Evidence review
Ginkgo for Tinnitus: What the Cochrane Reviews Found
Two Cochrane reviews looked at ginkgo for ringing in the ears. The 2022 review pooled 12 studies with 1,915 people and found the benefit uncertain: ginkgo may make little or no difference to how severe tinnitus feels (Cochrane: Ginkgo for tinnitus 2022). An earlier review of 4 trials found no proof it works when ringing is the main problem (Cochrane: Ginkgo for tinnitus (Hilton)). SonoVive names ginkgo but publishes no amount.
Written by the SonoVive editorial teamUpdated · 8 min read
Background
Why do people take ginkgo for tinnitus?
Ginkgo is an extract of tree leaves, sold mainly for blood flow and memory. The idea behind using it for ringing is simple: if more blood reaches the inner ear, maybe the ear works better.
That idea made ginkgo the most tested herb for tinnitus. It is also one of five ingredients named for SonoVive, alongside St. John's wort, bacopa, vinpocetine and huperzine A. So the question for a SonoVive buyer is fair: when ginkgo was actually tested on ringing, what happened?
The source
What is a Cochrane review, and why trust it?
A Cochrane review is a careful summary of every good trial on one question. Independent reviewers search for all the studies, judge how well each was run, and pool the results. One flashy trial cannot sway it.
That makes Cochrane a strong place to start. It is not perfect. A review can only be as good as the trials it finds. When the trials are small or uneven, Cochrane says so, and that is part of the answer too.
The results
What did the Cochrane reviews find on ginkgo for tinnitus?
Two reviews, different methods, the same bottom line.
| Review | Trials and people | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Sereda and colleagues, 2022 | 12 studies, 1,915 people | Benefit and harms uncertain versus placebo; may have little to no effect on tinnitus severity; no serious side effects reported (Cochrane: Ginkgo for tinnitus 2022) |
| Hilton and colleagues (search to March 2012) | 4 trials, 1,543 people | Limited evidence does not show ginkgo works when tinnitus is the main complaint (Cochrane: Ginkgo for tinnitus (Hilton)) |
The reviewers could not rule out a tiny effect, but they could not show a real one either. For a reader, that is close to "it probably does not help much."
Other sources
Do other health experts agree about ginkgo and ringing?
Yes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says research does not support ginkgo for relieving tinnitus (NCCIH ginkgo). Memorial Sloan Kettering calls the tinnitus studies mixed (MSKCC ginkgo). NIDCD adds that no vitamin, herb or supplement has been proven to ease tinnitus (NIDCD tinnitus).
Ginkgo has also failed a big test on the brain. The GEM trial gave 3,069 adults over 75 either ginkgo, 120 mg twice a day, or a placebo. After a median of 6.1 years, dementia rates were the same in both groups (GEM trial (DeKosky 2008)). That matters, because SonoVive's bottle also says Supports Brain Function.
Dose check
How much ginkgo is in SonoVive compared with the trials?
The vendor has not said. The bars use the amounts sponsored articles report.
Two sponsored articles report 50 mg of ginkgo per capsule. We could not confirm it, and the vendor publishes no Supplement Facts panel. If 50 mg is right, it is about a fifth of the 240 mg a day used in the GEM trial (GEM trial (DeKosky 2008)). A small dose of an herb that did not clearly help at larger doses is a weak base for a hearing claim.
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Order nowSafety
Is ginkgo safe to take with other medicines?
Not always. Ginkgo may increase bleeding risk, especially with blood thinners such as warfarin (NCCIH ginkgo). Memorial Sloan Kettering also lists antiplatelet drugs, NSAIDs, insulin, some HIV and seizure-related drugs, midazolam and trazodone as possible interactions (MSKCC ginkgo).
Ask your doctor before any product with ginkgo. SonoVive also names vinpocetine, which may add to bleeding risk, and St. John's wort, which weakens many medicines: see our St. John's wort interactions guide.
One more finding is worth knowing. In a two-year, high-dose study, the National Toxicology Program found clear evidence of liver tumors in mice and some evidence of thyroid tumors in rats (NTP ginkgo TR-578). Rodent results at high doses do not prove harm in people, but they are a reason not to take ginkgo casually.
