare to Valium or any other benzo isn’t even close. Benzodiazepines do work very well for stopping an attack at least in my case but I just started trying cannabis 50% THV 50% CBD and wow what a difference in my life in general. I’m not sitting around getting high all day but I’m using it like a medicine and I’ve improved greatly. Getting great sleep. Anxiety is non existent brain fog is gone which is strange because I am getting a little high when I medicate. Valium is just as addictive as heroine so be careful with any benzodiazepines. I am looking into Phoenix CBD pills I’ve heard great things very good company. If anyone reads this and wants to know some good strains of flower cannabis for helping with Ménière’s you can email me
    agiera75@aol.com. And I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned. There are some strains of cannabis you should stay away from if you have Ménière’s and some strains that work like nothing I’ve tried before and trust me in the 3 years I’ve had this I’ve tried it all. Usana supplements which I do take but they didn’t help much at all had tons of attacks since I’ve been on them and it’s been 9 months of those. I still receive Acupunture as well as chiropractor. I spent 15,000 on my jaw fixing my TMJ countless other supplements and meclizine Valium lorazepam no salt diet prednisone cortisone shots in my ear numerous hearing devices and sound machines and nothing worked like cannabis once again if anyone has a question email me st
    agiera75@aol.com. Thanks again glen for the effort and great info.

  3. Thank you Glen. Happy for you!
    I did not wait for this video and went straight to a store after I saw your post on Facebook. That is how much relief I needed/wanted from my symptoms which include anxiety and tension and insomnia.
    The first 20 drops had no effect on me, whatsoever, another 20 drops at bed time…and I had another horror night when I would wake tens of times and developed a headache in between. I am so beat up this morning and pretty much losing all hope to ever feel any better. I have also purchased a bio-mat mini, which I mostly use on my upper body and head to increase blood flow to my brain and try my best to use it on each ear (I can’t lay on either side, so it is a bit tricky). I have MDDS and POTS and feel that I reached my nadir.
    I found this article: Does CBD Make You Sleepy or More Alert? http://www.leafscience.com/2017/04/09/does-cbd-make-you-sleepy-or-more-alert/ which might help people like me at least to understand what might going on.
    I am reducing the dose from 20 to 5 drops once a day. And would add 1 drop each week.
    Regards,
    TU

    • Hi Teal, I’m not sure which kind you bought, but I was in the same boat. I took WAY too big a dose when I first started and had a few negative side effects that I mentioned in the article. Taking a much smaller dose provided the same anxiety relief with none of the side effects. I hope this works for you!

        • Gotcha. Taking less then is probably a good call. The one I got is the middle tier strength too. I probably would have been better off with the lowest strength, though you get a better deal in terms of cost per mg of CBD with this one – you just have to take less.

          • Hi glen I’m new to this site but I’ve been suffering with MD for 2 years. Most of my triggers are environmental I’m a heavy equipment operator and labor. Loud noises lots of dust and extreme heat really knock me down. I live in Ohio and we are behind in treatment with cannabis. I also get drug tested and I know the CBD oil won’t effect a test but I’ve also learned from friends I have in California in the medical marijuana field that not only the CBD but also the THC in marijuana is very beneficial to people with MD. You also have to watch which kind you try it could make you worse but talking with them and a doctor he hooked me up with have given me the info I needed. I took a month off and tried a certain strain of cannabis that he recommended and wow did I feel great. Not high or out of it I just felt great. Did it get rid of my tinnitus no but it greatly reduced to the point I didn’t think about it. Plus all my anxiety and fear of when the next attack was coming was gone. As well as the brain fog and dizzy empty head feeling. I had to stop when I returned to work and boom attack after attack. I filed for disability because I’m a work hazard. I can’t be running heavy equipment right next to buildings or other co workers and have drop attacks.

