Ginkgo what is it

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Individuals with epilepsy or diabetes should also avoid use of ginkgo biloba, unless the herb is taken under the supervision of a medical professional. Pregnant women shouldn't take ginkgo.

Given the number of medications and supplements that may interact with ginkgo, it's a good idea to consult your primary care provider before taking ginkgo. Ginkgo contains a compound called ginkgotoxin. Although ginkgotoxin is found in the largest amounts in ginkgo nuts, it's also present in small quantities in the leaves. Structurally similar to vitamin B6, it has been found to block vitamin B6 activity. According to one case report, a woman developed generalized tonic-clonic seizure after eating large amounts of ginkgo nuts and had lowered blood vitamin B6 levels.

After treatment, which included vitamin B6 medication, her symptoms resolved and no seizures recurred. There is no established standard dose for gingko biloba.

Different formulations and doses have been used in research studies investigating the herb's effect on various conditions. The right dose for you may depend on several factors, including your age, gender, medical history, and formulation used. As always, speak with your healthcare provider to get personalized advice regarding the right dose for you. Gingko is known by many other names, including bai guo ye, yinhsing, and fossil tree. But the supplement is most popularly known as gingko biloba and you will most likely see it on store shelves labeled as such.

Many health food markets and vitamin shops sell this product. To make sure that you get the proper dose, the National Institutes of Health NIH recommends that you look for a Supplement Facts label on the product that you buy. This label will contain vital information including the amount of active ingredients per serving. You can also find out if other ingredients have been added to the product such as fillers, binders, and flavorings.

Lastly, the organization suggests that you look for a product that contains a seal of approval from a third-party organization that provides quality testing.

These organizations include U. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab. A seal of approval from one of these organizations does not guarantee the product's safety or effectiveness but it does provide assurance that the product was properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.

Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Review of ginkgo biloba-induced toxicity, from experimental studies to human case reports. Ginkgo biloba extract for essential hypertension: a systemic review. Effects of ginkgo biloba in dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis. Also known as the maidenhair tree, ginkgo is one of the oldest species of tree in the world. The trees can grow more than feet tall and can live for over 1, years.

Some trees in China are said to be over 2, years old. The extract can be taken as a supplement, and the dried leaves of the plant can be used to make tea. Ginkgo biloba may offer a range of health benefits, including improving cognitive function.

Traditional uses are wide-ranging, but not all of them have been confirmed by research. There is some evidence indicating that ginkgo can help people with dementia, although more studies are required to confirm this. Other research, published in JAMA , similarly concluded that EGb was safe to use and possibly effective in stabilizing and possibly improving cognitive and the social functioning patients with dementia for between 6 and 12 months.

Researchers believe that ginkgo improves cognitive function because it promotes good blood circulation in the brain and protects the brain and other parts from neuronal damage. However, other research suggests that ginkgo may not improve memory among people who are healthy.

Ginkgo may help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research , found that people with generalized anxiety disorder who took ginkgo experienced better anxiety relief than those who took a placebo. One small study observed improvements in the vision of people with glaucoma who took milligrams a day of gingko over a period of 8 weeks. Some studies have also suggested that gingko may help people with macular degeneration to keep their sight for longer.

In studies, adults have used between and milligrams a day in divided doses. It appears to take 4 to 6 weeks before improvements are noticed. Patients with diabetes should not use gingko without first checking with a physician. As with any medication, care is needed to prevent interactions with other drugs and other risks. Even ibuprofen combined with Gingko can increase the risk of internal bleeding. Patients with blood circulation disorders or individuals on anticoagulants, such as aspirin , are at risk of experiencing undesirable effects after taking ginkgo.