Introduction
Ginkgo is the oldest species of tree. The leaves have been used to ease symptoms of dementia and other problems with the brain. Ginkgo has also been used to ease anxiety and improve both brain and heart health. It can be taken as a pill, powder, or extract. Ginkgo can also be made into a tea.
Dosages
120 to 240 grams daily
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
May Be Effective
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) —may ease symptoms L1-L3
- Psychotic disorders—may ease psychotic symptoms M1
- Tardive Dyskinesia —may ease symptoms R1
Unlikely to Be Effective
- Intermittent Claudication —unlikely to have benefit H1
- Tinnitus —unlikely to ease symptoms and improve quality of life S1, S2
Not Enough Data to Assess
- Alzheimer Disease A1-A4
- Anxiety C1
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder D1
- Cognitive function E1
- Glaucoma G1
- Macular Degeneration I1
- Multiple sclerosis K1, K2
- Menopause symptoms J1
- Raynaud's Phenomenon N1
- Stroke S1, S2
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe for most adults to take ginkgo in small doses for a short time, but allergic reactions may happen. O1-O3 Ginkgo use during pregnancy and fresh or roasted ginkgo seeds may not be safe. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period It also may not be safe to take by women who are breastfeeding.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Alzheimer Disease
REFA1 Yang M, Xu DD, et al. A systematic review on natural medicines for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with meta-analyses of intervention effect of ginkgo. Am J Chin Med. 2014;42(3):505-521.
REFA2 Laver K, Dyer S, Whitehead C, Clemson L, Crotty M. Interventions to delay functional decline in people with dementia: a systematic review of systematic reviews. BMJ Open. 2016 Apr 27;6(4):e010767.
REFA3 Yang G, Wang Y, et al. Ginkgo Biloba for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Top Med Chem. 2016;16(5):520-528.
REFA4 Butler M, Nelson VA, et al. Over-the-Counter Supplement Interventions to Prevent Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Clinical Alzheimer-Type Dementia: A Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Jan 2;168(1):52-62.
REFB Angina
REFB1 Sun T, Wang X, et al. Ginkgo Biloba extract for angina pectoris: a systematic review. Chin J Integr Med. 2015 Jul;21(7):542-550.
REFB2 Tan D, Wu JR, et al. Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole Injection as Adjuvant Treatment for Angina Pectoris: A Meta-Analysis of 41 Randomized Controlled Trials. Chin J Integr Med. 2018;24(12):930-937.
REFC Anxiety
REFC1 Savage K, Firth J, et al. GABA-modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence. Phytother Res. 2018 Jan;32(1):3-18.
REFD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
REFD1 Anheyer D, Lauche R, et al. Herbal medicines in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Feb;30:14-23.
REFE Cognitive Function
REFE1 Laws KR, Sweetnam H, et al. Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A meta-analysis. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2012 Nov;27(6):527-533.
REFF Dementia
REFF1 Birks J, Grimley Evans J. Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21;(1):CD003120.
REFF2 Gauthier S, Schlaefke S. Efficacy and tolerability of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Clin Interv Aging. 2014 Nov 28;9:2065-77.
REFF3 Charemboon T, Jaisin K. Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Assoc Thai. 2015 May;98(5):508-513.
REFF4 Tan MS, Yu JT, et al. Efficacy and adverse effects of ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015;43(2):589-603.
REFF5 von Gunten A, Schlaefke S, et al. Efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in dementia with behavioural and psychological symptoms: A systematic review. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2016;17(8):622-633.
REFF6 Yuan Q, Wang CW, et al. Effects of Ginkgo biloba on dementia: An overview of systematic reviews. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017;195:1-9.
REFF7 Ghorani-Azam A, Sepahi S, et al. Herbal medicine as a promising therapeutic approach for the management of vascular dementia: A systematic literature review. Phytother Res. 2018 Sep;32(9):1720-1728.
REFF8 Savaskan E, Mueller H, et al. Treatment effects of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® on the spectrum of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int Psychogeriatr. 2018;30(3):285-293.
