title: The Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Chronic Tinnitus: A Randomized, Open-Label Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The major mechanism of inner ear cell damage is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Korean red ginseng (KRG) has an anti-ROS effect; thus we hypothesized that KRG may be of use for the treatment of chronic idiopathic tinnitus. The aim of the study is to investigate clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (QoL) in chronic tinnitus patients after taking KRG.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was an open-label randomized controlled trial. Sixty-one patients with chronic tinnitus were enrolled and randomized to three groups. The control group was treated for 4 weeks with 160 mg/day Ginkgo biloba extract, and two other groups receiving 1500 mg/day or 3000 mg/day KRG for 4 weeks. Clinical assessments were performed using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and QoL was assessed by Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine patients completed the planned protocol. Significant improvements were observed between initial and post-treatment THI scores in patients receiving 3000 mg/day KRG. There was no statistically significant difference between initial and post-treatment VAS scores in all groups. Treatment with 3000 mg/day KRG for 4 weeks significantly improved role emotional and mental health scores in the SF-36 survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that KRG may improve tinnitus symptoms and mental wellbeing in chronic tinnitus patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Su
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwan Seo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chung
keywords: Korean red ginseng; Quality of life; Tinnitus