Tinnitus has no known cure. Certain supplements may help relieve symptoms of tinnitus, for example, if the underlying cause is related to a deficiency, but research on their general effectiveness is mixed.

Tinnitus is the internal perception of sound without external auditory cues. For many people, it’s the classic “ringing in your ears” sensation, but it can manifest in a number of ways, including hissing, whistling, or buzzing.

The causes of tinnitus are unclear. Though it’s rarely associated with a serious medical condition, tinnitus can affect your mood, your concentration, and your ability to sleep. In certain cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety and depression.

There’s currently no cure for tinnitus, but hearing aids, medications, and behavioral therapies may help reduce symptoms.

This article looks at popular supplements that have been anecdotally recommended or marketed for tinnitus and whether they’re effective at reducing symptoms.

Supplements can’t cure tinnitus. However, in very specific cases, such as if the underlying cause of tinnitus is a vitamin deficiency, supplements may help reduce symptoms.

Popular supplements that are often marketed for tinnitus relief include:

  • Ginkgo biloba
  • melatonin
  • vitamins and minerals
  • flavonoids
  • cannabis

Read on to learn more about these potential remedies and the research on their effectiveness in relieving tinnitus symptoms.

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is an herbal supplement used to treat a number of conditions, including tinnitus. Among homeopathic remedies, it’s one of the most widely studied.

Two Cochrane reviews have investigated ginkgo biloba for tinnitus, one in 2013 and one in 2022.

According to the 2013 report, there was no evidence that ginkgo biloba was beneficial for primary tinnitus treatment. The 2022 review found that the results were inconclusive and that most studies were of too low quality to establish meaningful results.

However, there may still be a place for this remedy in tinnitus treatment. A small 2023 study found that Ginkgo biloba, when used in combination with antioxidants, helped improve tinnitus symptoms across several measurement scales.

Melatonin

The hormone melatonin has antioxidant effects, helps protect your body against free radicals, and promotes sleep regulation (among many other things).

It’s been a supplement of interest for tinnitus sleep issues due to its success with other sleep conditions such as insomnia.

Research on melatonin for tinnitus is limited, but a 2019 review indicated it had promise as a tinnitus treatment, not due to sleep mechanisms, but due to its molecular actions.

By combating oxidative stress and promoting neural plasticity, researchers believe melatonin may have protective properties against the pathology of tinnitus.

A review of melatonin for tinnitus was slated for 2020 publication but has since been withdrawn.

Vitamins and minerals

Zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 are popular options for treating symptoms of tinnitus. For each of these, preliminary research suggests they may improve tinnitus symptoms if you have a deficiency underlying your condition.

For example, a small pilot study in 2016 demonstrated that vitamin B12 supplementation could improve tinnitus in people with a cobalamin (B12) deficiency.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are plant compounds that can come from hundreds of different herbs, vegetables, fruits, and seeds.

They’re sought after as natural remedies for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties.

A 2022 scoping review found insufficient evidence for the use of flavonoids to help tinnitus.

Lipo-flavonoid is a popular commercial flavonoid/vitamin formulation marketed for treating tinnitus. It has only been evaluated in one clinical trial, which concluded it wasn’t effective.

Cannabis

The medicinal use of cannabis is nothing new, but studying cannabis is challenging. Many different formulations and variants exist, and the bioavailability of cannabis can change drastically depending on how it’s prepared.

For tinnitus, cannabis’s effects are conflicting in research.

A 2020 literature review, for example, found no compelling evidence for the use of cannabis to treat tinnitus.

A 2020 cross-sectional analysis found cannabis use was linked to increased tinnitus experiences. However, a 2023 survey report found the majority of people who lived with tinnitus reported that cannabis eased their symptoms.

Cannabis vs. marijuana: What’s the difference?

Cannabis and marijuana refer to the same group of plants known for their relaxing and calming effects. We prefer to use the term “cannabis” because of the racist roots and connotations associated with the term “marijuana.”

The term marijuana first became popular in the United States during the cannabis prohibition movement, as it appealed to the widespread xenophobia against Mexican immigrants at the time.

Considering that members of historically marginalized races are more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts, it’s especially important that we’re mindful of the language we use and how it can add to, or stem from, racist stereotypes.

The general consensus in the medical community is that supplements are not an effective treatment for tinnitus.

Some research suggests that clinicians should avoid recommending the use of Ginkgo biloba, zinc, melatonin, and other dietary supplements for tinnitus.

The American Tinnitus Association states that there’s no “magic pill,” and just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Because no medications have proven effective for tinnitus, treatment focuses on getting you accustomed to the condition and becoming as unbothered by it as possible. This process is known as habituation.

There are different ways through which this is accomplished, including:

Even without a “magic pill,” many people can habituate to tinnitus through these therapies.

Tinnitus can be a distressing condition in which you hear phantom, often constant, auditory tones. It has no cure and no specific set of medications to alleviate symptoms.

Using supplements that may be marketed for tinnitus can be tempting. However, the research on their effectiveness is mixed — and often inconclusive. In some circumstances, such as if you have a known vitamin deficiency, supplements may help.

If you’re considering a supplement for tinnitus, discuss it with a doctor or audiologist to ensure the product is safe and appropriately dosed.