| Name of treatment |
Hibiscus |
|
Type of treatment |
Dietary supplement |
|
Claims for treatment |
Reduces the high blood pressure or high cholesterol that could be causing ringing in the ears |
|
How treatment is delivered |
Orally as capsules or brewed as a tea. |
|
Potential negative consequences |
None identified |
Evidence offered: |
|
|
Papers available |
There have been no papers published on hibiscus as a tinnitus treatment. |
|
Conclusions drawn |
Studies suggest hibiscus has antibacterial, anti-oxidant, diuretic and antihypertensive effects. It is regarded as safe [1]. |
|
Quality of evidence[2] |
None available |
|
Does the BTA recommend this treatment? |
No |
|
BTA opinion on this treatment: |
There is no evidence available regarding this treatment for tinnitus. We would suggest you talk to your GP before taking any new medication or supplement. “Dietary supplements should not be recommended to treat tinnitus.”[3] |
|
Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment? |
Unlikely |
|
Verdict: Safety – is this treatment harmful? |
|
|
Verdict: Efficacy – does this treatment work? |
|
|
Date completed |
February 2020 |
|
Date for revision |
February 2023 |
Regarded as safeWe welcome feedback on all our information. Please send any corrections or updates for consideration to Nic Wray, Communications Manager on [email protected]
Download this information:
[1] Da Costa Rocha I, Bonnlaender B, Sievers H, Pischel I, Heinrich M (2014) Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. – A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review. Food Chemistry. 165, 424-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.05.002
[2] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands
[3] Coelho C, Tyler R, Ji H, Rojas-Roncancio E, Witt S, Tao P, Jun HJ, Wang TC, Hansen MR, Gantz BJ. (2016) Survey on the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements to Treat Tinnitus. American Journal of Audiology. 25(3): 184-205
Updated: 13 March 2020
Photo by: mari small on Unsplash
