Pycnogenol for Ear Ringing (Tinnitus), Hearing Loss & ADHD

A 2014 study showed that Pycnogenol improved symptoms of vertigo (the room spinning around you), tinnitus (ear ringing), and hearing loss in people with inner ear issues. Pycnogenol is an extract of pine bark grown in a specific region of France. More people noticed improvement at 6 months than at 3 months vs placebo. Pycnogenol is thought to work by improving blood flow to the inner ear and it may be anti-inflammatory. Studies have also shown that Pycnogenol may reduce symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity in children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Side effects can include stomach discomfort, headache, nausea, and dizziness.

It’s important to note that vertigo is most commonly caused by misalignment of the crystals (otoconia) in the inner ear. This condition is called BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) and can often be treated with a series of head movements called the Epley maneuver.

Luzzi R, Belcaro G, Hu S, Dugall M, Hosoi M, Cacchio M, Ippolito E, Corsi M. Improvement in symptoms and cochlear flow with pycnogenol in patients with Meniere's disease and tinnitus. Minerva Med. 2014 Jun;105(3):245-54. PMID: 24988090.

Anne-Sophie Weyns, Annelies A.J. Verlaet, Annelies Breynaert, Tania Naessens, et al. Clinical Investigation of French Maritime Pine Bark Extract on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as compared to Methylphenidate and Placebo: Part 1: Efficacy in a Randomised Trial, Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 97, 2022, 105246, ISSN 1756-4646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2022.105246.

Weichmann F, Rohdewald P. Pycnogenol® French maritime pine bark extract in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical studies. Front Nutr. 2024 May 2;11:1389374. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1389374. PMID: 38757130; PMCID: PMC11096518.