Is this ancient “flower infusion” a forgotten herbal tinnitus remedy?
Sounds too good to be true, but you never know…
From a recent (April 2019) paper, Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used in Central Macedonia, Greece:
Satureja montana subsp. macedonica, in addition to the common use of the flower infusion for the treatment of flu and cough, is also used in the study area by Pontians informants to relieve tinnitus and improve hearing. Generally, Satureja spp. have been used since ancient times as flavorings for food and for the treatment of various diseases; their essential oils have been documented for antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, fungicidal, and antioxidant activities [65]. However, the specific use for tinnitus treatment and for hearing improvement is particularly unusual and, to our knowledge, has never been previously reported.
Another interesting excerpt:
Despite growing erosion of existing European tradition ethnobotanical knowledge, population groups in this region maintain some exclusive folk remedies such as the use of Cuscuta campestris against bee stings reported only by Dopioi informants and that of Satureja montana subsp. macedonica cited by Pontians to relieve tinnitus and improve hearing. Such local knowledge is culturally significant and can provide information for developing future researches and promoting ethnopharmacological advances.
As exciting as this information may seem, it’s important to remember that it is too early to make any conclusions.
The facts:
- There are no scientific studies confirming the validity of this claim.
- There is no modern medical proof Satureja montana subsp. macedonica (see also: winter savory) can cure tinnitus or restore hearing.
- It is not even clear how this “flower infusion” is meant to be used, ingested, or applied, in this context…
However, despite a lack of concrete evidence, there is something else to keep in mind: this supposed folk remedy was “successful” enough to be passed down, culturally, for generations…
So perhaps it worked for some people, in certain situations. And hopefully now it will be studied further, by scientists. Who knows, maybe it could lead to a new molecule, new discovery, drug candidate, or even human clinical trials.
Wishful thinking?
Maybe…
Except the flower in question, Satureja montana, is already being studied for a variety of other health conditions (example: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24868886)… so why can’t tinnitus be next?
SOURCE:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6463668/
MORE INFORMATION about Satureja montana: