Name of treatment	Ginkgo biloba
Type of treatment	Dietary supplement
Claims for treatment	Reduces/eliminates the tinnitus percept.
How treatment is delivered	Orally
Potential negative consequences	Side effects [1]; Cost
Evidence offered
Papers available	>50 (1986-2016)
Conclusions drawn	The limited evidence does not demonstrate that Ginkgo biloba is effective for tinnitus when this is the primary complaint. [2]
Quality of evidence [3]	A – Cochrane Systematic Review, 2013
Does the BTA recommend this treatment?	No
BTA opinion on this treatment	Although independent evidence is limited, what there is does not show that Ginkgo biloba is effective for tinnitus. The potential side effects may cause serious harm. We would suggest you talk to your GP before taking any new medication or supplement.
Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment?	No
Verdict: Safety - is this treatment harmful?	Evidence of harm
Verdict: Efficacy - does this treatment work?	Evidence that it has no effect

[1] https://www.drugs.com/cdi/ginkgo-biloba.html

[2] Hilton MP, Zimmermann EF, Hunt WT. Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003852. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003852.pub3

[3] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands

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Tinnitus_and_Ginkgo_biloba_April_2019.pdf

Updated 15 April 2019

Information currently under review April 2022