Ginkgo biloba, or ginkgo biloba leaf extract, is an herbal supplement extracted from ginkgo biloba tree leaves. Often used in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ginkgo biloba is believed to help improve memory, brain function, and blood flow. It is also called ginkgo, fossil tree, maidenhair tree, baiguo, yinhsing, and Japanese silver apricot.
Ginkgo biloba contains antioxidants that may improve blood flow and age-related memory issues. However, research on the health benefits of ginkgo biloba is limited.
Potential Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba
- Memory and Cognition Proponents of ginkgo biloba suggest the supplement can help improve memory and age-related cognitive decline, and the supplement is sometimes used as a natural Alzheimer’s disease treatment.
- Eye Diseases Research shows ginkgo biloba’s antioxidant properties can help improve blood flow to the eye’s optic nerve and retina.
- Anxiety and Depression
- High Blood Pressure
- Dizziness (vertigo). Taking ginkgo leaf extract by mouth seems to improve symptoms of dizziness caused by balance disorders. It isn’t clear if helps to improve symptoms of vertigo in people with a condition that causes decreased blood flow to the brain.
Memory and Cognition
Proponents of ginkgo biloba suggest the supplement can help improve memory and age-related cognitive decline, and the supplement is sometimes used as a natural Alzheimer’s disease treatment. A review of 21 clinical trials found combining conventional Alzheimer’s treatments and ginkgo biloba helps participants with mild Alzheimer’s disease symptoms improve cognitive function. However, more research is needed since the trials included varied in sample size, quality, and results.
Eye Diseases
Research shows ginkgo biloba’s antioxidant properties can help improve blood flow to the eye’s optic nerve and retina. Ginkgo may also provide an anti-inflammatory response that helps prevent eye degeneration and related vision issues. A 2019 review concluded these effects might help treat glaucoma. This eye condition damages the optic nerve and can cause vision loss and blindness. However, there’s not enough evidence to prove ginkgo can treat vision problems caused by glaucoma.
Another small review found ginkgo may help slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration—a condition that damages the retina and causes blurry vision. Some participants also experienced improved vision after taking ginkgo. However, the results were mostly insignificant, and we need more extensive studies to prove ginkgo can treat age-related macular degeneration.
Anxiety and Depression
Limited research has shown taking ginkgo extract may help increase antioxidants to help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. An older study found taking 480 milligrams of ginkgo biloba extract daily helped reduce anxiety symptoms, compared to the placebo. However, the study only included 107 people with a generalized anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder with anxious mood. We need more quality studies to prove this effect.
Newer research has also found taking ginkgo biloba with antidepressants helped reduce depression symptoms in older adults with post-stroke depression. However, it is still unclear if ginkgo biloba is an effective treatment for depression, and researchers aren’t convinced ginkgo can effectively treat mental health conditions.
High Blood Pressure
Ginkgo biloba can decrease blood clotting, which may help improve blood flow and lower high blood pressure (aka hypertension). However, studies are extremely small and limited. In a 2014 review, most clinical trials found that ginkgo biloba extract helped reduce that participant’s blood pressure. However, some studies found the supplement had no significant effect on blood pressure and included flawed research methods.
A 2018 study, including people with arterial hypertension, also found ginkgo biloba extract helped reduce blood pressure just as much as basic treatment. However, the study only included 43 participants overall, and more better-quality studies are needed to prove that ginkgo biloba has the same effect.
Dizziness (vertigo).
Taking ginkgo leaf extract by mouth seems to improve symptoms of dizziness caused by balance disorders. It isn’t clear if helps to improve symptoms of vertigo in people with a condition that causes decreased blood flow to the brain.
How to Take Ginkgo Biloba
Most ginkgo supplements are taken one to two times daily with food. Ginkgo seeds and raw leaves are poisonous and should be avoided.
Dosage:
There is no standard dosage for ginkgo biloba. How much you take depends on the formulation and personal factors like age, sex, and medical history. However, taking 15-20 drops under the tongue or in a tea, two times daily, is typically safe.
Before you start taking ginkgo biloba, talk with your healthcare provider.
The statements made within this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements and the products of this company are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
