Ginkgo Biloba Herbal Guide

Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest known herbs to be used as medicine and its one of the top selling alternative medicines in the United States.  Ginkgo has been found to be effective with many common ailments such as decreased blood flow, glaucoma and other macular problems, memory, and also tinnitus.

Ginkgo biloba has been found to have strong levels of antioxidants which roam the body to rid it of free radicals.  Free radicals are naturally occurring compounds that cause damage to cell and can also tamper with our DNA.  Free radicals multiply as we age and adding antioxidants to our nutrition can help lessen the growth of free radicals.

And though Ginkgo biloba has many positive qualities, it’s can have negative effects when taken with competing pharmaceuticals.  I’ll discuss some of the benefits and some of the side effects below but as with any herbal product, you should do your research and consult with your family doctor before consuming them.

Aches and pains or muscle cramps can be a sign of poor blood circulation, or intermittent claudication (IC). Your doctor will routinely prescribe exercise to remedy this but many times the aches and pains are just too much for exercise.  Poor blood circulation is commonly caused by cholesterol build up in the arteries and taking Ginkgo can dilate, or open up smaller arteries and improve blood flow. 

Since Ginkgo has natural blood thinning properties it should not be taken with any other anticoagulant medications.  Do not take Ginkgo biloba with Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Heparin, or Warfarin.

Studies have shone that Ginkgo biloba can help improve vision with people that have glaucoma and other age-related macular degenerations.  Again, the potent antioxidants in the Ginkgo herb fight the free radicals that attack cell membranes

Ginkgo has been touted as an aid to increase memory, decrease depression, and help improve damaged nerves caused by Alzheimer’s disease.  By dilating blood vessels throughout the body Ginkgo helps improve the circulation and allows for more oxygen and nutrients to reach the brain, in theory helping the brain perform at its peak.

Do not take Ginkgo with anticonvulsants or antidepressants.  And as always consult your family doctor before you take Ginkgo for any of the above ailments.

Another benefit of Ginkgo biloba is a possible remedy for Tinnitus.  Tinnitus is that constant ringing, buzzing, hissing noise in your head that can drive you crazy.  It’s caused when there is too little blood flow to the hair cells in your inner ear and those cells begin to break down and die.  This is just another example of where increasing blood flow through the use of the Ginkgo herb.

I can’t reiterate enough the need to research herbal products before taking them so you will know what interactions to be aware of.