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Ginkgo, Herbal Remedy for Alzheimer's disease and dementia
Ginkgo - The
ginkgo tree is one of the oldest types of trees in the world. Ginkgos are
medium-large deciduous trees, normally reaching a height of 20 –35 m (66-115
feet), with some specimens in China being over 50 m (164 feet). A combination of
resistance to disease, insect-resistant wood and the ability to form aerial
roots and sprouts makes ginkgos very long-lived, with some specimens claimed to
be more than 2,500 years old: A 3,000 year-old ginkgo has been reported in
Shandong province in China.
Common Names--ginkgo, ginkgo biloba,
fossil tree, maidenhair tree, Japanese silver apricot, baiguo, bai guo ye, kew
tree, yinhsing (yin-hsing)
Latin Name--Ginkgo biloba
- What Ginkgo Is Used For
- Ginkgo seeds have been used in
traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and cooked seeds are
occasionally eaten. More recently, ginkgo leaf extract has been used to
treat a variety of ailments and conditions, including asthma, bronchitis,
fatigue, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
- Today, people use ginkgo leaf
extracts hoping to improve memory; to treat or help prevent Alzheimer's
disease and other types of dementia; to decrease intermittent claudication
(leg pain caused by narrowing arteries); and to treat sexual dysfunction,
multiple sclerosis, tinnitus, and other health conditions.
- Try our Herbal Remedy and Herbal
Medicine:
- How Ginkgo Is Used
Extracts are usually taken from the ginkgo leaf and are used to make tablets,
capsules, or teas. Occasionally, ginkgo extracts are used in skin products.
- What the Science Says about
Ginkgo
- Numerous studies of ginkgo have
been done for a variety of conditions. Some promising results have been seen
for Alzheimer's disease/dementia, intermittent claudication, and tinnitus
among others, but larger, well-designed research studies are needed.
- Some smaller studies for memory
enhancement have had promising results, but a trial sponsored by the
National Institute on Aging of more than 200 healthy adults over age 60
found that ginkgo taken for 6 weeks did not improve memory.
- NCCAM is conducting a large
clinical trial of ginkgo with more than 3,000 volunteers. The aim is to see
if the herb prevents the onset of dementia and, specifically, Alzheimer's
disease; slows cognitive decline and functional disability (for example,
inability to prepare meals); reduces the incidence of cardiovascular
disease; and decreases the rate of premature death.
- Ginkgo is also being studied by
NCCAM for asthma, symptoms of multiple sclerosis, vascular function
(intermittent claudication), cognitive decline, sexual dysfunction due to
antidepressants, and insulin resistance. NCCAM is also looking at potential
interactions between ginkgo and prescription drugs.
- Side Effects and Cautions of
Ginkgo
- Side effects of ginkgo may include
headache, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, dizziness, or allergic
skin reactions. More severe allergic reactions have occasionally been
reported.
- There are some data to suggest
that ginkgo can increase bleeding risk, so people who take anticoagulant
drugs, have bleeding disorders, or have scheduled surgery or dental
procedures should use caution and talk to a health care provider if using
ginkgo.
- Uncooked ginkgo seeds contain a
chemical known as ginkgotoxin, which can cause seizures. Consuming large
quantities of seeds over time can cause death.
- Ginkgo leaf and ginkgo leaf
extracts appear to contain little ginkgotoxin.
- It is important to inform your
health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using,
including ginkgo. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.
What's an Herb? An herb is a plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent, or potential
therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and
roots. Herbal medicine products are dietary supplements that people take
to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed
health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and
fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not
effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.
to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed
health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and
fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not
effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.
Dietary supplement is a
product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino
acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for
dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.
To use an herbal product as safely as
possible:
-
Consult your doctor first
-
Do not take a bigger dose than the label
recommends
-
Take it under the guidance of a trained
medical professional
-
Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or
nursing
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Why should I use herbal products?
The decision to use herbs to improve your
health is, as with all health decisions, a personal one. There are, however,
many good reasons to consider herbal products to complement your own
health care methods. One of the best reason, however, may be the fact that
herbs and herbal products, continue to provide real health benefits while
maintaining a remarkable safety profile. Readily available natural
substances were the first medicines used by humans. Primitive and ancient
civilizations as well as contemporary cultures throughout the world have
always relied on herbs to provide the benefits that have been observed with
their use. In fact, the World Health Organization has estimated that 80
percent of the world's population continues to use traditional therapies, a
major part of which are derived from plants, as their primary health care
tools. In our own time and culture, most herbs are available in the form of
"herbal supplements." These products are found in the form of teas, tablets,
capsules, liquid extracts, and others. We now have ready access to products
that bring the herbal traditions from all over the world in a variety of
convenient forms. In addition, scientific inquiries continue to develop our
knowledge of the benefits of plants, and often validate the observations
made over the past centuries.
Are herbs safe?
Plants that enjoy broad culinary and
therapeutic usage are generally safe. We can flavor our food with any number
of herbs to make a meal more flavorful. We can appreciate a delicious cup of
peppermint leaf or ginger root tea, or benefit from the soothing properties
of marshmallow root or the bark of slippery elm. We can take an herbal
supplement containing dandelion root or saw palmetto berries, or any number
of the other herbs. Although allergies and reactions have been recorded for
a few herbs that are widely used in foods and supplements, such individual
concerns are also seen with many foods, and do not diminish the safety
profile of the many herbs that are generally recognized as safe. On the
other hand, and as everyone knows, there are any number of plants that are
highly toxic, even deadly.
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