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An ancient tree offers modern benefits
Ginkgo, a living relic of the Dinosaur Age, is a stately tree that can reach 100 feet in height. It can be found throughout the temperate United States on streets and in parks.
In 1972, European researchers discovered that an extract of ginkgo leaf interferes with the action of a compound the body produces called platelet activation factor (PAF). PAF is involved in an enormous number of biological processes, notably arterial blood flow. By inhibiting PAF, ginkgo has been shown to have enormous healing potential, particularly in conditions associated with aging.
Today in Europe, both herbalists and mainstream physicians recommend ginkgo to the elderly. Ginkgo products are among Europe's most widely prescribed medications, with sales of $500 million a year. This herb is also becoming increasingly popular in the United States.
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Latest News
Ginkgo may help treat sex problems caused by antidepressants. Impotence, loss of desire, and loss of vaginal lubrication are among the side effects of antidepressant medication. At the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center, researchers gave ginkgo extract (100 mg twice a day) to 63 men and women who reported sexual side effects from the Prozac family of antidepressants, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Herbal treatment improved 84% of them. This study had no placebo group, but the response rate was much higher than the 30% response placebos typically produce. [1]
Existing Medical Research
Ginkgo improves blood flow around the body, which accounts for its many uses.
In a widely publicized 1997 report, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City demonstrated that the herb helps treat Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of dementia, [2] and multi-infarct dementia, the second leading cause -- a product of mini-strokes known as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). For one year, 202 people with mild-to-severe dementia were given either a placebo or ginkgo extract (120 mg/day). In subjects taking the placebo, mental abilities deteriorated. But in the ginkgo group, the people stabilized or improved. The researchers concluded that ginkgo's benefits are comparable to the prescription drugs approved to treat Alzheimer's.
Even when old people do not develop dementia, they often experience a loss of blood flow to the brain (cerebral insufficiency), which can interfere with their ability to function. Dutch researchers analyzed 38 studies of ginkgo as a treatment for cerebral insufficiency. Their conclusion: it helps. These studies are a big reason why ginkgo is so popular among the elderly in Europe, who take it daily as a "brain tonic." [3]
Ginkgo helps treat erection problems caused by poor blood flow into the penis. In one study, urologists gave ginkgo extract (80 mg three times a day) to 50 men whose impotence was caused by narrowing of the arteries that carry blood into the penis. After nine months, 31 of the men could achieve erections, and the remaining 19 had erections when ginkgo was combined with a forerunner of Viagra. [4]
In addition to improving blood flow through the brain, ginkgo also normalizes the levels of the compounds (neurotransmitters) that regulate emotions, including the neurotransmitters involved in depression. German researchers recruited 40 elderly depressed individuals who had not responded to prescription antidepressant treatment. Half took a placebo, while half took ginkgo (80 mg three times a day). After eight weeks, the placebo group showed negligible mood elevation, but the group taking ginkgo showed major benefits. [5]
Other European studies show that ginkgo helps speed recovery from stroke and helps treat tinnitus (ringing in the ears), macular degeneration (a leading cause of blindness), and intermittent claudication (leg pain caused by narrowed arteries there). [6]
Ginkgo is also an antioxidant. These nutrients have been shown to help prevent heart disease, cancer, and many other conditions.
Sources
1 Cohen, A.J. and B. Bartlik. "Ginkgo Biloba for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction," Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 24:139, 1998.
2 LeBars, P. et al. "A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomized Trial of an Extract of Ginkgo Biloba for Dementia," J. Am. Med. Assoc., 278:1327, 1997.
3 Knipshild, P., et al. "Clinical Experience with Ginkgo in Patients with Cerebral Insufficiency," Revista Brasileira de Neurologia (Brazil) 30 (Suppl 1):18, 1994.
4 Sohn. M. and R. Sikora. "Ginkgo Biloba Extract in the Therapy of Erectile Dysfunction," Journal of Sex Education and Therapy 17:53, 1991.
5 Brown, D., et al. "Depression: Clinical Applications of Natural Med." Monograph, 1997.
6 DeFeudis, F.V. Ginkgo Biloba Extract (EGb 761): Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Applications. Elsevier, NY, 1991.
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Common Uses
Ginkgo may be helpful in treating:
- Memory impairment
- Alzheimer's
- Cerebral insufficiency
- Poor circulation
- Circulatory disorders
- Mood disorders
- Sexual dysfunction
- Tinnitus
Remember that no health claims for ginkgo have been evaluated by the FDA.
