|
Although the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba has been
touted as a remedy for ringing in the ears, researchers in the UK have
found the claim does not ring true.
A health-food store staple, ginkgo
is marketed as a remedy for dizziness,
memory loss
and other problems that can
be related to poor blood circulation to
the brain -- including ringing in the ears, or tinnitus.
A number of European studies have suggested ginkgo
supplements do indeed improve circulation, and extracts from the Ginkgo
biloba tree have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
However, the herb's effects on tinnitus have been
difficult to weed out. Tinnitus is a common problem with a variety of
causes, from exposure to loud noises to the side effects of certain medications.
Ginkgo's usefulness
for tinnitus may be limited only to people who have it as a result of
circulation problems.
Investigators found that a 12-week regimen of ginkgo
supplements had no effect on the patients' conditions.
The researchers had half of the patients take gingko
three times a day, while the other half received an inactive placebo.
After 12 weeks of treatment, the gingko group was no more likely to have
found relief than the placebo group.
Ginkgo's effectiveness
on tinnitus likely varies
by the cause of the problem. She noted that although the study
participants were questioned about symptoms of poor blood circulation -- such
as headaches and tiredness -- they may not have actually had poor circulation.
British Medical Journal
2001;322:73-75
| 