          • Hi Allen, I’m happy to hear that medical marijuana worked so well for you. I should point out though that full plant hemp extracts, like the oil I’m using, do contain trace amounts of THC – .3% or less which is the legal limit for hemp products – and can apparently cause a positive drug test. Isolated CBD powder, however, would not, though some people find it’s not as beneficial as it doesn’t contain the other cannabinoids present in hemp that the hemp oils do. I’m sorry you’ve had to file for disability 🙁 but I am glad you’ve found something that gives you relief!

          • Thanks Glen. I really like your videos. I’ve used your music and breathing and it does help. I found out today that I’m not even a candidate for surgery my ear is so far gone. 25 years of abuse to my hearing from work didn’t help I’m sure. My entire career has subjected me to daily hearing abuse and dust or compost you name it. I had an ENG test last week and I failed it miserably I don’t know if you’ve had that vestibular test or not it wasn’t fun at all it’s about 3 hours long. Anyways thanks for doing what you do and keep the videos coming it helps people like us believe it or not.

          • My doctor at first wanted to do the decompressive shunt surgery. He won’t recommend or perform the destructive surgery where they cut your vestibular nerve. Success rate is low and complications out weigh the results. After my vestibular test I had he now ruled out the shunt surgery because they found I have to much nerve damage and it would probably not be successful. Which I’m fine with. None of the surgery sound fun. And complications and side effects don’t seem worth it to me. When I took that month off of work and got myself away from all the irritants the dust noise and being bounced around all day I felt fantastic. Whether it was avoidance of what I do everyday or the cannabis I don’t know but something worked. I was also able to drink a gallon of water a day eat much more healthy and appropriate portions. When I’m at work I scarf down what I can in the 30 minutes I have for lunch and my fluid intake is minimal because I don’t ha e the luxury of being near a bathroom. My doctor agrees with my decision for disability I will be able to work somewhere else where I’m not driving heavy equipment and large trucks all the time. So I’m not worried about that I just want my quality of life back.

          • Great list. I’ve talked to my doctor and past doctors about all those. I forgot to mention I am just about finished getting my TMJ taken care of. I was fitted for an orthotic retainer and did 14 weeks of massage therapy cool laser treatments and ultra sound. TMJ is gone whosever now that my jaw is fixed 18 of my teeth do not touch so I have to get them added to with Provance. Very expensive I think I’ve spent 16,000 on the entire procedure but it’s worth it. One interesting thing was the SCDS article you had in there. I was never tested for that unless the ENG test cleared me of it but I didn’t see it on my results. My friend who is a navy seal has SCDS he got it from a roadside bomb in Iraq and we talked and our symptoms are identical. He is almost ready to retire after 20 years on seal teams he’s waiting to get the surgery when he retires. Great article thanks

  4. I was smoking concentrated dabs of THC regularly, and around the time my Ménière’s issues came back with a veangance. I did the whole “lifestyle cleanse” to cancel out any triggers and unfortunately I felt that getting stoned was one of them, especially with the tinnitus.

    So I stopped smoking weed entirely and considered switching to CBD. My symptoms had finally started to calm down by the time I managed to order some, but I have noticed the same benefits that you described. I was self medicating my anxiety and sleep issues with THC but knew it wasn’t the best option. I haven’t smoked weed or concentrates in a month. For the last 2-3 weeks I have been doing CBD dabs of pure isolate and I have to say I have noticed such a massive difference. My anxiety isn’t cured but it’s gone down and I find that breaking off just a small piece works very well. It relaxes me at bedtime and makes it easier to get to sleep. L And now that you mention it, I have not had any flare ups and my energy levels are finally coming back after dealing with the most debilitating vertigo episodes. The tinnitus has gone down significantly, to where there is none at all. I assume perhaps it’s just going into remission for now, as I have only been diagnosed within the last year.
    I plan to buy tinctures and edibles as well. I highly recommend NaturallyElevatedCBD.com based in Colorado. Their products are amazing and affordable- and they are very dedicated to their customers. Thanks for posting this. Just another glimmer of hope in my world that’s been turned upside down at age 27.

    • Thanks for the info. I don’t think I’d try dabs or concentrates. I went 24 years without smokin cannabis. The game has really changed. My doctor friend gave me the names of some strains high in CBD and lower in THC. He said some strains could really ruin my day. I tried CBD critical cure and a strain called crown royal. Now granted I did not go over board either time. Just 2 very good hits from a vaporizer and both worked very well.

