Natural treatments cannot shrink acoustic neuromas, although researchers continue to investigate this topic. Proven treatments include observation, surgery, and radiation.

Acoustic neuromas form in the inner ear. Over time, they can lead to symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

Not all acoustic neuromas need to be treated immediately. When treatment is necessary, it typically involves using surgery or radiation.

While you may be curious if there’s a natural way to shrink an acoustic neuroma, there currently aren’t any natural treatments that can effectively achieve this.

This article reviews the less invasive potential treatment options that researchers are currently studying.

What are acoustic neuromas?

An acoustic neuroma, also called a vestibular schwannoma, is a type of benign (noncancerous) tumor that forms on the nerves of the inner ear.

Acoustic neuromas account for about 8% of all tumors that form in the skull. Most of the time, they affect only one ear. In less than 5% of cases, they may form in both ears.

When you have acoustic neuromas in both ears, it’s referred to as bilateral disease. This is most often associated with a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).

Learn more about acoustic neuromas.

There’s currently no natural, noninvasive remedy, such as a supplement or a lifestyle change, that has proven to shrink or manage the growth of acoustic neuromas.

However, researchers are investigating compounds from natural sources that may help to slow to stop the growth of acoustic neuromas. We’ll take a look at some of these compounds and the research into them below.

It’s important to note that this research has mainly been done in cells grown in a lab. No research has shown that taking supplements of these compounds or eating the foods that contain them will shrink an acoustic neuroma.

At this point in time, the potential treatment options that can help to effectively manage acoustic neuromas involve observation, surgery, or radiation.

Curcumin

Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric that has a variety of potential health benefits. It may also benefit tumors affecting the nervous system.

Some research in a cell model of NF2 found that curcumin inhibited the growth of acoustic neuroma cells.

In 2018, researchers saw that curcumin boosts cell death of schwannoma cells in a lab culture and identified the pathway through which it does so.

Sulforaphane

Sulforaphane is a compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables that may have several health benefits. A 2016 study found that sulforaphane inhibited the growth of acoustic neuromas in cultured cells and a mouse model.

Cucurbitacin D

Cucurbitacin D is a compound found in plants of the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squashes, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers.

Some research has found that it inhibited cell growth in a NF2 schwannoma laboratory model.

Honokiol

Honokiol is a compound found in a species of magnolia native to China that may have neuroprotective properties.

An earlier study from 2012 found that honokiol inhibited cell growth and promoted cell death in a cell model of acoustic neuroma.

Can aspirin shrink acoustic neuromas?

You may have heard that aspirin can help to shrink acoustic neuromas. However, recent research findings do not support this.

Earlier research found that acoustic neuromas with more growth also expressed higher levels of the enzyme COX-2. This is the enzyme that’s inhibited by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin.

Subsequent research found that inhibition of COX-2 using aspirin reduced the growth of acoustic neuroma cells in a laboratory cell culture.

However, more recent research in people with vestibular neuroma who took aspirin, such as a 2019 retrospective review and a 2021 meta-analysis, conclude that there’s currently not enough evidence to support the theory that aspirin reduces the growth of these tumors.

Currently, healthcare professionals use the following strategies to manage acoustic neuromas.

Observation

Not every acoustic neuroma needs to be treated right away. If the tumor is small and appears to not be growing or to be growing slowly, observation may be recommended.

During this time, your healthcare professional will monitor your acoustic neuroma regularly, such as every 6 months, with MRI scans. If scans show that it’s getting larger, treatment can be started.

Surgery

If an acoustic neuroma is larger or causing symptoms, surgery may be recommended. This involves cutting the tumor out from your inner ear.

There are several surgical techniques that may be used to remove acoustic neuromas. Which one is selected depends on factors like the size of the tumor and your level of hearing in the affected ear.

Stereotactic radiotherapy

Stereotactic radiotherapy uses radiation to stop or reduce the growth of acoustic neuromas. The radiation can also help to destroy existing tumor cells.

This approach can be used as an alternative to surgery. It may be recommended for individuals who are older, in poor health, have bilateral disease, or have an acoustic neuroma in their only hearing ear.

In some situations, an acoustic neuroma can shrink on its own. However, this is uncommon. The authors of a 2023 case study on this topic note that prior research has reported that up to 22% of tumors have spontaneous shrinkage.

Overall, acoustic neuromas are slow-growing. According to a 2020 research review, they typically grow at an average rate of one to two millimeters per year, with most growth happening within the first three years after the tumor develops.

If an acoustic neuroma continues to become larger, it can cause symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. If you start to have these symptoms without a known cause, make an appointment to see a healthcare professional.

Seeking early treatment for an acoustic neuroma is important. Large acoustic neuromas can lead to additional problems, such as frequent headaches, vision issues, and facial weakness or numbness.

There’s no natural treatment that can shrink or stop the growth of acoustic neuromas at this time. However, researchers continue to study compounds from natural sources that could help to achieve this.

The current treatments for acoustic neuroma are observation, surgery, or radiation. The type of treatment that’s used depends on many factors, such as:

  • the size of the tumor
  • how fast it’s growing
  • your age
  • your overall health

Acoustic neuromas can cause more serious problems like vision issues and facial numbness if they grow large. Because of this, see a healthcare professional if you start to have unexplained symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, or hearing loss.