Certain dietary supplements may be helpful in treating your ear ringing, or tinnitus. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, tinnitus is commonly described as ringing, roaring, clicking, buzzing or hissing in one or both ears. Tinnitus is not a disease, but it is a symptom of an auditory problem. Before taking supplements to help treat your tinnitus, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Ginkgo
Ginkgo, also known as Ginkgo biloba, is an herbal supplement that may be helpful in treating your tinnitus. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, ginkgo has been used for thousands of years to help treat tinnitus, asthma, bronchitis, fatigue and other ailments. Ginkgo is a tree species that has been used as both a food and a medicine. Gingko belongs to the Ginkgoaceae family, has a slightly sour taste and can grow to a maximum height about 165 feet. The trees' leaves are used for medicinal purposes, including ringing in the ears. Dr. Michael T. Murray, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "The Healing Power of Herbs," states that ginkgo is helpful in treating tinnitus, vertigo, depression, premenstrual syndrome, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy and impotence. Supplements containing ginkgo may cause stomach upset and headaches in some individuals so consult with your doctor before adding ginkgo to your routine.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in certain foods, is sometimes a prescription medication and is commonly available as a dietary supplement. According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B-12 is necessary for numerous biological functions, including proper red blood cell formation, neurological processes and DNA synthesis. A study by Zecharia Shemesh, M.D., and colleagues published in the "American Journal of Otolaryngology" states that there may be a relationship between vitamin B-12 deficiency and dysfunction of your auditory pathway. Patients in their study showed improved tinnitus symptoms following vitamin B-12 replacement therapy. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is a relatively rare condition in the U.S. Common signs and symptoms associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency include fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, weight loss and numbness and tingling of your hands and feet.
St. John's Wort
Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that St. John's wort, also known as Hypericum perforaturm, is a sedative, nervine, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and astringent that has been used to help treat numerous health problems. A 2002 article by Dr. Mohammed Ajalloueyan published in "Tinnitus Today," the magazine of the American Tinnitus Society, states that 68 percent of patients in his study reported subjective improvement in their tinnitus while taking St. John's wort. St. John's wort contains hypericin, which may be responsible for relieving ear-ringing. St. John's wort is a perennial herb native to Europe that now grows throughout the world. St. John's wort has a sweet, bitter and astringent taste and possesses slight warming tendencies. Practitioners of botanical medicine use the plants' flowering tops medicinally.
References
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Tinnitus
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Ginkgo
- "The Healing Power of Herbs"; Michael T. Murray, N.D.; 1995
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Tinnitus Today"; Hypericin and Intractable Tinnitus; Mohammed Ajalloueyan, M.D.; March 2002
- National Institutes of Health: Vitamin B12
