Hi Barry,
I’ve had tinnitus for 15 years. The buzzing in my head caused me to lose my job. Recently I had 12 amalgam fillings removed that I’ve had since I was 10 years old. I am at retirement age now.
After the last three amalgams were removed my noise level has dropped from a 10 (loud buzzing) to a 2 (much more tolerable). Could the amalgams of played a role in my tinnitus? I also have MS but am very active and eat organic. I feel the noise I have is more of a brain noise than any sort of ringing. Removal of the amalgam fillings I feel has really helped the buzzing to become more tolerable, could that be? Any studies on this?
Thanks,
Joan F.
Dear Joan,
Yes, it’s entirely possible removing the amalgam fillings is responsible for your decrease in tinnitus. Amalgam fillings are primarily mercury, a neurotoxin. It is known that this can cause tinnitus and removing them can help. It may also help your MS. Here’s an article on amalgam fillings and tinnitus.
Wish you quiet times,
Barry Keate
Hi Barry,
I just read that Ginkgo has alkylphenols in it and the article said that people who are highly allergic to poison ivy should avoid taking it. Is this true?
Thank you,
Jane L.
Dear Jane,
This is partially true. Ginkgo biloba does contain alkyphenols, the primary one being ginkgolic acid, which is an allergen and can produce allergic reactions like poison ivy. However, most reputable manufacturers remove this during the extraction process. The German Commission E standard for ginkgo extracts requires there be less than 5 ppm (parts per million) ginkgolic acid. Some less than reputable manufacturers don’t remove it.
Arches Tinnitus Formula uses our proprietary ginkgo extract Ginkgo Max 26/7. This contains less than 1 ppm ginkgolic acid. This means it is non-detectable. You can see our entire Ginkgo Certificate of Analysis on this page. The ginkgolic acid figure is at the bottom of the page.
Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate
Hello Barry,
Can tinnitus get worse after yoga exercise? And can tinnitus get worse in social gatherings?
Thank you,
Sylvia H.
Dear Sylvia,
Tinnitus can get worse after any exercise however it usually doesn’t last long. In fact, it has been shown that Yoga increases GABA production in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that helps to calm electrical activity and reduces tinnitus in the long run. In one study participants underwent 60 minutes of yoga exercise and were compared to a group that spent the time reading. Participants in the yoga study increased brain GABA levels by 27% over those in the reading group.
If social gatherings are loud, they can definitely worsen tinnitus. Most times it will only be a temporary worsening. However, repeated exposure to loud sound can result in damaged hearing that will make tinnitus permanently worse. It’s a good idea to wear hearing protection during exposure to loud sound to prevent permanent damage.
Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate