Why Some Ginkgo Products
Don't Work for Tinnitus
What you need to know before starting.
by Barry Keate

Many people assume when buying herbal supplements for the treatment of tinnitus (such as ginkgo biloba) that most products are pretty much alike. Nothing could be further from the truth. While Ginkgo biloba extract is available in any health food store and many discount stores, individuals with tinnitus should exercise care when selecting a product. Due to the lack of regulation of the herbal and vitamin markets within the United States, most ginkgo products are not what they appear to be.

Consumer Labs has tested many nationally recognized brands of Ginkgo biloba and found that less than 23 percent contained all the active ingredients necessary to make a clinically effective extract. Either they had less than the specified amount or they do not meet the minimum requirements for standardized 24/6 Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE).

Today, inferior quality ginkgo products are flooding the market at deceptively low prices. Many of these products are Chinese in origin and they do not meet the barest minimum standards. Additionally, they are often high in what's called "ginkgolic acid." Ginkgolic acid is a strong allergen that will cause severe allergic reactions, particularly skin rashes, if taken regularly. Unfortunately, our Food & Drug Administration does not require ginkgolic acid content to be listed on product labels.

So how do you know with any certainty if you're buying a product that will be effective? It is difficult. But if you stay with larger more expensive brands the likelihood of being bilked is lessened. The other way is to know your source. Know the people involved and if necessary request a Certificate of Authentication. The German Commission E (the equivalent of our FDA) is the world's foremost authority on herbal supplements. The standardized Ginkgo Biloba Extract was invented in Germany nearly 40 years ago.

The Commission E rates Ginkgo as "positive" for the treatment of tinnitus and recommends a dosage of 480 mg per day. They also state that there are no side effects or harmful interactions with other medications and that there is no toxic limit; i.e., you cannot overdose on it.

The Commission E regulates the sale of all herbal medications in Germany. They will not allow any ginkgo product to be sold in Germany that has over 5 parts per million (PPM) of ginkgolic acid. Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® contains less than 1 PPM of ginkgolic acid, the lowest found on the world market. Many of the inferior, low priced brands can contain as much as 100 - 200 PPM of ginkgolic acid. Also, they are not manufactured to premium-grade standards and can contain other contaminates as well. Removing the ginkgolic acid requires a separate manufacturing process that is very expensive...but worth it!

There are indeed several high quality ginkgo products sold in the better health food stores. However, they are usually lower dosage capsules and are all much more expensive than TRF when you compare the total milligram content of each bottle of TRF (12,000 mg) versus the price.

We know of no other product that contains such a high dosage of high quality ginkgo (120 mg). Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® was conceived and developed by Barry Keate, who has lived with tinnitus for over 35 years and has found recovery for the past ten years. Barry's commitment to buying only the highest quality Ginkgo biloba found on the world market is why Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® remains the very best.