Historical and Folkloric Use
Ginkgo was considered "good for the heart and lungs" in China's first great herbal, the Pen Tsao Ching, (The Classic of Herbs), attributed to legendary emperor/sage Shen Nung (c. 3000 B.C.). India's traditional Ayurvedic healers associated ginkgo with long life.
Ginkgo was introduced into Europe in 1730 as an ornamental tree, but its fan-shaped leaves were not used in the West's traditional herbal medicine. But today, thanks to the research showing its value for many conditions -- from Alzheimer's disease to sex problems -- ginkgo has become one of America's best-selling herbal medicines.
Dosage and Administration
Ginkgo comes in several forms, including capsules, tablets, liquid extract, tincture, and dry bulk. It is also available in many product combinations.
Try one 40 mg capsule or tablet three times daily with meals over a period of at least eight weeks or refer to the manufacturer's recommended dosage.
Note: teas made from dried ginkgo leaves do not contain enough of the tree's medicinal constituents to have any benefit. Medicinal ginkgo is a concentrated leaf extract. Look for a "standardized" extract.
Ginkgo rarely causes side effects at recommended doses.
Storage
Refer to manufacturer's instructions.
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How to Use Ginkgo Safely
Teas made from dried ginkgo leaves do not contain enough of the tree's medicinal constituents to have any benefit. Medicinal ginkgo is a concentrated leaf extract. Look for a "standardized" extract.
Ginkgo rarely causes side effects at recommended doses.
However, if you take more than 240 mg/day or if you are extremely sensitive, you might develop headache, abdominal upset, or diarrhea. Rare side effects include dizziness, restlessness, irritability, or heart palpitation. If you develop any of these, reduce your dose or stop using ginkgo.
Ginkgo's PAF-inhibiting action may cause problems for those with clotting disorders. If you have a clotting disorder, or take any anticoagulant medication (including aspirin and vitamin E), consult your doctor before using ginkgo.
Pregnant and nursing women should not take ginkgo.
There is no reason to give ginkgo to children.
If symptoms being treated do not improve significantly in two weeks, consult a physician.
Long-term usage is believed to be safe. No drug interactions have been reported, and no serious negative reactions are associated with high dosage. While ginkgo does not appear to pose any danger to pregnant women or nursing mothers, they should avoid using it due to the lack of available human data regarding pregnancy and lactation.
Possible Side Effects
Side effects are rare and mild if they occur. Possible side effects include the following:
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Headache
- Allergic skin reactions
- Dizziness
- Irregular heartbeat
Ginkgo pollen may cause allergic reactions. Contact with the fleshy fruit pulp may cause allergic skin reactions. Ingesting the ginkgo plant's pulp may cause erythema, rectal burning, and anal spasms. Ginkgo seeds may be toxic.
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Sources & Further Reading
Books
- American Botanical Council. The Complete Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston: American Botanical Council/Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998.
- Castleman. M. The Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1991.
- DeFeudis, F.V. Ginkgo Biloba Extract (EGb 761): Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Applications. Elsevier, NY, 1991.
- Duke, J. The Green Pharmacy. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1997.
- Funfgeld, E.W. Rokan Ginkgo Biloba: Recent Results in Pharmacology and Clinic. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1988.
- Tyler, V. Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York: Pharmaceutical Products Press/Hawthorn Press, 1994.
- Weiner, M. and J. Weiner. Herbs That Heal: Prescription for Herbal Healing. Mill Valley, CA: Quantum Books, 1994.
- Werbach, M. and M. Murray. Botanical Influences on Illness. Tarzana, CA: Third Line Press, 1994.
Articles
- Brown, D., et al. "Depression: Clinical Applications of Natural Med." Monograph, 1997.
- Cohen, A.J. and B. Bartlik. "Ginkgo Biloba for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction," Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 24:139, 1998.
- Knipshild, P., et al. "Clinical Experience with Ginkgo in Patients with Cerebral Insufficiency," Revista Brasileira de Neurologia (Brazil) 30 (Suppl 1):18, 1994.
- LeBars, P., et al. "A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomized Trial of an Extract of Ginkgo Biloba for Dementia," Journal of the American Medical Association 278:1327, 1997.
- Sohn. M. and R. Sikora. "Ginkgo Biloba Extract in the Therapy of Erectile Dysfunction," Journal of Sex Education and Therapy 17:53, 1991.
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