Ginkgo Biloba, Usage, Dosage, Risks, and Benefits!
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo Biloba, Is It Really Effective?
What is Ginkgo?
Ginkgo trees are one of the oldest species of trees cultivated in China and are believed to be 150 to 200 million years old. The ginkgo trees grow in average soil and even in full sun. The tree can grow 100 – 120 feet. Ginkgo trees are very resistant to pollution and infection and hardly suffer any disease. Insects rarely attack these plants. Due to these reasons, these trees are most tolerant even in urban conditions and are grown as shade trees. Ginkgo biloba
- Ginkgo has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. Members of the royal court were given ginkgo nuts for senility. Other historical uses for ginkgo were for asthma, bronchitis, and kidney and bladder disorders.
- Today, the extract from ginkgo leaves is used as a dietary supplement for many conditions, including dementia, eye problems, intermittent claudication (leg pain caused by narrowing arteries), tinnitus, and other health problems.
- Ginkgo is made into tablets, capsules, extracts, tea, and cosmetics.
Ginkgo biloba as a plant food supplement:
Ginkgo seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and cooked seeds are occasionally eaten. The seeds, known as ginkgo nuts, are eaten roasted or in birds’ nest soup. (Simmonds) In food supplements, the leaves are more commonly used instead of seeds or other parts
Ginkgo extract Is:
Made from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree. The leaves contain a complex mixture of components. The exact formulation of ginkgo extract in products available to consumers in the U.S. can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Usage:
Ginkgo extracts are commonly used pharmaceutically for (Ginkgo, 2009):
- Enhancement of memory and concentration.
- Treatment for dementia (Alzheimer’s disease).
- Improving blood flow to most tissues and organs.
- Protection against anti-oxidative cell damage from free radicals.
- Relief symptoms premenstrual symptoms.
Why do some people take ginkgo extract?
In the U.S., ginkgo extract is readily available to consumers as an herbal supplement. People take it for a wide variety of health reasons, mostly to improve brain function and memory.
However, clinical trials designed to assess the efficacy of ginkgo extract have not produced consistent evidence of benefit. Ginkgo extract is typically taken orally. It is found in capsules, tablets, or teas, but may also be available in liquid extracts.
Let’s get into The Full Story:
Everyone wants to maintain memory and brain sharpness as they age, so there is a strong interest in Ginkgo biloba as a supplement to prevent the mental decline associated with both normal aging and dementia.
Here are some interesting facts about the ginkgo Biloba tree and its uses:
Ginkgo Biloba is,
- An herbal supplement made from the leaves of the Ginkgo tree, also known as the maidenhair tree.
- Trees are native to China but are now grown worldwide.
- Categorized as “nootropic,” meaning it’s thought by some to be a cognitive enhancer (related to the conscious intellectual activity such as thinking, memory, and reasoning).
- Prescribed as a memory and concentration booster in many countries and is widely available as an over-the-counter herbal supplement in the US.
- Thought to increase blood supply by dilating blood vessels, reducing blood viscosity (thickness), affecting neurotransmitters, and reducing free radicals.
- For healthy adults, Ginkgo biloba appears to be safe when taken orally in moderate amounts.
The question is, Is it really effective?
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study, examined whether a twice daily 120 mg dose of Ginkgo biloba extract might help delay or prevent dementia in 3609 older adults aged 72 to 96 years. The study was conducted in six US academic medical centers between 2000 and 2008.
Several assessment tools, such as the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale, measured outcomes over time. The investigators concluded that compared with placebo, the dosage of Ginkgo biloba used didn’t result in less cognitive decline in older adults with normal cognition or with mild cognitive impairment.
Study:
The subjects in this study were probably older than most people who start taking Ginkgo biloba to help prevent cognitive decline. There are no studies specifically evaluating people taking Ginkgo biloba to ward off intellectual decline and memory loss at younger ages.
A prospective, community-based, cohort study, PAQUID, gathered data from 3612 participants aged 65 and older without dementia and followed the participants for 20 years.
Three groups were compared:
- 589 subjects reported use of EGb761 (a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves) during at least one of the assessment visits, 149 participants reported use of piracetam (a nootropic drug), and 2874 did not report the use of the either drug.
- Data analysis showed that the decline of the MMSE score in a population of non-demented subjects was less in the group who reported using EGb761 than in those who did not. This effect appeared to be a specific effect of EGb761 since it wasn’t observed in the piracetam or other groups.
These results seem to contradict the GEM study findings, However,
- Data from the PAQUID study were collected from volunteer subjects motivated to enter a study on the prevention of memory decline. It might be a “healthy participant” effect; the subjects might have practiced risk reduction behaviors and they selected their own treatment rather than having it assigned randomly by the investigators.
Although the GEM study was a more rigorous design, the PAQUID study was of much longer duration. Cognitive decline is usually a slow process. A short study might be insufficient to correctly assess various impacts on cognitive decline.
Several randomized, double-blind studies
compared the use of Ginkgo biloba at any strength and over any period of time with a placebo, looking for effects on people with cognitive impairment including dementia. Most of these studies were small and of short duration, often less than 3 months.
When the data from these studies were pooled, the results showed inconsistent evidence that Ginkgo biloba had any predictable and clinically important benefits for people with dementia or cognitive impairment.
Based on current evidence,
- Taking Ginkgo biloba probably will not help prevent or slow the onset of dementia or intellectual decline.
- It might possibly be effective when started at younger ages such as in the 50s, but this has not been studied.
- Ginkgo biloba can interact with some medications and can cause side effects including bleeding.
Some Health Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba:
Ginkgo biloba benefits are well known all over the world. First of all,
- this herb is recognized for its memory improvement effects.
