Ginkgo

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• QWhat is the maximum daily dosage for ginkgo biloba?

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  A RealAge answered

  Ginkgo biloba is available in a variety of product types. The recommended daily dose of Ginkgo biloba is a total of 120 to 240 milligrams divided into two to three doses.
  
  The time limitations for using Ginkgo biloba correspond to the condition:
  

  • Gingko should be used for at least eight weeks if treating impaired memory. Gingko may be used for more than three months if there is evidence of continued effectiveness.
  • For disorders of blood vessels in the general circulatory system, the recommended use of ginkgo is at least six weeks.
  • For vertigo or tinnitus, use should be limited to six to eight weeks, unless there is evidence of continued effectiveness.
• QWhat side effects does Ginkgo Biloba cause?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Ginkgo biloba is an herb that comes from the Chinese ginkgo tree. It appears to be another of many possible antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. A known side effect of ginkgo biloba is an antiplatelet effect (it inhibits the ability of platelets to clump together and cause blood clotting), which does not appear to be significant for most patients.

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• QHow can Ginkgo biloba affect dementia?

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  A RealAge answered

  Ginkgo may alleviate some symptoms of brain deterioration (dementia). Most well-designed clinical studies show that ginkgo improves symptoms in patients who are suffering from the kind of dementia that is due to impaired blood supply to the brain.
  
  In the largest recent clinical trials among patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type or dementia that is due to multiple areas of cell death in the brain (multi-infarct type), the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) showed mixed results. The extract resulted in symptomatic improvements that were large enough for caregivers to notice although the overall physician evaluations (clinical global impression) were unchanged.

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• QCan ginkgo biloba really benefit your brain?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Many people believe that the supplement gingko biloba improves brain function by increasing blood flow and thinning your blood-for both minimal cognitive impairments and Alzheimer's patients. But all the recent data shows that gingko offers no better protection from the effects of aging than a placebo.

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• QCan I take ginkgo biloba and ginseng if I take BP medicine?

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  A MDLIVE answered

  You should discuss this with your doctor, especially the specialist prescribing the blood pressure medication if not your primary care doctor. Herbal medications such as gingko and ginseng can react unfavorably with some medications. There are many blood pressure medications on the market and it is likely you may be on other medications for other conditions (such as cholesterol or diabetes) as well. Whenever you take prescription medications, the doctor and/or pharmacist check your list of known medications for any potential dangerous reactions or need for dose adjustment. Taking non-prescription medications like herbals can complicate things and so you should check with your doctor on this. This is another reason to keep your doctors informed of ALL your medications whether that particular doctor prescribed it or not. Further, you should get all your prescriptions from one pharmacy or pharmacy chain so that the pharmacist can double-check your medications. 
• QWhat is ginkgo used for?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Gingko biloba is intended for people who have mental impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease, memory loss or slower thinking with age. Do not take gingko biloba without the advice of your doctor. Consult with your doctor about other, perhaps more successful, ways to treat your condition.
• QWhat is Ginkgo biloba?

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  A RealAge answered

  The ginkgo tree, also known as the maidenhair tree, is one of the oldest living species in the world. This hardy, deciduous tree is cultivated on plantations in many parts of the world, primarily in the United States and China. Ginkgo leaves are picked, dried and extracted to manufacture ginkgo products, which are marketed widely.
  
  Extracts of Ginkgo biloba can be used to treat the following:
  

  • limping due to insufficient peripheral blood flow (disorders of peripheral circulation, or intermittent claudication)
  • memory loss due to general mental deterioration (dementia) or physical disorders that cause a decrease in mental function (organic brain syndrome)
  • dizziness (vertigo) and ringing in the ears (tinnitus), originating from insufficient blood supply to the inner ear
• QShould I take ginkgo biloba to improve or protect my memory?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  If you want to. Though there are no large studies to support its use, there's some promise that this very commonly used supplement is effective in helping improve cognition. It can also thin the blood, which can be helpful in folks with blood vessel disease but dangerous for those with clotting disorders or anticipating surgery. Because it's considered a safe antioxidant supplement, we're comfortable with you trying 120 milligrams daily to see if it has any positive effects.
• QWhat do I need to know about ginkgo biloba and ginseng?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Two herbs that patients ask us about more than any others are ginkgo biloba and ginseng. I lump them together here because I almost always hit them in combination when I have this talk with patients.
  
  Ginkgo biloba comes from the leaves and seeds of the Chinese ginkgo tree, and many people think it can boost memory, lower blood pressure, and even reverse aging. Ginseng is a root that's taken as an energy booster, and some people also believe it can strengthen the immune system.
  
  Do they work? Patients want a definitive answer. So we give them one: Try the supplements, and if they work for you, then yes, they work.
  
  There are plenty of studies on these herbs, but their results are contradictory. Most of the evidence for them comes from personal testimonials and anecdotes. It's often impossible to know what's really in a bottle of ginkgo biloba or ginseng based on the label—because labels lie (and the law allows them to lie!). What one supplement manufacturer calls "ginseng" is what another may call "garbage."
  
  And even if the pills genuinely contain these herbs, their potency can vary greatly. It can even depend on the time of year the herbs were harvested. Hunting for the little US Pharmocopiea "P" on the label will help ensure at least some consistency.
• QWho should not take ginkgo biloba?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Do not take gingko biloba if you know you are allergic to it. Do not take garlic if you take blood-thinning medications - such as aspirin, NSAIDs, or anticoagulants - or for two weeks before surgery, due to an increased danger from bleeding. Also avoid gingko biloba if you receive seizure medications, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital. Because mental impairments could be serious, never treat them without the advice of your doctor.