Ginkgo Biloba

[Piper]

Has anyone tried ginkgo biloba?

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Extension-Ginkgo-Biloba-Capsules/dp/B000KEO85E/

 

[Sven]

Has anyone tried ginkgo biloba?

I have. No good if your T is caused by noise.

 

[Markku]

I have. No good if your T is caused by noise.

It's interesting how often we hear people asking about ginkgo when it comes to tinnitus.

Just out of curiosity, asking everyone here, how many have heard someone taking ginkgo and it actually helping tinnitus?

Compared to how little of help it seems to be, it's amazing (and sad) how high on the list of "possible treatments" it is.

 

[Markku]

Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus

Source
ENT Department, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter, Devon, UK, EX2 5DW.

BACKGROUND:
This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 2, 2004 and previously updated in 2007 and 2009.Tinnitus can be described as the perception of sound in the absence of external acoustic stimulation. At present no specific therapy for tinnitusis acknowledged to be satisfactory in all patients. There are a number of reports in the literature suggesting that Ginkgo biloba may be effective in the management of tinnitus. However, there also appears to be a strong placebo effect in tinnitus management.

OBJECTIVES:
To assess the effect of Ginkgo biloba in patients who are troubled by tinnitus.

SEARCH METHODS:
We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; AMED; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 12 March 2012.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
Adults (18 years and over) complaining of tinnitus or adults with a primary complaint of cerebral insufficiency, wheretinnitus forms part of the syndrome.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
Both original authors independently extracted data and assessed trials for quality. For the 2012 update two authors determined trial eligibility, extracted data, analysed data and updated the contents of the review.

MAIN RESULTS:
Four trials with a total of 1543 participants were included in the review; we assessed all the included studies as having a low risk of bias. Three trials (1143 participants) included patients with a primary complaint of tinnitus and one (400 participants) included patients with mild to moderate dementia, some of whom had tinnitus.There was no evidence that Gingko biloba was effective in patients with a primary complaint oftinnitus. In the study of patients with dementia, mean baseline levels of tinnitus were low (1.7 to 2.5 on a 10-point subjective symptom rating scale). A small but statistically significant reduction of 1.5 and 0.7 points was seen in patients taking Gingko biloba with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease respectively. The practical clinical significance of this is unclear. The incidence of side effects was low.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
The limited evidence does not demonstrate that Ginkgo biloba is effective for tinnitus when this is the primary complaint.

 

[James White]

FDA Urged to Prohibit Sale of Ginkgo in Wake of Cancer Study

CSPI Says FDA Should Give Industry 30 Days to Take Products off the Market
June 3, 2013
Following a government report that the herbal ingredientGinkgo biloba causes cancer in lab animals, the nonprofitCenter for Science in the Public Interest is urging the Food and Drug Administration to prohibit its use in foods and dietary supplements. The watchdog organization says the FDA should give the industry a reasonable time to comply with such a directive and then seize whatever products remain on shelves to protect consumers.
A March report from the National Toxicology Program found "clear evidence" that Ginkgo caused liver cancer in mice and "some evidence" that Ginkgo caused thyroid cancer in rats. Researchers from NTP told the New York Times that the number of cancers found in the mice exceeded the numbers ever seen before in their lab. While the supplement industry argued that the NTP used an extract of Ginkgo not used in supplements sold in the United States, the NTP says the composition of the extract it tested falls within the range of what is sold.
"It used to be the case that the only problems associated with Ginkgo were the unfounded and deceptive claims by manufacturers that it helped memory," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. "Now we know these make-believe benefits are far outweighed by a real risk of cancer."
Citing the NTP report, the FDA has already told one beverage maker, Stewart Brothers, Inc., that Ginkgo is not generally recognized as safe in food. It is harder for the agency to remove supplement ingredients from the market, but it may if it finds that an ingredient poses an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.
Ginkgo is found in single-ingredient supplement pills made by Natrol, GNC, Solaray, Now, and Nature's Way, as well as in multi-ingredient products such as Bayer One A Day Women's 50 Plus Advantage. It is used in some energy drinks, such as several varieties of Rockstar and Hansen's Energy Pro, Guru, and Steven Segal's Lightning Bolt, and in Redco Foods' Salada "Brain Boost" green tea and Yogi Tea's Ginkgo Clarity.

https://www.cspinet.org/new/201306031.html

 

[Sven]

I can't remember where at the time, but when my T was new I read somewhere that Gingko Biloba help with blood circulation in the head/ears or something like that, so if bad circulation (if possible) caused your T, it could help.

