Tinnitus is also referred to as ringing in the ears, but it can also manifest as noise in the ears. It affects one in five people, according to MayoClinic.com. Tinnitus is usually a symptom of an underlying condition, like damage in the inner ear, hearing loss related to age, or earwax blockage. Alternative treatments have been shown to relieve symptoms of tinnitus, but it is best to consult a health care professional before using herbs to treat this condition to reduce the risk of medication interactions or side effects.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest living tree species, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This herb has been used medicinally to help treat circulatory and memory problems. Ginkgo biloba also has antioxidant properties that can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Although there are more than 40 compounds that have been found in the leaves of the ginkgo plant, only two have been linked to its medicinal properties: flavonoids and terpenoids, according to the University of Maryland. Tinnitus can be caused by nerve damage and blood vessel disorders, and ginkgo biloba has been used to help treat the condition. Studies have not been well-planned and conflicting results have been found. More research needs to be done to support the use of ginkgo for tinnitus.
Zinc
A study published in the journal "Auris, Nasus, Larynx" found that zinc may be involved with the development of tinnitus. Patients who suffered from tinnitus but had normal hearing had significantly lower serum levels of zinc than those of controls, although the difference in zinc levels between patients with hearing loss and tinnitus and controls was not significant. Another study in the journal "Otology and Neurotology" found that the severity of tinnitus was relieved in 82 percent of patients receiving zinc supplements while the relief of tinnitus in patients on the placebo was not statistically significant.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is an herb commonly used in Indian cooking. The fenugreek plant produces seeds and leaves that can be used in cooking and preparing teas. According to Organic Gardening Practices, the plant needs a warm climate in which to grow, and can grow up to two feet. Drinking fenugreek tea three times a day is said to be an herbal remedy for tinnitus, says both Holistic Online and tinnitustreatmentinfo.com.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh was approved to treat tinnitus by the German Commission E, according to the document "Black Cohosh: An annotated bibliography." This herb comes from the black cohosh plant, also called Actaea racemosa, and is often used in treating menopausal symptoms and menstrual cramps, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Black cohosh is also thought to reduce inflammation in osteoarthritis, decrease bone loss from osteoporosis, and alleviate hot flashes from breast cancer treatments. Due to the fact that there is not definitive data on whether black cohosh stimulates or inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells, many doctors recommend using this herb for six months or less, states the University of Maryland.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginkgo Biloba
- PubMed: "Auris, Nasus, Larynx": Zinc deficiency and tinnitus
- PubMed: "Otology and Neurotology": The role of zinc in the treatment of tinnitus
- Organic Gardening Practices: Fenugreek
- Holistic Online: Alternative medicine for tinnitus
- Tinnitustreatmentinfo.com: Alternative tinnitus treatments
