Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus: does it work?
While no drugs exist that can successfully treat this non-serious but troublesome hearing problem, some studies suggest that ginkgo biloba is effective against tinnitus. Are they right?
Tinnitus: a non-serious hearing disorder
Tinnitus is a non-serious hearing disorder which affects 10%-15% of the world’s population, more commonly men. (1-2).
Tinnitus sufferers experience whistling, buzzing, squeaking, hissing, or some other intrusive noise, but one not caused by an external sound. This is known as subjective tinnitus.
There is another, much rarer, form called objective tinnitus, in which sufferers perceive the sound of blood flowing in arteries close to the ears.
Tinnitus is thus caused by abnormal neuronal activity in the auditory cortex. It is often compared to the sensation of ‘phantom limbs’ felt by amputees.
This ‘phantom sound’ is caused by a disturbance of the auditory pathways: blockage by earwax, acoustic trauma (from prolonged exposure to loud noise), age-related hearing loss, migraine, poor circulation, an inner ear problem, certain medications or Ménière’s disease.
There is currently no effective treatment for tinnitus where the benefits outweigh the side-effects.
Ginkgo biloba – an aid to hearing health
While Ginkgo biloba is today recognised as being good for cognitive function, especially in older people, it also appears to offer benefits for hearing health.
In fact Ginkgo biloba extract contains a high level of polyphenols, numerous antioxidant flavonoids (derivatives of catechins, procyanidins, etc.) as well as terpene lactones (ginkgolides A, B and C; bilobalides) with anticoagulant properties (3).
So together, the active ingredients in Ginkgo biloba thin the blood, protect blood vessel walls and increase venous tone (venotonic effect). As a result, Ginkgo biloba extract supports healthy microcirculation, associated with brain performance and reactivity, as well as hearing and visual health (4-5), by ensuring a good blood supply to these delicate organs.
The benefits of Ginkgo for tinnitus
Traditionally used for treating tinnitus, Ginkgo biloba has been the subject of numerous studies aimed at confirming its efficacy in addressing this hearing disorder.
Ginkgo biloba, tinnitus, the inner ear and microcirculation
While we don’t yet fully understand Ginkgo biloba’s mechanisms of action against tinnitus, its efficacy is likely to be due to the plant’s beneficial effects on blood microcirculation.
Its high content of flavonoids, polyphenols and in particular, terpene lactones, is thought to promote blood supply to the inner ear and protect it from oxidative stress. This means less damage, particularly age-related damage to the inner ear, thus preserving the lifespan of its cells (6-7).
However, these benefits are still the subject of discussion among the scientific community: some meta-analyses have concluded that there is insufficient evidence of Ginkgo biloba’s efficacy in treating tinnitus, while others suggest this leaf extract from the ‘tree of a thousand shields’ is indeed an effective treatment (8-9).
For its part, however, the World Health Organization recognises as “clinically proven” the use of ginkgo leaf extracts for the “symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate brain impairment associated with senile dementia: memory loss, concentration problems, depression, dizziness, tinnitus or headaches with no known cause other than ageing”.
Ginkgo biloba and tinnitus: dose
Studies demonstrating the benefits of Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus suggest a dose of 120mg-160mg a day of an extract standardised to 24% or 25% flavonglycosides and 6% terpene lactones (such the supplement Ginkgo Biloba) for at least 6 weeks.
It’s also worth noting that certain synergistic formulations contain not only Ginkgo biloba extract, but also vitamin B3, zinc, magnesium and antioxidants, for maximum protection of the inner ear against the effects of ageing (these include OptiHear and Hear Loss Formula).
SUPERSMART ADVICE
References
- BAGULEY, David, MCFERRAN, Don, et HALL, Deborah. Tinnitus. The Lancet, 2013, vol. 382, no 9904, p. 1600-1607.
- https://www.ameli.fr/loire/assure/sante/themes/acouphenes/definition-causes-consequences-acouphenes
- JUNG, F., MROWIETZ, C., KIESEWETTER, H., et al.Effect of Ginkgo biloba on fluidity of blood and peripheral microcirculation in volunteers. Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1990, vol. 40, no 5, p. 589-593.
- SI, Xia, YU, Zhiying, REN, Xiaolei, et al.Efficacy and safety of standardized Ginkgo biloba L. leaves extract as an adjuvant therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2022, vol. 282, p. 114587.
- EVANS, Jennifer R. et COCHRANE EYES AND VISION GROUP. Ginkgo biloba extract for age‐related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1996, vol. 2013, no
- ERNST, E. et STEVINSON, C. Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus: a review. Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences, 1999, vol. 24, no 3, p. 164-167.
- MAHMOUDIAN-SANI, Mohammad Reza, HASHEMZADEH-CHALESHTORI, Morteza, ASADI-SAMANI, Majid, et al.Ginkgo biloba in the treatment of tinnitus: An updated literature review. The international tinnitus journal, 2017, vol. 21, no 1, p. 58-62.
- HILTON, Malcolm P., ZIMMERMANN, Eleanor F., et HUNT, William T. Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013, no 3.
- ERNST, E. et STEVINSON, C. Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus: a review. Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences, 1999, vol. 24, no 3, p. 164-167.
Keywords
1 Days
Great product and it arrives quickly.
Great product and it arrives quickly.
SOMMARIVA Gianni
2 Days
Excellent products and fast service.
Excellent products and fast service. What do we need more?
Margarida
6 Days
The variety of products is amazing
The variety of products is amazing, the offers are good and the sending is very fast. I just miss having a bit more of guidance about combinations, possible interactions, etc.
Maria Angeles Verdu
7 Days
It was quick
It was quick.
Timo Antero
10 Days
Who is a good boy? You, you are! Yes, yes
:) :(:) :(:) :(:) :(
JORGE Catalan Gasco
12 Days
Excellent online site
Excellent online site, efficient and quick delivery. A great experience.
Chris
15 Days
I’m really happy with your products, but…
I’m really happy with your products. Indeed, I’ve been a customer of SuperSmart for a long time. However, I believe that lately you’ve made a significant mistake in choosing Poste Italiane for your deliveries. Poste Italiane is now over loaded and assigns the deliveries to small local companies that have grown like mushrooms because of this business. However, the service they provide is very poor. They let you know about the delivery date just the evening before, with no time to organize yourself, many times you receive a message saying that they tried to deliver but you were not home and in reality they haven’t come at all and, when they do come, you open the door of the building ( I live on the 3rd floor) and when you get downstairs they have already left, leaving the pack inside but right behind the glass door instead of at least putting it on top or under the letterbox. This is not just a one time event but it’s their way of proceeding. It would be worth hiring a professional currier. Thanks
Olga Gladys Del Signore
16 Days
Good products
Good products, fast service
Mrs I Heinrich
22 Days
Quality products and fast shipping.
Quality products and fast shipping.
JF
23 Days
Everything is great. Keep up
Your product and service is great that's why i ordered again.
KOSMATOS Stamatios
27 Days
everything as expected
the products work and the processes to support them also
Ruggero Benedetto
29 Days
Excellent products always up to date…
Excellent products always up to date with the latest developments.
Olga Gladys Del Signore
33 Days
Great service
Great service, exceptional delivery time.
Chris
35 Days
Excellent quality of Super Smart
I’ve used Super Smart products for a long time and since the very beginning I have been absolutely keen about their punctuality in delivering but, most of all, I appreciate the quality of their products and the constant updates following the results of proven research.
Olga Gladys Del Signore
38 Days
Slow post
You have a very good range of quality products, and service is usually good. However delivery was slow due to using the national postage company. Correos. Regards David
David Walsh