 

[erik]

Unfortunately, most T is not caused by circulation issues and that is why in study after study ginkgo has proven not to work

 

[Markku]

I added a poll to this thread. Please answer it if you have taken Ginkgo.

 

[Sherri786]

Has anyone tried ginkgo biloba?

Hello I have tried Ginko, but at the same time I was taking so many other pills, I don't know whether or not it helped me in the beginning.

 

[carlover]

Re that cancer scare study. I never believe any of these studies re natuaral supps, I always think there is something not right. With respect to James I think I'm proved right again

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA401291/Bad-News-About-Ginkgo-Biloba.html

 

[Steven Bock]

I have taken Arches Formula, which is Gingko Biloba, Zinc, and Garlic, it helped not so much, maybe I have to take it longer?...anyone know if the Arches formula takes a period of time before it works?

 

[Markku]

Hi @Steven Bock,

I'm quoting erik below.

Unfortunately, most T is not caused by circulation issues and that is why in study after study ginkgo has proven not to work

Also an earlier post of mine about Ginkgo Biloba's effectiveness for tinnitus: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/ginkgo-biloba.1686/#post-14132

Zinc, Garlic... yeah, probably not the magic bullets either.

Supplemental zinc may have *some effect* according to this study, but mostly if you are an elderly with dietary zinc deficiency.

This study had a more positive result: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12544035

And this one is a review of five studies: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17956792
Stating...
Four among five small studies indicate that administration of zinc has a beneficial effect on tinnitus but these results still have to be confirmed in clinical trials with larger samples using a cross-over design, validated tinnitus handicap questionnaires, measurements of tinnitus magnitude, and accessing the coexistence of other symptoms such as depression, phonophobia, and hyperacusis.

There is an existing thread about Arches Tinnitus Formula here: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/arches-tinnitus-formula.820/

I also did a little round-up of the costs of Arches in this post: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/lipoflavonoid.333/#post-1892

When you buy the Arches brand, you automatically pay more than twice the price to that company than what it would cost to buy the ingredients separately.

Basically Arches has somehow managed to build a brand around their tinnitus formula, but how would their product fare in a real clinical trial is another question. Everybody shall make up their own mind since I suspect we'll be waiting a long time for that trial.

 

[Steven Bock]

How about the product of T-gone, does it work?

 

[Commonrider]

I created an account because I'm hoping my story can help others.

I didn't know at the time but for years and years I had mild tinnitus from listening to CDs too loud in the car (I think). About 2 and half years ago I got pushed close to a speaker at a punk rock show and since then my tinnitus was really bad. So bad that it would wake me up at night and distract me at work. I was really worried about going crazy. I decided to try and improve my blood flow with ginko and zinc and I noticed results really quickly (within a month or 2 it was much much better). Now 2 years later I still have tinnitus but it is so quiet I cant hear it at all unless I really try to focus on it and sometimes I can't hear it even if I try. From time to time it gets a bit louder but not enough to bother me. So it's at a point where it doesn't impact my life in a negative way at all. I also reduced the amount of salty food I ate and started exercising more.

I stopped taking ginko at one point and the tinnitus got louder again a couple of weeks later. When I took ginko again it got quiet once again.

These factors plus reading the following words I saw on a tinnitus website solved this problem for me: "just because you have tinnitus doesn't mean you have to be a tinnitus sufferer." I think supplements + diet change + exercise+ a more positive attitude can help a lot of people like me.

I hope this helps!

 

[James White]

Thanks for your comment, i have to say i've been a bit lazy testing stuff like ginko, zinc, etc

It appears on lots of websites and often feels like it's sponsored by the dietary supplements companies ...

It's intereting to know it worked for you after noise trauma, usually it works better for people who have tinnitus out of the blue

 

[Commonrider]

ginko + zinc (plus lower sodium and more exercise) made my tinnitus so quiet that it isnt a factor at all in my life. I just created an account to tell people about it so maybe it can help since it has helped me for the past 2 years so much. I stopped taking ginko at one point and it got louder again. When I started taking ginko again it got quiet again. The change was so drastic I can't imagine it being a fluke or my imagination. Hope this helps!

 

[Commonrider]

I have taken Arches Formula, which is Gingko Biloba, Zinc, and Garlic, it helped not so much, maybe I have to take it longer?...anyone know if the Arches formula takes a period of time before it works?

I took ginko and zinc. I noticed a change pretty quickly but not the full effect for about 2 months. That was to be expected from what I read.

