Tinnitus is not a disease, but rather a symptom, which can result from a number of underlying causes. These include ear infections, foreign objects or wax in the ear, and allergies. The most common cause however is noise-induced hearing loss, although tinnitus is often also reported in hearing loss cases where there is no obvious external cause. It is also reported that tinnitus can be a side effect of many different types of medication. As tinnitus may be a symptom of a serious underlying medical problem it is always recommended that a person suffering tinnitus should consult their doctor. Unfortunately in many cases no specific underlying cause can be found or treated, and many people may wish to try some of the natural remedies for tinnitus which include Gingko supplements.

There are two types of tinnitus, objective and subjective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus covers cases where a clinician can actually hear the noise himself coming out of the subject’s ear. This may be caused by muscle spasms, which can cause a clicking or crackling sound in the patient’s ear, or it may be a sound which is “in time” with the patient’s heartbeat (pulsatile tinnitus).

Pulsatile tinnitus is usually objective. It can be caused by altered or turbulent blood flow in the ear. In rare cases it can be a symptom of potentially life-threatening aneurysms, and a doctor should always be consulted to eliminate these conditions.

Subjective tinnitus covers cases where the noise cannot be heard by the clinician. Most commonly it is associated with other conditions causing hearing loss, including noise induced hearing loss, and hearing loss due to aging.

It can also be a side effect of many medications. More than 260 medicines, including aspirin, have been reported to sometimes have tinnitus as a side effect.

Natural remedies for tinnitus include Ginkgo biloba, which is usually taken in the form of Ginkgo supplements. These contain flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids extracted from the leaves of Ginkgo trees, which are found in remote areas of China.

Other home remedies that have been reported to be effective include bayberry bark, goldenseal, burdock root, hawthorn leaf and flower and myrrh gum. These remedies are used to purify the blood and to counteract infections. If the cause of the tinnitus is simply excessive ear wax, then ear drops may be effective, and olive oil is often used as a natural alternative to pharmacy store bought drops.

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