Ginkgo is one of the best-selling natural remedies in America, and some herbalists feel that it is the most beneficial herb to be used for general well-being. For centuries, it has had a wide variety of uses, and it is a powerful antioxidant that removes toxins from the body. It also increases the brain’s absorption of glucose and oxygen—which are essential to its proper functioning—and acts as a natural antidepressant as well

Today, ginkgo is mainly recognized as a memory enhancer, and much of the scientific literature also suggests that 120 to 240 mg of this herb daily is helpful to people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or suffering from some other form of dementia. (To a lesser degree, it has proven to be effective in the treatment of tinnitus as well. Often referred to as “ringing in the ears,” tinnitus is an exasperating condition in which a person hears sounds in the ears or head that do not come from an outside source.)

Other Benefits

Several studies also indicate that ginkgo provides some relief to patients suffering from claudication (leg pain caused by clogged arteries either during exercise or while at rest) symptoms, but it may not be as beneficial in dealing with this problem as prescription drugs or exercise therapy. It is also used to decrease inflammation of the lungs in people who have asthma.

Arteriosclerosis, commonly known as “hardening of the arteries,” decreases the normal flow of blood by thickening the arterial walls while creating an excessive buildup of plaque in the blood vessels. Since this can lead to coronary artery disease, it is extremely dangerous, and treatment with ginkgo—a vasodilator—may allow the blood vessels to expand and contract as the heart pumps, while helping to dissolve plaque on blood-vessel walls.

Both men and women who take antidepressant prescription drugs often experience some sexual dysfunction as a side effect. In one significant study, 63 people were treated with 180 to 220 mg of ginkgo extract daily. When the four-week clinical trial ended, this was found to be effective in 76 percent of the male patients and 91 percent of the female participants, and they voiced their interest in continuing to use ginkgo.

About 300,000 people in the United States have multiple sclerosis, and half of that group may also experience some type of mental impairment, including problems with complex reasoning tasks and short-term memory loss. In a three-month-long, double-blind study, those who took ginkgo tolerated it well, and researchers noted that it may help to improve memory, attention, and mental functioning in patients coping with this problem.

Safety Concerns

Although the ginkgo leaf extract found in most commercial products is usually well-tolerated by healthy adults, it should be used with caution by people for whom possible bleeding is a concern because they’re taking anticoagulants or plan to undergo certain dental or surgical procedures. Ginkgo should always be ingested in recommended doses for no more than six months, and its minor side effects include headache, nausea, and digestive problems.

—Arlene Connolly