Ginkgo biloba has no proven benefit for tinnitus. A Cochrane review found that it may make little or no difference to tinnitus severity compared with a placebo. The reviewers rated the evidence as very uncertain.
If you take a blood thinner such as warfarin, check with your prescriber or pharmacist before taking ginkgo. It may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulants.
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Comparing ginkgo with Audifort? View the Audifort seller’s product information. Check the full label for the formula you’re considering. This article looks specifically at research on ginkgo.
What Did the Tinnitus Studies Find?
The Cochrane review included 12 studies with 1,915 participants. Eleven compared ginkgo with a placebo. The remaining study compared ginkgo plus hearing aids with hearing aids alone.
Only two studies could be combined for the main analysis of tinnitus severity. Their results suggested little or no benefit compared with placebo, but the evidence was too uncertain for a firm estimate. The evidence on tinnitus loudness was also very uncertain.
The total number of participants can make the research sound more conclusive than it is. What matters for your decision is how many studies measured the outcome you care about and whether their results can be compared. Read how to evaluate tinnitus supplement evidence.
Does a Claim About Circulation Tell You Whether Ringing Will Improve?
If a product page discusses circulation, look at what the cited study actually measured. A study that measures blood flow answers a different question from one that asks whether ringing interfered less with sleep, work, or conversation.
Likewise, if a study used a particular ginkgo extract, check whether the product you’re considering uses the same preparation and amount. For a blend, look for evidence that researchers tested the finished formula. See how to read the Audifort ingredient label.
Checking a hearing supplement label? Open the Audifort seller’s product page. Use the full label to check the ingredients and amounts disclosed per serving.
What Are the Side Effects and Interaction Risks?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health lists dizziness, headache, and digestive symptoms among the side effects of ginkgo leaf extracts. It also warns that ginkgo may increase bleeding risk in people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin and may interact with other medicines.
The tinnitus studies in the Cochrane review did not assess the risks of taking ginkgo alongside other medicines. If you’re considering it, show your pharmacist the exact label and a list of everything you take, including nonprescription medicines and supplements. Keep taking your prescribed medicines as directed while you get advice.
What Can You Discuss If the Ringing Is Still Bothering You?
Bring one example of what you want to improve. If ringing keeps you awake, say whether it delays sleep or makes it difficult to settle again after waking. If you also miss words in conversation, tell the clinician where that happens. Those details can help guide the assessment and the options you discuss. See our bedtime routine for tinnitus and what happens during a hearing test.
If your hearing drops suddenly, seek medical care immediately, even if your ear feels blocked. If the sound beats in time with your pulse, arrange an urgent medical appointment. Read about sudden hearing loss or pulsatile tinnitus.
Still researching Audifort? See the seller’s current product information and purchase terms. Our Audifort review covers the claims and the evidence presented on the order page.