Here’s another natural remedy for buzzing ear. Ginkgo Biloba for tinnitus, also known as maidenhair tree is widely cultivated and introduced early to human history. It is found to have various uses in traditional medicine and has 40 components although only 2 are used in medicine. These are identified as terpenoids and flavonoids. Scientists have tested and proven that terpenoids enhance blood by expanding blood vessels and decreasing the stickiness of platelets. Flavonoids are considered antioxidants which are plant-based, where both animal and laboratory studies prove that they protect the heart muscle, blood vessels, nerves and retina from damage.
Health benefits of ginkgo biloba
In an ordinary conversation, when someone brings up a topic about herbal medicines “ginkgo biloba” is the most common herbal medicine that one can talk about. Health conscious people are aware that it is widely used for people with Alzheimer’s disease for improved thinking, improved learning and improved memory. For women, it helps reduce Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and even anxiety. This is because it improves blood circulation by opening up blood vessels and making it sticky. Ginkgo biloba is also known as an anti-oxidant.
Other medicinal use of ginkgo biloba is in treatment of intermittent claudication (pain caused by reduced blood flow to the legs). People with this condition suffer from severe pain when walking. Glaucoma, which is an eye condition, was found that there can be improvements in vision when 120 mg of ginkgo is taken for 8 weeks. There are many uses of ginkgo biloba than one could ever imagine. It can be used to counter impotence, asthma attacks, heart attack or stroke, cataracts, macular degeneration, depression & anxiety. The questions is, “Can ginkgo biloba be a treatment for tinnitus as well?”
Ginkgo biloba improves blood circulation
Tinnitus or buzzing of the ears, where a person suffers from internally-produced noises like crickets, humming, ringing and buzzing, has an additional treatment option which can be found from ginkgo biloba. It is a known fact that there is no cure and no medicine for this type of condition but there are treatments that can be considered to reduce the pain of that buzzing in the ear.
A systematic review from the Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment show that EGb 761, a standardized ginkgo biloba extract is a treatment option in tinnitus depending on the case. Tinnitus is often associated with blood vessel disorders and since ginkgo biloba improves blood circulation, it has been considered to show small improvement although it is not enough to be considered significant or to recommend it as a viable treatment option.
An article by Drew Davies which was published in the British Medical Journal indicate that a double-blind prospective study at the University of Birmingham (UK) was conducted, and found ginkgo ineffective. But because ginkgo biloba is one of the top herbal medicines used worldwide and considering the fact that it is relatively inexpensive, people are considering ginkgo biloba as a treatment, in hope that more clinical tests will be conducted to prove that it is indeed effective.
For tinnitus patients, it is a must to consider the side effects that ginkgo biloba may cause with prolonged use of it. Undesirable effects of ginkgo biloba include increased risk of bleeding, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations and restlessness. Therefore, it is always a must to consult a physician before using ginkgo biloba or any medicine.