Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects, Dangers and Safety Information

When researching new nootropic and cognitive enhancement supplements, many people may wonder what Ginkgo biloba side effects there are. Ginkgo Biloba is a herbal remedy that is regarded as safe for almost everyone to use.

Considering how long it has been used as medicine – perhaps dating back thousands of years in China – there has not been much evidence showing negative side effects of Ginkgo Biloba.

Most information has been anecdotal, passed down through the generations as folk medicinal knowledge. Now, recent studies have not only proven why Ginkgo is a powerful memory enhancer, they have also taken a look at negative effects that might come along with its use.

This article will discuss what is known about how this supplement works in the body, known Ginkgo biloba side effects, safe dosage information, and possible alternatives to Ginkgo.

Ginkgo Biloba

Herbal Supplement

Memory Recall

Cognitive Function

Concentra- tion

How It Works:

• Supports short & long-term memory
• Improves concentration & circulation to brain
• Neuroprotective & anti-oxidant

Dosage:

Between 120 - 360 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Ginkgo Biloba Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Ginkgo Biloba’s Safety Track Record

Perhaps the best place to begin looking at the risks of Ginkgo Biloba side effects is in the distant past.

The Ginkgo tree species itself is known to be over 270 million years old. With each tree living to be 2500 years old or more, that’s a long and dense history to consider.

Chinese medicine has employed the leaves of the tree as a common remedy for ailments ranging from earache to muscle pain to bronchitis.

In the Chinese regions of Zheilang and Tian Mu Shan, where it still grows wild, Ginkgo has been used for asthma, to raise libido, and to enhance energy for at least 1500 years. Its use was widespread throughout the centuries, unimpeded by any significant negative Ginkgo biloba side effects.

How Ginkgo Works in the Body

Even if one does not trust the anecdotal historical record of Ginkgo side effects, the many beneficial qualities of Ginkgo supplements cannot be denied. Ginkgo’s main constituents, ginkgolides, flavonoids, and bilobalides, provide powerful circulatory, cognitive, and antibacterial action.

First, circulation is boosted throughout the body by helping to enhance and maintain vascular condition. Ginkgo promotes the release of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2, two powerful chemicals which build vascular strength.

Next, clotting is reduced by ginkgolide B. The resulting enhanced blood flow in the brain protects against cerebrovascular insufficiency, and the resulting headaches, memory trouble, and serious tissue damage which it can cause.

Even more brain protection is created by Ginkgo’s antifungal and antibacterial effects. These properties protect cells from foreign invaders and may slow the spread of disease.

Ginkgo is also able to potentiate the MAO inhibiting qualities of other supplements, helping ensure proper levels of Dopamine, Serotonin, and Norepinephrine in the brain. This function is where much of Ginkgo’s mood enhancing and energy boosting qualities come from.

Why Do People Take Ginkgo?

In modern Western culture, Ginkgo is primarily used for its memory enhancing benefits. While it has been used for some specialized physical applications, such as for bronchitis, asthma, PMS, or tinnitus, Ginkgo is most commonly used as a part of a nootropic regimen to boost cognitive function. Even taken casually, Ginkgo may improve short term memory, making facts easier to learn and recall, and heightening concentration.

Ginkgo biloba reviews say that the supplement can produce an energetic yet serene mood, and helps diminish lethargy and depressed or anxious thoughts. For people who have hyperactivity disorders like ADHD, Ginkgo can provide a degree of mental control, focus, and concentration without any sluggish or slow feelings.

In fact there have been not reports of any cognitive Ginkgo Biloba side effects such as the numbing or listlessness that some pharmaceutical antidepressants may bring.

Many people also take Ginkgo as a neuroprotective supplement to guard against future disease and decay. It has been hypothesized that Ginkgo may be able to slow or prevent the onset of serious disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease or even dementia, however more research is still needed in this area.

Some studies have seen that taking Ginkgo leaf extract orally modestly improves symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia, however its use for the prevention of dementia has not been evaluated.

Athletes also often take a Ginkgo supplement to ease chronic muscle and joint pain. The enhanced circulation the herb imparts may lead to better cardio performance during heavy exercise.

The Natural Medicines database has rated Ginkgo biloba as Possibly Effective for improving symptoms of anxiety, cognitive function, dementia, premenstrual synmdrome (PMS), schizophrenia, and vertigo.

Research on Ginkgo for various conditions has been very promising, however more research, especially large-scale double blind placebo trials, is still needed. At this time, the FDA has not approved Ginkgo biloba as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions. In the USA, Ginkgo biloba is available as a dietary supplement only.

Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects and Risks

Ginkgo biloba has been rated by the Natural Medicines database as Likely Safe when used orally and appropriately, even long-term (some studies have used it up to 6 years). Use in children and pregnant/nursing women is considered Possibly Unsafe and to be avoided due to a lack of information on safety of use in these groups.

Ginkgo is generally very well tolerated at proper dosages in most healthy adults for up to six months. Postmarket surveillance of greater than 10,000 subjects found a 1.69% incidence of minor symptoms. In many clinical trials Ginkgo use has been associated with similar or lower rates of adverse effects as compared to placebo.

While the chance of side effects is rare, there have been some reports of minor Ginkgo Biloba side effects. Ginkgo has been seen to produce nausea, gastrointestinal complaints, rapid heart beat, headache, or dizziness. These effects are often seen when dosages are too high.

A rare but more serious concern exists about clotting issues and excessive bleeding. This could become an issue for anyone who has recently undergone surgery or sustained serious injuries. Because of this, Ginkgo supplements should not be combined with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, herbs, or supplements; ibuprofen; or Warfarin.

Ginkgo is also contraindicated if you are already on prescription antidepressants or anticonvulsants. Other minor contraindications do exist, and it is recommended that you speak with your doctor before using Ginkgo to determine if there may be any negative interactions with any current medications or supplements.

Ginkgo biloba can be safely and synergistically combined with some other nootropics, especially supplements which support choline production, but it is important to be aware of interactions and do your research.

The live Ginkgo tree is known to create itchiness and rash, but those effects are not transferred to supplements. Ginkgo seeds, however, do contain ginkgotoxin (4-O-methoxypyridoxine), a potentially toxic compound which inhibits GABA in the brain. Commercial nootropic forms of Ginkgo are almost always made from harmless leaf sources, which do not contain this compound, however it is good to check the source of your supplements to be sure.

Safe Ginkgo Dosage

Proper dosage is dependent on many factors, and it is always recommended that you speak with your doctor to help determine the best dosage for your needs. The following dosage recommendations are general guidelines only, and your personal dosage may be different.

For most people, a dose of 120 mg per day will produce sufficient effects.

If this dosage does not produce the desired results, you may increase dosage up to 600 mg per day safely without experience any dangerous effects. Splitting up the dose over three sittings is a good way to make the total duration of effects last all day long without interruption.

With its over thousand year tradition of safe use and low reported incidence of trial effects as evidence, it becomes clear that for most users Ginkgo Biloba side effects can be avoided by sticking to safe dosage guidelines and prudent use.

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