 

[Golly]

Thanks for your comment, i have to say i've been a bit lazy testing stuff like ginko, zinc, etc

It appears on lots of websites and often feels like it's sponsored by the dietary supplements companies ...

It's intereting to know it worked for you after noise trauma, usually it works better for people who have tinnitus out of the blue

Does anyone know of a safe source of Ginkgo? I would try if I thought it was not going to do me any harm! Also, does this interact with other drugs (e.g., antidepressants or benzodiazapines)?

-Golly

 

[Golly]

Does anyone know of a safe source of Ginkgo? I would try if I thought it was not going to do me any harm! Also, does this interact with other drugs (e.g., antidepressants or benzodiazapines)?

-Golly

Actually, I will answer my own question in part. According to Consumerlab.com, there are many acceptable brands of Ginkgo. Some of the ones they list are Vitamin Shoppe, Solgar, GNC, and Finest Natural. In fact, the only brand they tested that was NOT approved was Gaia Herbs Ginkgo Leaf.

I still need to know about interaction effects.

-G

 

[JTP]

Actually, I will answer my own question in part. According to Consumerlab.com, there are many acceptable brands of Ginkgo. Some of the ones they list are Vitamin Shoppe, Solgar, GNC, and Finest Natural. In fact, the only brand they tested that was NOT approved was Gaia Herbs Ginkgo Leaf.

I still need to know about interaction effects.

-G

There seems to be possible interactions with eg mirtazapin according to www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html under some circumstances

 

[Golly]

There seems to be possible interactions with eg mirtazapin according to www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html under some circumstances

Thanks, @JTP --- Given that I take Remeron, that is one interaction I need to know about! -G

 

[JTP]

Thanks, @JTP --- Given that I take Remeron, that is one interaction I need to know about! -G

I've chosen the same poison Great for sleep.

 

[Markku]

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb-interaction/possible-interactions-with-ginkgo-biloba

This seemed like a good source to look up Ginkgo's interactions.

Here's the Ginkgo thread on TT: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/ginkgo-biloba.1686/

 

[Strictlyt]

I have been taking Gingko Biloba for about 6 months. My T is still there, part of my thinks it has got a bit better but maybe it is just a placebo effect? I have been taking vitamin supplements as well for a skin condition. That study about Gingko Biloba causing cancer is putting me off a bit though. I have decided to try magnesium and calcium supplements at the moment.

 

[Lulubug69]

I put gingko in my my arsenal against T after seeing some others trying it too. I am finding my T is slightly louder when I take it. For now I'm omitting it, but was wondering if anyone found this to be true for them? It seems to be recommended by others a lot, including some ENT' s, so why might this be happening? Any thoughts?

 

[Relic Hunter]

I tried Ginkgo from ARCHES with the supplement but it did nothing..I knew little at that time..Ginkgo acks as a blood thinner so no effect on noise induced T. The arches formula was very concentrated compared to most supplement brands, requiring you to take almost a double recommended dosage of the readily available brands.

Since Ginkgo acts as a blood thinner I remember reading a warning on a label that one should stop taking it at least 2 weeks before any surgery.

I hope that Ginkgo is still available to those that have shown it helps with their T..

 

[Karen]

I tried more than one brand of gingko in the early days of my tinnitus. It seemed to make it worse (it actually increased the volume of my tinnitus!), so I quit taking it.

I hadn't read this thread before, and did not know it might be cancer causative.

 

[vickilynn]

Has anyone tried ginkgo biloba?

Well I'm taking that Arches Tinnitus formula which has Ginko in it. Still on first bottle and so far nothing. I also picked up something at Meijers called ring relief. It's drops you put in your ears but it says right on the box that it may not work for everyone and the T may worsen at first. So, so far the T isn't better, in fact, it's gotten a bit louder lately. Which is why I came to this board and am trying to figure out if anything decrease it. But it's a hit and miss thing because what might help one person does nothing for the next. Frustrating.

 

[erik]

@vickilynn -yes you nailed it. What might help one person might not help another. However, the general rule of thumb with supplements is that most don't help T including Ginkgo especially if your T is due to any type of hearing loss. Supplements just can't repair hair cells.

 

[vickilynn]

@vickilynn -yes you nailed it. What might help one person might not help another. However, the general rule of thumb with supplements is that most don't help T including Ginkgo especially if your T is due to any type of hearing loss. Supplements just can't repair hair cells.

That's true. But I think I hear good. I was told that I've lost some in the upper ranges but I don't feel deprived of hearing. Now if someone mumbles and runs their words together like my hubby tends to do I may not understand but it doesn't mean I didn't hear it.