Chinese herb may help eliminate ringing in the ears
About two years ago, Bill Bonner, the owner of our parent company, asked me what we had that could treat tinnitus. My answer was “nothing.” But Bill’s request, combined with the dozens of letters we get from members about it, has kept us searching.
Those of us who haven’t had tinnitus can only imagine how maddening it can be – a continual undercurrent of buzzing, ringing, roaring sound in your ears. For some, it’s only an occasional problem. But for millions of people, it’s a chronic condition that affects them every day of their lives.
Sometimes the cause is easily identified and easily treated; a bacterial infection, a virus, a nerve disorder, or even a medication you’re taking. But too often, there is no defined cause and no cure.
Could gingko biloba be the answer to tinnitus?
For years, alternative medicine has suggested that the Asian herbal remedy gingko biloba can help relieve tinnitus. But research results have been mixed. Now a new study supports the idea that gingko biloba can be an effective alternative for people suffering with tinnitus and other auditory problems.
In this German study, doctors set out to compare the effects of gingko biloba and pentoxifylline in treating sudden hearing loss, a condition that is often accompanied by tinnitus. (According to the study, pentoxifylline is the standard of care for sudden hearing loss in Germany. The drug, which helps improve blood flow and circulation, is delivered in a carrier solution via infusion. In the U.S. and other European countries, oral cortisone is often the first line of attack, in an attempt to eliminate any inflammation that may be compressing the nerves in the ear.)
The researchers recruited 72 patients who had recently experienced sudden hearing loss, and randomly assigned them to receive either 200 mg of ginkgo biloba or 300 mg of pentoxifylline each day for 10 days, both via infusion. Forty-one percent of the ginkgo group and 39 percent of the drug group reported tinnitus at baseline.
Gingko offers greater relief than prescription drug
After 10 days, both groups showed similar gains in hearing. (The gingko group’s hearing improved an average of 13.4 decibels, while the pentoxifylline group improved an average of 12.4 decibels.) But the gingko group reported greater gains against tinnitus. On average, patients taking gingko reported larger decreases in the severity of their tinnitus symptoms. And overall, patients gave gingko higher efficacy scores than pentoxifylline on a five-point rating scale.
Herbalists have been pointing out gingko’s positive effects on blood circulation for many years. The herb effectively inhibits platelet aggregation, and is a powerful antioxidant. For this reason, gingko biloba has long been recommended for treating and preventing Alzheimer’s disease, intermittent claudication, and macular degeneration. Now, this study supports the idea that ginkgo’s positive effects on circulation can also improve blood flow to the ears.
Gingko biloba is widely available in health food stores and from supplement suppliers. There are few reported side effects of this herb; occasionally, it can cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort or headaches. And, since it does thin the blood, it should not be taken in conjunction with prescription blood-thinning drugs like warfarin or heparin. There are even concerns about taking gingko biloba along with natural blood-thinning products like garlic or high-dose vitamin E. If you already take a daily drug or supplement for blood-thinning benefits, discuss the situation with your doctor before you begin taking gingko.
But for many people, gingko biloba may be a safe, affordable, and easily accessible answer for the nagging problem of tinnitus. Pass this information along to anyone you care about who suffers with tinnitus – even if that person happens to be your boss!
Sources:
Acta Otolaryngol 2001; 121:579-584
Copyright 1997-2002 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C.