What to do instead
If ginkgo does not help tinnitus, what does?
The helps with the best support are a doctor visit, a hearing test, hearing aids when hearing is low, sound therapy and counseling such as CBT (NIDCD tinnitus). Hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate loss are now sold over the counter (FDA OTC hearing aids).
Get your hearing tested
A 67-year-old retired machinist with years of shop noise behind him may find the ringing fades once aids bring back outside sound.
Add soft sound at night
A fan or sound machine gives the brain something else to hear.
Ask about CBT
It lowers how much the ringing upsets you and disturbs sleep.
More options in tinnitus: what actually helps, and the full profile on the ginkgo biloba ingredient page.
Sources
Where do these facts come from?
Main sources, all opened October 11, 2026.
- Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus (CD013514). Sereda M, Xia J, Scutt P, Hilton MP, El Refaie A, Hoare DJ; Cochrane, 2022.12 studies, 1,915 participants. "There is uncertainty about the benefits and harms of Ginkgo biloba for the treatment of tinnitus when compared to placebo"; may have little to no effect on tinnitus severity; no serious adverse effects reported.
- Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus (CD003852). Hilton MP, Zimmermann EF, Hunt WT; Cochrane, 2022.4 trials, 1,543 participants (search date 12 March 2012). "The limited evidence does not demonstrate that Ginkgo biloba is effective for tinnitus when this is the primary complaint."
- Ginkgo. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), current.Research does not support ginkgo for relieving tinnitus. GEM study (over 3,000 people aged 75+, median 6 years): no difference from placebo in dementia rates. "Ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding in people who are taking anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin."
- Ginkgo biloba did not prevent dementia or Alzheimer disease in elderly people (abstract of DeKosky et al., JAMA 2008). Evidence-Based Nursing (BMJ), 2009.3,069 participants over 75 (mean age 79); Ginkgo biloba 120 mg twice daily vs placebo; median 6.1 years; no difference in incident dementia or Alzheimer disease.
- Ginkgo (About Herbs). Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, current.Tinnitus studies "are mixed"; ginkgo "does not improve cognitive performance" in large trials. May induce or prolong bleeding; interactions with warfarin, antiplatelets, NSAIDs, efavirenz, midazolam, insulin, seizure-threshold-lowering drugs and trazodone.
FAQ
Ginkgo and tinnitus questions
Does ginkgo biloba help tinnitus?
Probably not much. A 2022 Cochrane review of 12 studies with 1,915 people found the benefit uncertain, and said ginkgo may make little or no difference to how severe tinnitus feels. NIH's complementary health center says research does not support it for tinnitus.
How much ginkgo is in SonoVive?
The vendor does not say. No Supplement Facts panel is published. Sponsored articles report 50 mg per capsule, which we could not confirm. That would be about a fifth of the 240 mg a day used in the large GEM trial.
How long does ginkgo take to work for tinnitus?
There is no reliable answer, because the trials did not show a clear benefit at any point. Be wary of any product that promises results in a set number of weeks for ringing in the ears.
Is ginkgo safe with blood thinners?
Ask your doctor first. Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk, especially with warfarin, antiplatelet drugs or NSAIDs. Tell your doctor about any ginkgo product, including SonoVive, before any surgery.
Does ginkgo help memory in older adults?
Not in the biggest test. The GEM trial followed 3,069 adults over 75 for a median of 6.1 years and found ginkgo did not lower the rate of dementia compared with a placebo.
Is SonoVive the same as taking ginkgo?
No. SonoVive names five ingredients, and ginkgo is only one of them. It also names St. John's wort, which weakens many medicines, and vinpocetine, which FDA warns against in pregnancy. No study of SonoVive itself exists.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle images, the vendor's sales and help pages and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and Cochrane.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Sonovives, a USA authorized SonoVive retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
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Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo is the one SonoVive ingredient tested for tinnitus. Here is what 12 studies found, plus the bleeding cautions.
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Label & facts
The SonoVive label typed out word for word, with every missing amount, warning and direction marked plainly.
Read moreHearing health guide
Warning signs, hearing tests, hearing aids and tinnitus helps, in plain words, before you weigh SonoVive.
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