Ringing in Ears

Best Single Herb: Gotu kola

Best Combinations: Ginkgo biloba, gotu kola; blessed thistle; Korean ginseng

Other Helpful Supplements: Calcium/magnesium with vitamin D; B-complex vitamins

Possible Causes: High blood pressure; hearing loss; injury

Complementary Help: Ear coning; acupuncture; reflexology; treatments for high blood pressure or cholesterol

For most of us, a high-pitched temporary ringing in the ears goes unnoticed shortly after it passes, and an occasional ringing in the ears is really nothing to be concerned over. However, many folks have a ringing, whooshing, buzzing, or some other constant sound in one or both ears on a consistent basis. This constant ringing in the ears is called tinnitus, and its causes can be linked to several different conditions.

Possible causes of ringing in the ears can include:

• Head trauma that caused damage to the ear drum
• Excess wax and debris in the ears (see the “Earaches,” to find a natural way to have the ears cleaned)
• High blood pressure (see the “Blood Pressure: Easier to Deal with Than Peer Pressure”)
• Ear infections caused by fungus (see the “Fungus Among Us?”)
• Excessive exposure to medications, smoking, or noise
• Temporal mandibular joint problems (the joint where the two jaw bones meet); this can sometimes be corrected by a chiropractor
• Lack of blood supply to the head area (decreased circulation)
• Herb Lore: information related to holistic health

To try to help you keep your sense of humor while you find the root cause of your problem, I’ve devised the following questionnaire. How can you tell if you have a problem with tinnitus? (1) Your favorite winter song chorus goes something like this: “Sleigh bells ring, are ya listenin’? In your head, bells are whistlin’.” (2) Earrings have a whole new meaning. (3) Every new name you hear rings a bell. (4) You sheepishly ask people, “Is that noise in my head bothering you?”

Discern what your probable cause for your condition is, look up the corresponding chapters related to your base cause, and then work to clear that problem. If you don’t have any discernable underlying causes, try some of the remedies here.

Gotu Kola: The Real Un-Cola

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is another one of my favorite herbs that’s similar to ginkgo biloba in its uses as a brain tonic. These two herbs make a powerful team when taken together. Gotu kola is an herb that, like ginkgo biloba (see the “Alzheimer’s Disease: Don’t Forget to Take Your Herbs,” “A Is for Ailment,” for more on ginkgo), has an affinity for the brain. This means that it is attracted to and nourishes the brain and nervous system.

Gotu kola has been used as an anti-aging regenerative herb because it is thought to stimulate collagen, increase blood circulation, and help detoxify the body of chemicals. You will see some sodas with a gotu kola or ginseng base in many health food stores, and this is a common sight in Asia.

It is said that gotu kola helps to integrate both hemispheres of the brain — how’s that for whole thinking! Gotu kola has been used by those suffering from a nervous breakdown and to help balance and tone the entire glandular system. The old saying about gotu kola sums it up nicely in a catchy phrase that goes something like this: “Gotu kola every day will keep old age away!”

Warnings about the use of herbs

Although gotu kola is a wonderful brain food, too much of a good thing is not necessarily better! In large quantities, gotu kola can give you a headache (too much blood flowing to the brain) or can make you feel itchy, dizzy, or faint

Gotu kola is a favorite food of one of my favorite animals, the wild elephant. The herb is known for its benefits toward longevity and as a brain food. Could munching on this herb be the reason for the long life of an elephant — and the reason why an elephant never forgets?

Other uses for gotu kola include: mental fatigue, nervous breakdowns, fatigue, memory, high blood pressure, concentration, thyroid stimulant, and boosting vitality.

Help for Ringing in the New Ear

Make sure you’re getting the right amount of minerals in your diet. If you are unsure, a safe way to get your daily minerals is by supplementing with alfalfa tablets. We all need calcium and magnesium. Vitamin D helps you absorb the calcium. Magnesium should be about two times more than the calcium intake; this mineral helps regulate your blood pressure, which is sometimes an underlying cause of ear ringing. For more on vitamins and minerals.

The B-complex vitamins are nutrients important to brain and circulatory system function, and these should be considered when you have ringing in the ears. Foods rich in the B vitamins include wheat germ, bananas, avocados, most nuts and legumes, and beef liver.

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