Barry Keate's Story of Tinnitus

How one man's recovery over tinnitus has helped thousands more.

My name is Barry Keate, President of Arches Natural Products, Inc. and I have had tinnitus for over 30 years. For twenty of those years my tinnitus was very intense and I suffered severely. But for the last 10 years my tinnitus has been reduced by 2/3 and I rarely notice it! Here's what happened.

My tinnitus was caused by exposure to loud noise beginning with my military service in the 1960's. By the time I was in my late 20's, a loud ringing sound developed in my right ear. As time went by, it became louder and louder.

I consulted an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat doctor) who referred me to an Audiologist for testing. The doctor told me I had tinnitus, that there was nothing that could be done and I would have to "learn to live with it". For many years I struggled with intense tinnitus. I couldn't sleep at night and was distracted during the day. I felt that I was going crazy and my nerves were totally frayed.

I consulted with another doctor who placed me on strong tranquilizers. They helped me sleep better and lowered the sound level but came with significant side effects. I felt drugged and sluggish and it was difficult to work or even drive a car. I couldn't live that way.

Desperate for a better solution, I embarked on my own research project. I discovered a wealth of clinical studies, mostly conducted in Europe, that showed that certain herbs and vitamins were effective in reducing tinnitus symptoms. This is where I discovered the power of pharmaceutical-grade ginkgo.

I learned that the Commission E, in Germany, is considered to be the world's foremost authority on the use of herbal medicinals. Formed in 1986 as a division of the German Federal Health Administration, it issued the Commission E Monographs which have become the regulatory "Bible" for herbal medicinals around the world. The Commission evaluated 38 double-blind, placebo controlled trials of Ginkgo biloba and now recommends pharmaceutically pure Ginkgo Biloba Extract for the treatment of tinnitus in the dosage of 480 mg per day. (1)

I also discovered an important relationship between stress, cholesterol and tinnitus. Garlic has long been known to calm the nervous system, purify the blood and reduce cholesterol. I developed a personal compound based on Ginkgo biloba and odorless garlic and began using it in an attempt to lower the sound levels of my tinnitus. After 8-10 weeks the sound began to lower dramatically. This compound became the foundation for Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula™ (TRF).

The noise continued to drop for several more months. I was elated but I was spending over $80.00 a month for the premium-grade ginkgo alone. I sure didn't like it. Then I realized that I would have gladly paid twice that amount to get any kind of relief. But the seed on an idea had been planted.

Excited by my personal recovery, I decided I wanted to share my story and my formula with fellow tinnitus sufferers. I also didn't want to continue to pay exorbitant retail prices. I believed that if I could manufacture my special formula to the highest quality standards and sell it at much lower prices, direct to the end user - everybody would win. And I was right. Today Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® costs about $1.30 per day, just under $40 per month.

My tinnitus has reduced by fully 2/3 and most of the time I don't even notice it. I can now sit in a quiet room and read a book without thinking of tinnitus. I have been given the gift of quiet times again and am extremely thankful for it. I have been taking Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula™ for 10 years and have stopped intentionally twice, thinking perhaps I was improved without use of the formula. Both times the ringing began to increase within 2 weeks. When I began using it again, the ringing subsided.

In 2001 we added two new products, Arches Tinnitus Stress Formula™ and Arches Tinnitus B-12 Formula™. We found an important link between B Vitamins and the health of the central nervous system. B Vitamins are water soluble and need to be replaced on a daily basis. They are also easily destroyed in cooking and food processing. B Vitamins act as natural anti-depressants; they improve energy production and stabilize the nervous system. Clinical studies show that many people have improved feelings of well-being and some have reduced tinnitus just from taking Vitamin B supplements. One study showed that most people with tinnitus had reduced levels of Vitamin B-12.

In 2002 we came upon clinical research that showed chelated zinc is crucial to hearing health. The highest concentration of zinc in the body is found in the inner ear and even minor deficiencies of zinc can lead to tinnitus. Several studies have shown that zinc supplementation has been helpful for many people with tinnitus and other vestibular disorders. In July of 2002 we added zinc to the formula and found it to increase the overall effectiveness of our product.

Arches Natural Products, Inc. is actively engaged in the continuing search for improved treatment therapies for tinnitus. We are members of the International Tinnitus Forum, where researchers from around the world gather to present their findings on causes and treatments for tinnitus. We attend medical conventions of Ear, Nose and Throat doctors and our products are endorsed by noted Otolaryngologist Michael Seidman, MD, one of the leading tinnitus authorities in the United States.

Today, I have dedicated my life to help people who suffer from tinnitus enjoy a reduction of their symptoms and an improved quality of life. While our formulas are by no means a "cure-all," we have helped thousands of individuals reduce and in some cases even eliminate the symptoms of tinnitus. It is my hope that both my story and my products can be of real benefit to you and your recovery from tinnitus.

Barry Keate