# What could possibly be in Quietus (for tinnitus) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 17, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297 "2010-02-17T04:43:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/1 "2010-02-17T04:43:22Z")
[Quietus](http://www.quietrelief.com/index.html) is a new “homeopathic medicine” that gives tinnitus relief. I get to hear commercials on my local radio station for it every time I am in the car. I’m sure their claims are bullshit, but what could the makers even start with, herb-wise, to do anything about tinnitus? Tinnitus can be caused by so many things. I’ve suffered from it since I was a kid and all any doctor has ever said to me about it is “yeah, sucks.” What could it even claim to do? Lower blood pressure? Drain eustachian tubes? Relax muscles? Heal nerve endings? I can’t find anything definite online about its ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/2 "2010-02-17T05:02:58Z")
It does nothing. All homeopathic remedies are scams. It’s not even herbal remedies, they’re basically just water. It’s based on a pseudo-science premise that involves diluting herbal preparations over and over again until none of the original substance is left. This is usually done in water (or sometimes alcohol), but can also be done with other susbtances like wax (which is all that “HeadOn” stuff is. It’s literally pure wax). The pseudo-science is that the serial dilutions change the molecules or something. It’s nonsense. > **[Homeopathy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy)** > > Homeopathy or homoeopathy is a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine. It was conceived in 1796 by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Its practitioners, called homeopaths, believe that a substance that causes symptoms of a disease in healthy people can cure similar symptoms in sick people; this doctrine is called similia similibus curentur, or "like cures like". Homeopathic preparations are termed remedies and are made using homeopathic dilution. In this process, the selected s > **[Homeopathy: The Ultimate Fake | Quackwatch](https://quackwatch.org/related/homeo/)** > > Homeopathic "remedies" enjoy a unique status in the health marketplace: They are the only category of quack products legally marketable as drugs. This situation is the result of two circumstances. First, the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act,... ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/3 "2010-02-17T05:08:46Z")
[Quietus: You decide when.](http://funnycrave.com/marketing-fail-quietus/8596/) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/4 "2010-02-17T05:17:16Z")
[Official website.](http://www.quietrelief.com/) > [@](#): > > Discovered by a rock drummer […] There’s another drummer joke in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/5 "2010-02-17T15:08:41Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It does nothing. All homeopathic remedies are scams. I don’t think it’s accurate to say “scam,” which implies that the purveyor of such remedies is not a believer. Quietus may be a scam, but quite a lot of homeopathy is misguided harm rather than cynical and malicious harm. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/6 "2010-02-17T15:15:21Z")
I think the point of this thread was missed. Yes, homeopathic medicine is bullshit, but the bullshit starts with something that causes the symptom one is trying to relieve. Assuming Quietus adheres to bullshit homeopathic theory, what substance did they use that _causes_ tinnitus? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/7 "2010-02-17T15:19:45Z")
The commercial state that tinnitus is caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises (which is certainly ONE possible cause of tinnitus). Their website adds nerve damage and age as other causes. I can’t see how you would acquire small doses of noise, nerve damage, or age in an eardrop or a tablet, so they may be using “homeopathy” in a general sense of “non-conventional medicine” rather than any sort of accurate sense. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/8 "2010-02-18T01:09:05Z")
According to [here](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quietus) one meaning of “quietus” is “discharge or release from life”, so perhaps it’s simply a lethal poison? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/9 "2010-02-18T02:15:16Z")
Hmm, yeah I guess death would be the only thing to make the ringing stop. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/10 "2010-02-18T02:27:42Z")
Go watch “Children of Men”… ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/11 "2010-02-18T03:01:47Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I think the point of this thread was missed. Yes, homeopathic medicine is bullshit, but the bullshit starts with something that causes the symptom one is trying to relieve. Assuming Quietus adheres to bullshit homeopathic theory, what substance did they use that _causes_ tinnitus? There are a lot of medications that have tinnitus as a possible side effect; aspirin and other NSAIDS are some of the most common causes. I would bet that they start with willow bark or some such. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/12 "2010-02-18T04:51:27Z")
Could not you, yourself, your quietus make with a bare bodkin? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/13 "2010-02-18T13:31:21Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Hmm, yeah I guess death would be the only thing to make the ringing stop. The ultimate cure everything drug: Colt 45. APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! Colt 45. APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! Colt 45. APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! Man, I am gonna be rich. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/14 "2010-02-18T13:38:24Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > The ultimate cure everything drug: > > Colt 45. > > APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! > > Colt 45. > > APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! > > Colt 45. > > APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! > > Man, I am gonna be rich. It works every time. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/15 "2010-02-18T15:41:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Could not you, yourself, your quietus make with a bare bodkin? Only if you can’t bear the fardels. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/16 "2010-02-18T15:56:03Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I don’t think it’s accurate to say “scam,” which implies that the purveyor of such remedies is not a believer. … This is the source of lively “debates” in my household. Our GP (a real doctor) has her clinic in a partnership of other disciplines that all share the same building. Their intent is to give a multidisciplinary resource to patients. Among traditional doctors, there are some naturopaths, massage therapists, and a couple of homeopaths. Personally, I see the homeopaths as leeches using the other disciplines to give them legitimacy in their practice. Unfortunately, Mrs G argues that they must have some legitimacy due to their sharing in this clinic partnership. I’ve seen this co-location tactic being used elsewhere by dodgy practitioners (“Oh, our homepathic remedies are also dispensed at the pharmacy counter, just go to the second window around the corner”). ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/17 "2010-02-18T16:03:03Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > According to [here](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quietus) one meaning of “quietus” is “discharge or release from life”, so perhaps it’s simply a lethal poison? It might be [Placebo.](http://www.brunching.com/placebo.html) That shit can cure _anything._ ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/18 "2010-02-18T16:08:59Z")
Water or a sugar pill that might have, at one time, been in contact with a tiny amount of something else. Same as all other homeopathic remedies. ---
**Author:** ![daveg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@daveg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daveg)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/19 "2010-02-18T16:50:42Z")
I’ve had tinnitus for years. Wish there was a cure. I am not aware of one today. Snake oil has been sold for years. IMO, Quietus is snake oil. Snake oil does **not** cure tinnitus. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297/20 "2010-02-18T17:32:55Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > The ultimate cure everything drug: > > Colt 45. > > APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! I used [another common definition of Colt 45](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_45_%28malt_liquor%29) and half-agreed with you until you got to the method of administration. I’m pretty sure malt liquor works better if you aim a few inches lower than the forehead… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-possibly-be-in-quietus-for-tinnitus/529297.md?page=2)