HERBAL REMEDIES AS ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES: GINKGO BILOBA

If you’re like many people, you have probably heard of the reported “miracle memory-enhancing” qualities of ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo biloba is actually an extract from the leaves of a deciduous tree that lives up to 1,000 years, making it the world’s oldest living tree species, one that can be traced back more than 200 million years. The ginkgo was almost destroyed during the last ice age in all regions of the world except China, where it is considered a sacred tree with medicinal properties. Today, ginkgo leaf extracts are among the leading prescription medicines in both Germany and France, where they account for nearly 2 percent of total prescription sales.
Purported benefits are many, and ginkgo biloba is used to treat depression; impotence; premenstrual syndrome; diseases of the eye, such as retinopathy and macular degeneration; and general vascular disease. In particular, it has been shown to improve short-term memory and concentration for individuals with impaired blood flow to the brain due to narrowing of vessels or clogging of key arteries. A Harvard-based study of 202 men and women with mild to moderately severe dementia caused by stroke or Alzheimer’s disease was among the first to promote ginkgo in the United States. After 1 year, the group receiving ginkgo experienced significant improvement in cognitive performance (memory, learning, reading) and had better social functioning (carrying on conversations, recognizing familiar faces) than those in the placebo (non-ginkgo) group. Much of this improvement was believed to be due to the antioxidant properties of the herb, as well as to the blood-thinning properties that seem to improve blood and oxygen flow to clogged blood vessels. Whether this herb works for people with normal blood flow remains largely unexplored. Claims that ginkgo will improve short- and long-term memory in the typical person are not scientifically based.
Most nutritional experts and physicians recommend that people who are considering using this herb take a 40-milligram tablet three times a day for a month or so to determine whether there is any improvement. If there is none, continuing to take this supplement is largely unwarranted.
Also, remember that disturbing memory loss or difficulty thinking, regardless of age, should be checked by a doctor to determine underlying causes.
Because the main action of ginkgo appears to be as a blood thinner, it should not be taken with other blood-thinning agents, such as aspirin, vitamin E, garlic, ginger, the prescription drug warfarin (trade name: Coumadin), or any other medications that list thinning of the blood as a potential side effect. Doing so could increase risk of severe hemorrhage in case of accidents or emergency surgeries or in the event of a stroke or aneurysm. Other reported side effects among a very small number of patients include stomach upset, headache, and dizziness, as well as allergic reactions.
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