REFF9 Spiegel R, Kalla R, et al. Ginkgo biloba extracts EGb 761® alleviates neurosensory symptoms in patients with dementia: a meta-analysis of treatment effects on tinnitus and dizziness in randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Clin Interv Aging. 2018;13:1121-1127.
REFG Glaucoma
REFG1 Loskutova E, O'Brien C, et al. Nutritional supplementation in the treatment of glaucoma: A systematic review. Surv Ophthalmol. 2019 Mar - Apr;64(2):195-216.
REFH Intermittent Claudication
REFH1 Nicolaï SP, Kruidenier LM, et al. Ginkgo biloba for intermittent claudication. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 6;(6):CD006888.
REFI Macular Degeneration
REFI1 Evans JR. Ginkgo biloba extract for age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan 31;(1):CD001775.
REFJ Menopause
REFJ1 Clement YN, Onakpoya I, et al. Effects of herbal and dietary supplements on cognition in menopause: a systematic review. Maturitas. 2011 Mar;68(3):256-263.
REFK Multiple Sclerosis
REFK1 He D, Zhang Y, et al. Pharmacological treatment for memory disorder in multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Dec 17;(12):CD008876.
REFK2 Plemel JR, Juzwik CA, et al. Over-the-counter anti-oxidant therapies for use in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. Mult Scler. 2015 Oct;21(12):1485-1495.
REFL Premenstrual Syndrome
REFL1 Ozgoli G, Selselei EA, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba L. in treatment of premenstrual syndrome. J ALtern Complement Med. 2009;15(8):845-851.
REFL2 Dante G, Facchinetti F. Herbal treatments for alleviating premenstrual symptoms: a systematic review. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2011 Mar;32(1):42-51.
REFL3 Jang SH, Kim DI, et al. Effects and treatment methods of acupuncture and herbal medicine for premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder: systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Jan 10;14:11.
REFM Psychotic Disorders
REFM1 Hoenders HJR, Bartels-Velthuis AA, et al. Natural Medicines for Psychotic Disorders: A Systematic Review. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2018 Feb;206(2):81-101.
REFN Raynaud Phenomenon
REFN1 Malenfant D, Catton M, et al. The efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon: a literature review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Jul;48(7):791-795.
REFO Safety
REFO1 Ernst E. The risk-benefit profile of commonly used herbal therapies: Ginkgo, St. John's Wort, Ginseng, Echinacea, Saw Palmetto, and Kava. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Jan 1;136(1):42-53.
REFO2 Bent S, Goldberg H, et al. Spontaneous bleeding associated with ginkgo biloba: a case report and systematic review of the literature: a case report and systematic review of the literature. J Gen Intern Med. 2005 Jul;20(7):657-661.
REFO3 Izzo AA. Interactions between herbs and conventional drugs: overview of the clinical data. Med Princ Pract. 2012;21(5):404-428.
REFP Schizophrenia
REFP1 Chen X, Hong Y, et al. Efficacy and safety of extract of Ginkgo biloba as an adjunct therapy in chronic schizophrenia: A systematic review of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2015 Jul 30;228(1):121-127.
REFP2 Zheng W, Xiang YQ, et al. Extract of Ginkgo biloba to Tardive Dyskinesia: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2016;49(3):107-111.
REFP3 Sarris J. Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: 10-year updated review. Phytother Res. 2018 Jul;32(7):1147-1162.
REFQ Stroke
REFQ1 Zeng X, Liu M, et al. Ginkgo biloba for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;19(4):CD003691.
REFQ2 Wang L, Zhang T, et al. [System evaluation on Ginkgo Biloba extract in the treatment of acute cerebral infraction]. Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2015;40(10):1096-1102.
REFR Tardive Dyskinesia
REFR1 Soares-Weiser K, Rathbone J, et al. Miscellaneous treatments for antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 19;3:CD000208.
REFS Tinnitus
REFS1 Hilton MP, Zimmermann EF, et al. Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 28;(3):CD003852.
REFS2 Quidel Kramer F, Ortigoza Á. Ginkgo biloba for the treatment of tinnitus. Medwave. 2018;18(6):e7295.