      • I appreciate your post. I am a longtime tinnitus sufferer. Would you share with us what strains of THC or THC/CBD strains that were effective for you as well as what you would avoid? Do you know the THC/CBD %’s? Thanks.

        • Hi David, good question. I actually stayed away from THC strains. I know that some people find THC helpful in coping with tinnitus, and I totally support it when they do, but it can also cause anxiety, paranoia, and heightened emotional sensitivity, so I don’t typically recommend it to most tinnitus sufferers. Better to start with hemp based CBD oil, which has only trace quantities of THC. Hope that makes sense!

  5. Hi Glenn, I recently bought your book which is very helpful, and find your video’s very informative. I have had T for about two years and have tried many alternative therapies with no changes. I am keen to try the CBD oil. I was wondering is there a specific type of CBD oil better for T. I have noticed that CBD oil comes in percentages and mg…..2 drops of 4% or 11% or 20 or 600 mg etc. I’m a bit confused as which would be best for T…even though I know that the results can vary with each individual. Thank you for any suggestions you may have.
    janet

    • Hi Janet, there isn’t a specific type of CBD that works best for tinnitus, though I would recommend starting with a full spectrum oil. Don’t worry so much about the concentration of the bottle (as in total mg). What matters is how many mg of CBD you take with each dose, and the right dosage amount seems to vary wildly from person to person, so you have to experiment a bit – start low and incrementally raise the dose. My current favorite oils are from CBDistillery as they have great pricing and a very high quality product. You can read my review of their oils here: https://www.mindovermenieres.com/cbdistillery-cbd-oil-review/ (that post includes a discount code as well!)

      • Thank you Glenn,
        The link you sent was a great help. Unfortunately that company doesn’t ship to Canada…I live in B.C. But we do have some local medical marijuana dispensaries here so hopefully I can find some CBD oil as good as and as reasonably priced as the one you recommend. Your website is very informative..thank you.

    • Good question. Unfortunately, price varies greatly right now from vendor to vendor, as does quality. Generally, price per mg is cheaper in the higher concentration products. I’ve only had the chance to test out a few vendors as of now, but CBDistillery has some of the best price per mg of CBD that I’ve seen so far.

      • I appreciate the referral, but what I would like is the ability to compare prices. The service you suggest might not have some of the best prices in ten years, or they might be the absolute best value for another twenty. Without a number from which to start, myself and other readers can’t easily perform this critical step to become informed consumers.

        Prices vary in every product and service to some extent. What’s the last price you paid per milligram for CBD products?

        • I don’t have any resources to suggest that compares prices across many different vendors. The last product I purchased was the 1000mg full spectrum tincture from CBDistillery, which was $66 or so with shipping. But keep in mind that even CBDistillery offers far better pricing per mg when you order higher concentrations. At the upper extreme, you can order their 5000mg bottle for $240. I’ve also seen MANY low quality vendors offering CBD for 2-3x these prices. I would start with the prices listed on CBDistillery and compare them to some of the other reputable vendors I listed on this post.

  6. Hi Glenn-I was wondering if you are taking the CBD oil mostly to help with anxiety and sleeplessness related to Menieres as well as provide some relief for tinnitus? Does it provide any real relief from the dizziness, nausea and vertigo as well? Thanks for your help!

    • Hi Lynne, for me it’s mostly stress and anxiety relief, but stress and anxiety make most of my symptoms worse, so indirectly it’s helpful all around. It’s definitely helpful for nausea, and I know that other people find it directly helpful for dizziness/vertigo, I just haven’t experienced that personally.

