Gingko Biloba - great for the memory but caution advised

Gingko Biloba is valued in Chinese herbal medicine and has been used for hundreds of years to help with such problems as failing memory and hearing loss among many others. In the west, however, it is being viewed with some caution as indeed are all herbal and alternative medicines.

There are several problems with natural alternative medicines being accepted in our culture. One is that most have not been put through rigid testing in the same way that conventional drugs are and the other is that they often interact badly with drugs that people are taking for their various conditions.

Nevertheless, Gingko is one of the most popular medicinal herbs in North America where the extract of Gingko leaves is used. In contrast, Chinese medicine uses the seeds of the Gingko tree.

Many people use Gingko to improve their mental function and help slow down or arrest age-related memory loss. Other problems it is used for are macular degeneration, sexual dysfunction, Alzheimer's and poor circulation.

There are believed to be blood-thinning agents in Gingko leaves as well as properties that can improve muscle tone. There are safety concerns about Gingko as recent research indicates that it can trigger strokes or warning strokes. It is a reminder that we should take care when dosing ourselves with herbs which are in fact also potent medicines. For example, Gingko leaf extract should not be used by anyone with bleeding disorders as there are constituents present in the leaves that can affect blood clotting. The same applies to people with epilepsy as the leaf extract can trigger seizures and also beware if you are diabetic as the leaves can also affect blood sugar levels too. The advice is to always consult your medical practitioner and to go to a recognised and qualified herbal doctor for treatment under supervision.

Avoid taking gingko if you are taking blood thinners (anti platelet or anti clotting drugs, such as warfarin, heparin or aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine or Ticlid) as heavy bleeding and hemorrhage can result. It is also unwise to combine with certain herbs including Devil's Claw, horse chestnut, papain, eleuthero, red clover, saw palmetto and even garlic and ginger.

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