Ginkgo Biloba Tree Leaf Extract Benefits for Your Brain

Long before Ginkgo biloba was used as a supplement for improving memory and mental clarity, in traditional medicine it was used as a cure-all remedy for a wide range of conditions.

For thousands of years, the leaves of the stately Ginkgo tree have been ground into a powder purported to lift energy, fight ear and eye infections, ease the symptoms of asthma, boost sexual performance, cure bronchitis, relieve vertigo, and reduce pain in muscles and joints.

Its use in ancient Chinese culture may be considered “folk medicine,” but interest in Ginkgo as a cognitive enhancer over the past few decades has led to detailed research about how it works.

We now understand that Ginkgo biloba boosts circulation, inhibits MAOs, and fights off threats to critical neural structures. Here’s a summary of how Ginkgo works, the benefits it delivers, and how to properly calculate a dosage.

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

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Ginkgo biloba – A “Living Fossil”

More than 270 million years ago, the first Ginkgo biloba trees populated wild forests around the globe.

These 100-foot tall mammoths have curling, fan-shaped leaves which contain all of the bioactive compounds used to create Ginkgo supplements. Supplements which are made from the tree’s seeds are considered fairly ineffective.

At ages up to 2500 years per individual tree, this species is considered the longest living tree on Earth. However, all of its relatives have long since become extinct, making this tree what is known as a living fossil.

Ginkgo biloba currently only grows in the Zheilang and Tian Mu Shan provinces in China. Perhaps due to this geographical constraint, the use of Ginkgo as a medicinal began in these regions and stayed there for as many as 15 centuries before expanding to common use in the West.

How Ginkgo Works

We now have a fairly good grasp on the source of many of Ginkgo biloba’s main benefits. Much of its power is derived by enhancing circulation in the brain and body. This is achieved when Ginkgo’s core components, ginkgolides, bilobalides, and flavonoids, regulate vascular health by promoting chemicals, called prostacyclin and thromboxane A2, which strengthen vein walls.

When the brain doesn’t get enough blood, a condition called cerebrovascular insufficiency can arise. This condition eventually leads to many of the most severe nervous system conditions, such as stroke. In the short term, poor blood flow in the brain can result in headaches, trouble remembering, and difficulty concentrating.

Ginkgo biloba also promotes good neural circulation by preventing excessive blood clotting. This has further benefits in the treatment of the condition known as tinnitus, which is characterized by a persistent ringing sound in the ears.

Mental concentration and healthy brain tissue are also enhanced by Ginkgo’s protection of choline products in the brain. Choline and Acetylcholine are the cornerstones of healthy neural communication and strong cognitive abilities.

Added to this, Ginkgo has natural MAO inhibiting qualities. MAO inhibition ensures that levels of Dopamine, Serotonin, and Norepinephrine remain balanced, creating a feeling of natural energy and mental focus.

Finally, Ginkgo biloba is now known to have powerful antibacterial and antifungal abilities. Protecting tissues from invasive bacteria and fungus promotes a kind of “cellular immunity” in the brain, guarding against illness and decay.

Memory Benefits and More

Ginkgo biloba has earned its reputation as the memory-boosting herb. It provides powerful recall of facts, and promotes a mental environment that is clear, energetic, and focused. Enhanced circulation to the brain may fosters a climate conducive to healthy tissue growth and communication.

Neuroplasticity is also supported by Ginkgo’s preservation of Acetylcholine. This action is enhanced even further if Ginkgo is stacked with other cholinergic compounds. And by acting as a natural MAO inhibitor, Ginkgo enhances the feeling of mental energy, banishes depression symptoms, and clears brain fog.

Young adults have been shown to learn new facts more easily and articulate thoughts more clearly when supplementing with Ginkgo. It is hypothesized that young people suffering from hyperactive attention disorders like ADHD may achieve more control over their thoughts when using a Ginkgo supplement.

And while the typical nootropic user simply wishes to enhance healthy brain function, there is interest in using Ginkgo for more extreme mental disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In the body, better circulation results in muscle pain being reduced and athletic performance increasing. Ginkgo can also reduce inflammation in the bronchial tubes, and make breathing easier for asthma sufferers. Many women find that PMS symptoms are dramatically reduced when using Ginkgo.

The Natural Medicines database has rated Ginkgo biloba as Possibly Effective for improving symptoms of anxiety, cognitive function, dementia, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), schizophrenia, tardive dyskinesia, and vertigo.

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

The Correct Ginkgo Dose

Ginkgo biloba is not approved by the FDA for medical treatment use due to lack of formal research and study. For this reason, there is not a single standardized dose in Western medicine. However, Ginkgo has been found to be very effective and free from most side effects at dosages between 120 mg and 600 mg per day.

Keep in mind that this is a general dosage guideline only, and your personal dosage may be different. It is always recommended that you speak with your doctor before beginning any new supplements to help determine the best dosage for your needs, as well as determine if there may be any negative interactions with any existing supplements or medications.

If you are sensitive to stimulants, stick to the lower part of the dosage range, and feel free to divide your dosage over three sittings throughout the day.

If you require more noticeable effects, increase dosage in increments of 100 mg over subsequent days. For an added boost, try stacking Ginkgo with other choline-enhancing supplements, with which it has a special synergy. It is also recommended to stack Ginkgo biloba with Vinpocetine. Normal dosing guidelines still apply when stacking.

Ginkgo biloba Side Effects

Ginkgo biloba has been rated by the Natural Medicines database as Likely Safe when taken orally and appropriately. Standardized Ginkgo leaf extracts have been used safely in trials lasting from
several weeks to up to 6 years.

Historically, most people have found Ginkgo to be very tolerable and not resulting in any significant side effects. It can cause light nausea, dizziness, or rapid heart beat, but these effects are temporary and rare, within moderate doses.

However, there is one serious side effect from Ginkgo, when taken in seed form. Ginkgotoxin (4-O-methoxypyridoxine) is contained in live or roasted seeds. This compound can interfere with the effects of natural GABA and B-vitamins, and lead to seizures.

Ginkgo biloba supplements are not made from Ginkgo seeds, and are derived solely from leaves. However it is always a good idea to confirm that a Ginkgo supplement is leaf-based to avoid this side effect.

People who are on antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or have recently undergone surgery should not take Ginkgo, as it can cause excessive bleeding.

Pregnant women and young kids are also advised to avoid Ginkgo supplements, as side effects are not yet fully understood in these groups.

If your doctor does not think Ginkgo is right for you, perhaps you can try other nootropics with similar known effects, such as cholinergics. Find the right combination for your individual needs and then enjoy the incredible memory benefits that these supplements and Ginkgo biloba can deliver.

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