Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling or hissing sound in one or both ears. Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying problem, such as ear damage, hearing loss or circulatory disorder. Sometimes doctors can find and treat the underlying problem and eliminate the noise, but, according to Mayo Clinic, in many cases the exact cause cannot be found. Medications may reduce the symptoms and help the patient cope with the noise, but they may have unpleasant side effects. Herbal remedies can be a safer and gentler alternative for treating the symptoms associated with tinnitus.
Black cohosh
Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa, Actaea racemosa) is a popular herb for treating premenstrual and menopausal disorders, such as pain and cramping. It is also useful for pain associated with rheumatism, arthritis and neuralgia. In the November 2006 publication, "Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa): An Annotated Bibliography," the authors state that the German Commission E---appointed by the German Minister of Health in 1978 to review herbal preparations---has approved black cohosh as a treatment for tinnitus. Black cohosh is a vasodilatory, an herb that increases peripheral blood flow. This may help with one cause of tinnitus known as Meniere's disease, an inner ear disorder for which vasodilator medications have been prescribed for decades, according to Health Insight.
Ginkgo
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is effective in treating central and peripheral circulation disorders, especially when they are related to problems like memory loss, dizziness and loss of concentration. Herbalist David Hoffmann, in his 2003 book, "Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," states that ginkgo may be useful for inner ear problems, like tinnitus, that are related to vascular disturbances. A study in the May 2002 issue of the "International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics" found a reduction in noise volume and decreased hearing loss in patients with chronic tinnitus who underwent ten days of intravenous ginkgo, followed by 12 weeks of ginkgo taken orally.
Rehmannia
Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa), also known as sheng di huang, is a fundamental herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It is used in China, Japan and Korea to treat tinnitus and hearing loss. A study in the 2007 issue of the "Archives of Medical Research" noted that high levels of free radicals played a role in the cellular damage associated with tinnitus. The researchers found that oral antioxidant treatment reduced free radicals and the perceived noise level in patients suffering from tinnitus. This study explains how plants like rehmannia, which are rich in antioxidants, can affect symptoms of tinnitus. A study in the 2006 issue of "The American Journal of Chinese Medicine" found that an extract of the steamed roots of rehmannia increased the level of antioxidants in auditory cells. A similar study published in the October 2006 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," by some of the same authors, found that the high levels of antioxidants in rehmannia extract had a protective effect against damage to auditory cells.
References
- Mayo Clinic
- "Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa): An Annotated Bibliography"; Mary L. Predny, Patricia De Angelis, and James L. Chamberlain; November 2006
- Health Insight
- "Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; The efficacy of Ginkgo special extract Egb 761 in patients with tinnitus; Morgenstern, C. and Biermann, E.; May 2002