  7. Hi Glenn,
    Thanks for your review. About 2 months ago, my tinnitus kicked up something terrible. Though my suffering, my friends dropped off a bottom of the charlottes web “Full Strength” hemp oil. It has done amazing things, however it seems like more lately it has not had as dramatic effect on me as at the beginning. What Charlotte’s web calls “full strength” is actually there lowest strength formula. I have since tried the next 2 strengths up (extra strength & original formula) and they have not helped my tinnitus like the lowest strength formula has. If you go on their site, you can find the different products I have been trying. However, I’m a little confused. You talked about using Charlottes web Everyday Plus. They don’t even sell this on their site. I did find it online though at wellspringcbd.com. What is the difference between what Charlotte’s web company are selling on their site and the product you take? How much do you take at a time and how often? Thanks a lot for your help. This tinnitus journey has been difficult. I thank God for CBD.
    Kevin Weaver
    Stevens, Pa

    • Hi Kevin, I totally understand your confusion, and it primarily stems from the fact that Charlottes Web renamed all of their products a few months back. The “Every day plus” that I’m talking about in the review is now called “Extra Strength CBD oil.”

      It’s also worth mentioning though, that when you take CBD every day, it does seem to have less of an effect over time, though I suspect this has to do with the cumulative stress lowering effect. Over time, you are taking it while experiencing less stress, and the stress/anxiety relief is the effect, so if you feel less stress you will feel less effect. Hopefully that makes sense. I supposed tolerance could be a factor too. Hard to say.

      As far as dose, I usually take 20-30 mg of CBD (regardless of the company). But just because that works for me, doesn’t mean that’s the right dose for you. Everyone reacts differently and needs different amounts, you may just have to experiment a bit to find your new sweet spot.

  8. CBD is safe. Can’t OD. For me if I can sleep a full night tinnitus is decreased. Cbd helps with sleep and inflammation. Calms me and reduces hunger. Still experimenting for a good recipe to greatly reduce tinnitus without dangerous meds and only with cannabis and CBD, diet and exercise. Meditation too…super important! Thoughts? I’m not there yet but working hard to get there 😊

  9. I started taking CBD oil ( the ‘pure’ cbd, not the ‘full spectrum’ ) two weeks ago . The first week I only took one drop , containing 1.75 mg of cbd and I immediately noticed it working , though not in the way I would like it to work .20-30 minutes after taking it my head starts to feel a bit heavy , sort of sleep drunk , and sometimes I start yawning. The second week I added another drop in the evening to help with sleeping. I’m hoping the side effect I mentioned above will subside over time , so that I can build up with a few more drops a day.
    I’m amazed that people here are talking about taking 20 to 30 mg per day, or even much more ! And here I am with my 3.5 mg per day , haha ! Every body reacts differently .
    btw. I don’t have MD, but I do have regular bouts of vertigo as well as tinnitus ( I have been diagnosed with vestibular migraine , which also cause anxiety and stress from time tot time)

  10. I use CBD oil for my Neuropathy pain & it works great. My wife has Vertigo. She blew out her 1 eardrum years ago. I like using Lazarus CBD. I get 60% off. I can’t taste. My wife can & she doesn’t like the smell. I wonder if I can use capsules or it some oil in capsules. Thanks

  11. Would ear drops of CBD oil help decrease tinnitus? I have not seen anyone mentioning this on any site for tinnitus relief. I do use it under my tongue for anxiety and to help me sleep but the ringing is still there when I wake up.

    • Hi Martha, I would not put the CBD oil in your ears. There is really no way for it to absorb or anything about doing this that would help with tinnitus. CBD does not really make tinnitus go away, but is more of a coping tool. For me, it indirectly helps my tinnitus because it alleviates my stress and anxiety and improves my sleep, all of which can make my tinnitus worse. Hope that makes sense!

  12. I use CBD medically and consistently, which saturates my body and allows me to get over the side effects such as sleepy etc. If you don’t use it consistently I believe you will not experience the full affect! I have been using it consistently for over 9 months and here are some of things it has helped me with: sleep, inflammation, headaches, head pressure, hyperacusis, loud tinnitus, and anxiety. I’m much calmer in general. If you don’t like the taste of the CBD oils when you take it sublingually, you can mix it with lemon oil, or something that taste good for you. I get lemon oil at the health food store and it’s about $11.

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