Conditions:
Tinnitus

Principal Proposed Treatments
  • There are no well-established natural treatments for tinnitus.
Other Proposed Treatments
  • Ginkgo biloba, Vitamin A combined with Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Zinc, Glutamic Acid, Ipriflavone, Oxerutins, Melatonin, Periwinkle, Biofeedback, Massage, Acupuncture, Hypnosis

Tinnitus is the technical term for ringing in the ear, although it may actually involve sounds better described as buzzing, roaring, or hissing. The noise can be intermittent or continuous and can vary in pitch and loudness. Most people have experienced tinnitus occasionally for a minute or two. However, some people have tinnitus continuously, over long periods of time. It can range from a minor annoyance to a serious and nearly intolerable condition.

Exposure to loud noise can lead to tinnitus, as can ear obstructions, ear infections, otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the ear), head injuries, or heart and blood vessel disorders. In some cases, treating the underlying disorder will relieve the tinnitus; however, in many cases the cause either can't be found or can't be treated.

One approach involves covering up the noise to make it more tolerable; this includes hearing aids, tinnitus maskers (devices worn in the ear that emit pleasant sounds), or simply playing music to cover the noise. Avoiding loud noises, nicotine, aspirin, caffeine, and alcohol may help, since these often aggravate tinnitus. Biofeedback, massage, acupuncture, and hypnosis have also been tried, but the results have been mixed.¹

Drugs such as carbamazepine, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants may be tried, although none of these have been proven effective for tinnitus.

Proposed Treatments for Tinnitus

There are no well-documented natural treatments for tinnitus.

Several studies have evaluated Ginkgo biloba extract for treating tinnitus, but the results have been conflicting.^2–7,18 While some small studies found benefit, by far the largest and best-designed of these trials found no benefit.

In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 1,121 individuals with tinnitus were given 12 weeks of treatment with standardized ginkgo at a dose of 50 mg 3 times daily.⁸ The results showed no difference between the treated and the placebo group.

Vitamins A and E in combination, vitamin B₁₂, zinc, glutamic acid, ipriflavone, oxerutins, and periwinkle have also been suggested for the treatment of tinnitus.^9–15However, there is no real evidence as yet that they work for this condition.

Melatonin is sometimes used to improve sleep in people with tinnitus; however, it doesn't appear to have any effect on the tinnitus itself.^16,17

Last reviewed July 2002 by Medical Review Board

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