- Studies for this matter have been performed even from 30 years ago.
- The number of such studies has exceeded 300, but the scientists continue to search for any other possible benefits.
- Ginkgo leaves contain two groups of active components known as flavonoid glycosides and ginkgolides.
- These active ingredients help in increasing blood flow to the brain and improving the overall network of blood vessels, and consequently increases the inflow of oxygen and essential nutrients to the brain and other important organs of the body and simultaneously helps to control allergic inflammation and asthma.
Other benefits as evidenced by clinical studies have been summarized below:
- It has a positive effect on the vascular system and it allows the system to act more efficiently by allowing more blood flow and consequently more oxygen to the vital organs of the body including the brain.
- Brain, being the highest oxygen consumer (20%) of the total oxygen requirement of the human body, regulates the body more efficiently.
- The improved blood circulation to the brain including microcirculation in smaller capillaries increases memory and metabolic efficiency including neurotransmitters regulation.
Also, Ginkgo Biloba Useful,
- For relaxing coronary arteries constricted by cholesterol.
- To elevate mood and restore energy.
- Relieving tension and anxiety.
- Controls the platelet activity factor (PAF). Excessive platelet factor (PAF) in the body may cause physical stress, brain disorder, and skin problem including psoriasis, cardiovascular disease, and other hearing disorders.
- For treating vertigo and tinnitus.
- Acts as an antioxidant and inhibits free radical formed in the body.
- Antioxidant plays a vital role in protecting the cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS). The combined effect of improved circulatory system and antioxidant improves blood flow to the retina and controls retinal deterioration causing an overall improvement in visual activity.
- Some of the clinical trials indicate that Ginkgo Biloba is beneficial for treating Alzheimer’s disease.
- Ginkgo biloba is also used as a supportive herbal medicine for treating infertility disorder in males.
Safety and side effects:
What Do We Know About Safety?
- For many healthy adults, ginkgo appears to be safe when taken by mouth in moderate amounts.
- Side effects of ginkgo may include headache, stomach upset, and allergic skin reactions. If you’re older, have a known bleeding risk, or are pregnant you should be cautious about ginkgo possibly increasing your risk of bleeding.
- In a 2013 research study, rodents were given ginkgo had an increased risk of developing liver and thyroid cancer at the end of the 2-year tests.
- Ginkgo may interact with some conventional medications, including anticoagulants (blood thinners), research reviews show.
- Eating fresh (raw) or roasted ginkgo seeds can be poisonous and have serious side effects.
Dosage:
- The daily dose suggested varies between 40 – 120 mg of Ginkgo extract depending on the product/supplement and the intention.
- The amount of Ginkgo per capsule or tables varies between 40 – 120 mg. (NIH, 2014) The amount of intake can be raised to 240mg/day in case of more serious cases of dementia of Alzheimer’s.
- (Ginkgo biloba, 2014) Besides tablets and capsules, ginkgo is also available as tea, tincture, or as a cold drink.
Ginkgo Biloba and its Effects with the Following Medications:
Although Ginkgo Biloba is a safe herb, sometimes it can cause headaches, dizziness, or gastric upset. It is recommended that pregnant women avoid it.
A. Blood-thinning medications:
Ginkgo Biloba acts as a blood thinner too and if taken with a blood thinner such as aspirin, warfarin, etc. blood complications may arise.
B. Anticonvulsant medications:
Ginkgo Biloba may reduce the effect of this medication to control seizers if a high dose is taken.
C. Trazodone:
Ginkgo Biloba may cause coma as it has a severe action with trazodone. It should not be taken with such antidepressants.
D. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs):
Ginkgo Biloba can either improve or degrade the condition if it is taken with antidepressants such as phenelzine.
E. Cyclosporine:
Ginkgo Biloba can help protect cell membranes during cyclosporine treatment.
Prevention Tips:
- Ginkgo biloba can interact with some conventional medications such as anticoagulants (blood thinners). Tell all your healthcare providers about any complementary, herbal, or integrative health approaches you use.
- The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends that all herbal medications be discontinued 2 to 3 weeks prior to elective surgery. Ginkgo biloba is specifically mentioned due to its potential to increase bleeding.
- Side effects of Ginkgo biloba include headache, stomach upset, and allergic skin reactions. If you’re older, have a known bleeding risk, or are pregnant you should be aware that Ginkgo biloba might increase your risk of bleeding.
- Do not eat fresh (raw) or roasted Ginkgo seeds. These can be poisonous and have serious side effects.
What Have We Learned?
- There’s no conclusive evidence that ginkgo is helpful for any health condition.
- Ginkgo doesn’t help prevent or slow dementia or cognitive decline, according to studies, including the long-term Ginkgo Evaluation Memory Study, which enrolled more than 3,000 older adults,
- and was funded in part by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
- There’s no strong evidence that ginkgo helps with memory enhancement in healthy people, blood pressure, intermittent claudication, tinnitus, age-related macular degeneration, the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, or with other conditions.
- Ongoing NCCIH-funded research is looking at whether a compound in ginkgo may help with diabetes.
Summing Up:
Ginkgo biloba is used by many people in an effort to improve memory and slow age-related intellectual decline, but solid evidence to support these benefits is limited. Ginkgo biloba is generally considered safe, but it can cause adverse effects and interactions with other drugs.
There is scientific evidence that Ginkgo biloba extract/supplement can be used to reduce the number of Raynaud’s attacks per day, it can reduce platelet thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and it inhibits platelet MDA accumulation in normal and hypercholesterolemic Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus subjects.
Keep in Mind
Tell all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Common Names: ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba, fossil tree, maidenhair tree, Japanese silver apricot, bai guo, yinhang.
Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment for any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
References
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