Ginkgo biloba for Raynaud’s Disease

Raynaud’s disease is a condition causing painful hands and feet often triggered by cold or emotion. Treatment is notoriously difficult.  This study investigated the efficacy of a standardised Ginkgo biloba extract in patients with Raynaud’s.  A two week assessment period was used, during which patients were asked to record frequency, severity and duration of attacks in diaries.  Patients were then randomised to receive either active or placebo treatement for ten weeks. They were seen after two and four weeks of treatment and at the end of the 10-week treatment phase. The number of attacks per week reduced by 56% and 27% in treatment and control groups, respectively.

What it means for you – Raynaud’s disease responds to Ginkgo extracts.

Ginkgo biloba for cognitive dysfunction

Although most dementia trials focus on Ginkgo’s effects on the cognitively impaired, some have looked at its effects on people with no history of neurocognitive dysfunction.  In this trial, 262 patients with no history of dementia were given a series of tests immediately prior to Ginkgo or placebo treatement lasting 6 weeks.  At retest the active group showed significantly more improvement in a vairety of tasks compared to the control group.

Overall, the results showed the potential effect of Ginkgo in enhancing certain neuropsychological/memory processes of cognitively intact, older adults.

What it means for you – Gingko has been shown to improve brain function.

Gingko for the microcirculation

The microcirculation is the part of the vascular system which supplies oxygen and nutrients to cells.  This research looked at patients between 60-70 years old, the age group worst affected by poor blood flow.  Microcirculation was assessed at the start of the trial and then at various points for 30 days.  Blood flow through the capillaries increased, and a number of unused capillaries opened up over the 30 days.  The increase was apparent even after 10 days treatement.

The rate of blood flow in the small veins also improved dramatically by Day 30.

The positive result on red blood cells was not the only benefit identified.  Due to the improved blood flow, the number of white blood cells in circulation increased.  Improving the flow of blood to outlying areas will therefore also improve the ability of the immune system to do its job.

What it means for you – Ginkgo has a positive effect on the microcirculation.

Ginkgo biloba for elderly subjects

This trial showed the clinical usefulness of Ginkgo biloba in elderly subjects, with a dosage of 120mg per day showing a clear, demonstrable effect in improving mood and tasks of everday living in elderly people.

What it means for you – Ginkgo can assist brain function in the elderly

Ginkgo for intermittent claudication

An analysis of 8 controlled clinical trials, involving 415 participants, concluded that Ginkgo biloba is significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of the circulatory disorder known as intermittent claudication.  This is an early symptom of  peripheral arterial disease occuring when fatty deposits build up in the blood vessels and restrict blood flow to the leg muscles.  The sufferer finds it hard to walk for any distance. The overall conculsion of this group of trials was that Ginkgo significantly improved pain-free walking distance.

What it means for you – Ginkgo helps with circulation to the legs.

Ginkgo and Aspirin

This study tackled the issue of whether Ginkgo would cause undue thinning of the blood if taken alongside a daily dose of aspirin.  Over a period of 4 weeks, no clinically or statistically detectable impact was found on the ability of blood to clot.  It was concluded that aspirin and Ginkgo biloba could be taken together without an adverse effect on platelet function.

What it means for you – Gingko doesn’t affect blood-thinning medication.

Synergistic effect

The synergistic effect of several biological actions may be the key to Ginkgo biloba’s effectiveness, according to the associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

After carrying out research into Ginkgo’s effect on Alzheimer’s, the professor and her team found that Ginkgo improved the process of making new nerve cells in the part of the brain most affected by the disease.

They also found that Ginkgo decreased senile plaques and the clumping of beta-amyloid in the brain tissues (amyloid is a central factor in the progression of the disease).

In multifactorial ailments such as Alzheimer’s, remedies that target multiple sites have the best chance of being effective.  Gingko biloba is such a remedy, as it combines several different actions.

In order to ensure this spectrum of activity, all the components of Ginkgo need to be present in the remedy.  This is important because many Ginkgo products are of poor quality.  Amongst 9 different ginkgo products, some tablets and some capsules, sold in the US claiming to contain a standardised extract of ginkgo leaf, contents of individual terpenelactones (ginkgolides A, B, C and J, and bilobalide) showed remarkable variation, ranging from a total of 7.2mg/g to 32.6mg/g.  One Ginkgo supplier, Fenchem, has launched a specialised testing method to detect fake Ginkgo biloba, which has become more prevalent as increased demand has strained global supply.  The adulteration is usually carried out using rutin from buckwheat.

What it means for you – Holistic standardisation delivers a wide range of constituents.  Make sure your Ginkgo is of good quality.

Points to Remembers

1. Gingko works for Raynaud’s Disease.
2. Ginkgo has a positive effect on microcirculation
3. Gingko may improve brain function
4. Ginkgo helps with circulation to the legs
5. Ginkgo appears to assist brain function in the elderly
6. Ginkgo doesn’t affect blood-thinning medication
7. Holistic standardisation delivers a wide range of constituents.