Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “Do you have any suggestions for tinnitus? Are there any natural products that can help this condition?” — Debi D., Detroit, MI

A. Dear Debi, The term “tinnitus” refers to a ringing, swishing, or other type of noise that seems to originate in the ear or head. Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from this disorder. Common causes of tinnitus include nerve damage, the aging process, use of certain medications, and exposure to loud noise, among others. In the majority of cases, tinnitus is considered a nuisance that eventually resolves. However, in some cases it can represent a serious health condition.

While I do have some suggestions, I would first recommend consulting with your healthcare practitioner, if you have not already done so to rule out any underlying conditions. If underlying illness is ruled out, you may want to consider the following recommendations:

I would first recommend adding a high quality Ginkgo biloba formula, along with grape seed extract, to your daily regimen. Both are potent antioxidants, meaning they can protect cells against damaging free radicals. In addition, they are also capable of increasing the oxygen carrying capacity in the blood and reducing swelling. Look for a Ginkgo biloba formula that is standardized to contain 24% ginkgoflavonglycosides and 6% terpene lactones. I recommend taking 120-240 mg daily. When it comes to grape seed extract, look for a formula that is standardized to contain 95% polyphenols. I recommend taking 300 mg daily.

I also recommend taking vitamin B6, blended with a highly absorbable form of magnesium, like magnesium glycinate chelate. In addition to optimizing vitamin B6 metabolism, the magnesium in the glycinate form is much less likely to cause loose stools, and delivers a good dose of magnesium to help resistance to nerve excitability. Look for a formula that contains the active form of B6 – pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P). Many people (some estimate up to 30% of the population) cannot fully utilize B-vitamins from food and supplements, because these forms of B-vitamins must be converted into the active form before they will function. By using the form of vitamin B6 that is identical to the kind your body utilizes, you bypass this problem entirely. Take two capsules of this formula twice daily.

Stick with this regimen for at least 2 to 3 months, and you will very likely see a great improvement.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally