14401

Submitted by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 01:36
Top Product Attributes

  • Common Name

    Ginkgo

  • Botanical Name

    Ginkgo biloba

  • Part Used

    Leaf

  • Clinical Summary

    Click here

  • Monograph

    Click here

  • Alcohol

    30%

  • Dose

    20 to 40mL weekly

The most famous of the memory herbs, ginkgo is a living fossil that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 200 million years which is nothing short of a miracle. Ginkgo is one of the top selling botanicals and most well researched herbs in the world. Currently it is used clinically to treat a range of circulatory disorders and dementia. Modern research suggests that ginkgo extracts have the ability to positively effect blood flow and therefore increase blood flow and nutrient delivery. This is especially true of the microvasculature, such as the capillaries, which is the site of most nutrient delivery and waste disposal. 

Main Product Attributes
A guide to Ginkgo and its properties

  • Traditional Use

    The Ginkgoaceae family is said to have originated when dinosaurs where still roaming the earth. Ginkgo biloba is the only species of this genus which has survived until today making it an oddity in nature because it is a single species with no known living relatives. 

  • Actions

    Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, nootropic (cognitive enhancer), neuroprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, circulatory stimulant (cerebral), peripheral vasodilator, antiplatelet, vasoprotective, anticoagulant, antimicrobial, decongestant, antiasthmatic.

  • Indications

    •    Elderly patients as a tonic, convalescence, to support cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment such as chemotherapy, protection against radiation-induced injuries
    •    Poor cognitive function, memory and concentration, early stage dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety and related disorders, stress, attention and short term memory loss, support for students during exams and study
    •    Diabetes related nerve system damage, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, wound healing
    •    Tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo (dizziness), headache, migraine, mental fatigue, restless leg syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, altitude sickness and low oxygen levels
    •    Allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Raynaud syndrome, repetitive strain injury (RSI)/carpal tunnel syndrome, glandular fever, osteoarthritis, tinea (athlete’s foot)
    •    Poor blood circulation, cerebral insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease (arterial or venous), coronary heart disease, hypotension, palpitations, stroke (of recent onset), atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolaemia, angina, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, peptic ulcer, 
    •    Erectile dysfunction (impotency), low male fertility, premenstrual syndrome, uterine fibroid pain, breast cyst and mastalgia pain, hyperthyroidism

  • Energetics

    Neutral (neither warming or cooling)

  • Use in Pregnancy

    Insufficient reliable evidence in humans to determine safety. In clinical usage there would be no adverse effects expected

  • Contraindications & Cautions

    If unusual bleeding or bruising occurs stop use immediately. Although new clinical evidence suggests that ginkgo does not affect clotting times, it may be prudent to suspend use for one week prior to major surgery in at-risk populations. Ginkgo should be avoided by anyone with a history of seizures.

  • Drug Interactions

    Caution with buspirone (a medication primarily used to treat anxiety disorders), fluoxetine (a type of antidepressant known as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) sold under the brand name Prozac among others), HMGCoA reductase inhibitors (statins e.g atorvastatin and simvastatin), omeprazole (used to treat frequent heartburn, sold under the brand name Losec among others) and anticoagulant/antiplatelet (such as warfarin), anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antidiabetic and HIV (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) e.g efavirenz, raltegravir) drugs. May be beneficial, with medical supervision, when combined with donepezil (used to treat Alzheimer's disease), haloperidol (antipsychotic medication) or SSRIs

  • Dietary Information

    Vegan friendly. Gluten and dairy free

  • Substitutes

    Bacopa, Gotu Kola, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Sage, Bilberry