Tinnitus: Help It From the Get-Go With Ginkgo

If you’re suffering from tinnitus, or if you’re suffering from a chronic ringing or other annoying sound in your ear without knowing the cause, Ginkgo biloba should be one of the first things you reach for.

So . . . what exactly is the truth behind the homeopathic remedy that has stumped scientists and medical professionals for years? And why does it help the incurable and often maddening effects of tinnitus?

Tinnitus By the Numbers

According to the American Tinnitus Association, the bell-ringing disorder impacts up to 50 million people in the United States and millions more worldwide. It is most commonly caused by noise exposure, but it is also linked to chronic illnesses and a wide range of underlying causes.

The ATA recognizes that there hasn’t been a proven medication that can effectively cure tinnitus, but there are steps a person can take to improve the outlook.

Stress, for instance, is a major factor in tinnitus and can only make things worse. If you’re experiencing a chronic cochlear sound, emotional and life-style changes can be effective, as well as changes to your diet. Salt, artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine have all been linked to tinnitus aggravation, and eliminating any factors one-by-one could tell you what’s been causing the noise.

It’s also important to protect yourself from any further auditory damage by avoiding loud places and by using earplugs if you know you’re going to be at a concert, on the bus, or in the middle of Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

But there are alternative treatments and homeopathic resources as well . . . one of which comes into the conversation a lot.

Ginkgo Biloba and Tinnitus

For years, there have been studies saying that Ginkgo biloba can really help those suffering from tinnitus. Then, there are studies claiming it has the same effect as a placebo. And then, there are studies of those studies claiming that there were flaws in methodology.

It’s enough to make your ears ring.

But the ATA recognizes that Ginkgo is one herbal preparation found to be helpful for some people dealing with the chronic disorder.  In fact, the Tinnitus Library at tinnitusformula.com published clinical research that focused on a multi-center randomized double-blind study of Ginkgo extract versus a placebo, and found a conclusive effectiveness.

The Ginkgo biloba extract improved the condition of all the tinnitus patients involved, irrespective of the prognostic factor.  The study was across the board positive for GB over the placebo. So, despite the back and forth, this extract seems to provide some relief from an extremely annoying problem.

And when dealing with something like tinnitus, across the board positivity can be music to your ears.


Cited Sources

"American Tinnitus Association Information." Home Page American Tinnitus Association. ATA, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.ata.org/>.

"Tips For Managing Tinnitus." ATA.org Tips. ATA, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.ata.org/for-patients/tips>.

"Treatment Information." ATA.org Treatments. ATA, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.ata.org/for-patients/treatment>.

Meyer B: Etude multicentrique des acouphenes, epidemiologie et therapeutique. Annal. ORL 1986, 103, 185-188./// Meyer, B. "Tinnitus Library." Arches Tinnitus Formula. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.tinnitusformula.com/library/clinical-study-on-ginkgo-tinnitus/>.

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