Botanical Index No. 451

Ginkgo

ginkgo biloba

Medicinal Actions

antiasthmatic in the early and late phases of airway hyperactivity

Primary Conditions Treated

Acrocyanosis Allergy Alopecia Altitude Sickness Alzheimer’s Anaphylaxis Angina Anxiety Arrhythmia Arthrosis Asthma Atherosclerosis Bacteria Blennorrhea Bronchosis Cancer Capillary Fragility Cardiopathy Caries Cellulite Cerebral Insufficiency Chilblain Circulosis Convulsion Cough Cramp Cystosis Deafness Dementia Depression Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dizziness Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dysuria Edema Emphysema Encephalosis Enuresis Fatigue Filariasis Freckle Fungus Glaucoma Gonorrhea Headache Hearing Problem High Cholesterol Hypertonia Impotence Inflammation Intermittent Claudication Ischemia Leukorrhea Maculosis Mastocytosis Migraine Multiple Sclerosis Mycosis Neuralgia Nystagmus Obesity Ophthalmia Pain Parturition PMS Polydipsia Polyuria Post-Phlebitis Syndrome Pulmonosis Raynaud’s Syndrome Retinosis Rhinosis Ringworm Scabies Schizophrenia Senile Dementia Shock Sore Spermatorrhea Stroke Strangury Swelling Thrombosis Tinnitus Tonsilosis Tuberculosis Vaginosis Varicosis Vertigo Worm disturbances of cerebral function peripheral vascular insufficiency neurosensory problems decreasing blood viscosity inhibiting PAF-induced aggregation improvement in allergic responses reduced PAF-induced inflammation attenuated sodium salicylate-induced tinnitus improvement of pain-free walking distance in peripheral arterial occlusive disease in Stage II of Fontaine vertigo and tinnitus of vascular and involutional origin dementia syndromes with the following symptoms “memory deficits disturbances in concentration depressive emotional condition dizziness tinnitus headache and dementia syndromes including primary degenerative dementia vascular dementia” symptomatic relief of organic brain dysfunction vertigo of vascular origin musculotropic action treatment for idiopathic hearing loss

General Dosage

4.5 g seed; 4.5 g leaf with 4.5 g root Polygonum multiflorum and 4.5 g bark Uncaria for cardiopathy; 1–2 tbsp fresh leaf; 2–3 g dry leaf; 2 g dry leaf:10 ml alcohol/10 ml water; 40 mg solid leaf extract 3 ×/day; 80–120 mg leaf extract/day; 0.5 ml fluid extract 3 ×/day; 0.5 ml tincture 3 ×/day; 1 tablet 3 ×/day with meals; 1 capsule 3 ×/day; 40–80 mg StX 3 ×/day; 120–160 mg StX 2–3 ×/day. Blumenthal et al. suggest 120–160 mg native dry extract in 2–3 doses for “improvement of pain-free walking distance in peripheral arterial occlusive disease in Stage II of Fontaine in a regimen of physical therapeutic measures, in particular walking exercise” and “vertigo and tinnitus of vascular and involutional origin,” and they suggest 120–240 mg native dry extract in 2–3 doses for dementia syndromes with the following symptoms “memory deficits, disturbances in concentration, depressive emotional condition, dizziness, tinnitus, headache and dementia syndromes, including primary degenerative dementia, vascular dementia.”

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. May potentiate MAOIs. “Hazards and/or side effects not recorded for proper therapeutic dosages”. Though regarded by many as a poisonous plant, ginkgo, selling at $500 million a year in Europe, has not accumulated much data in the alarmists’ journals. According to LRNP and SHT, mild adverse effects include allergic dermatosis, anxiety, diarrhea, GI upset, headache, insomnia, and nausea. Schulz discounts the MAOI warnings saying there are “no known interactions with other drugs.” In my CRC Handbook of Nuts, I don’t discuss the leaves. Fruits are allergenic and too many of the edible seeds can cause serious problems, even death. The seed toxin 4-O-methylpyridoxine is reportedly responsible for the gin-nan food poisoning, with convulsions, loss of consciousness, even lethality in 27% of Japanese cases, especially infants. Ginkgolic acid may act like urushiol of poison ivy fame. Bilobin and ginkgolic acid are similar to poison ivy’s allergen. German herb companies may be forced to document that their ginkgo products contain no more than 5 ppm ginkgolic acid. CAN cautions against gastric upset and headache. All that and Lininger et al. counter, “essentially devoid of any side effects. Mild headaches lasting for a day or two have been reported ... There are no known contraindications to the use of GBE by pregnant and lactating women”. Contraindicated for any person on coumadin or heparin; should not be taken by people with a clotting disorder, such as hemophilia or von Willdebrand’s Disease. the edible seeds can cause serious problems, even death. The seed toxin 4-O-methylpyridoxine is reportedly responsible for the gin-nan food poisoning, with convulsions, loss of consciousness, even lethality in 27% of Japanese cases, especially infants. Ginkgolic acid may act like urushiol of poison ivy fame. Bilobin and ginkgolic acid are similar to poison ivy’s allergen. German herb companies may be forced to document that their ginkgo products contain no more than 5 ppm ginkgolic acid. CAN cautions against gastric upset and headache. All that and Lininger et al. counter, “essentially devoid of any side effects. Mild headaches lasting for a day or two have been reported ... There are no known contraindications to the use of GBE by pregnant and lactating women”. Contraindicated for any person on coumadin or heparin; should not be taken by people with a clotting disorder, such as hemophilia or von Willdebrand’s Disease. Extracts — LD50 7725 mg/kg orl mouse; 1100 mg/kg ivn; 1900 mg/kg ipr; LD50 = >10,000 mg/kg orl rat; 2100 mg/kg ipr. LD50 StX = 7700 mg/kg orl rat; LD50 4’- O-methylpyridoxine = 11 mg/kg orl gpg. Tests for carcinogenesis, genotoxicity, and mutagenesis negative.

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