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Ginkgo safety, side effects and contraindications
reviewed by X. Li, Ph. D.
(credential)
Ginkgo biloba gains its popularity in USA and in Europe for reasons. Besides its various health
benefits, another main reason is the safety and few side effects of ginkgo.
As we discussed in ginkgo applications under studies,
extensive clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the ginkgo health benefits, these
trials also monitored any potential adverse effects ginkgo may cause. In several large trials
in which people took standardized ginkgo bilba extract
at doses of 120 mg to 240 mg daily for up to one year, no serious side effects
have been attributed to ginkgo1-3. Various side effects were observed
in a few participants who took ginkgo. However, the same side effects were also seen with
the same chance in participants who took placebo.
Among millions of people take ginkgo biloba extract regularly, several cases have been reported to have
side effects developed after taking ginkgo4. These ginkgo side
effects include 3 cases of haemorrhage, 1 case of hematomas, and 1 case of coma in a 80 year old
Alzheimer disease patient. However, it remains
to establish the casual link between
the side effect and ginkgo in these few cases since a disease may occur naturally.
With regard to ginkgo contraindications, as ginkgo has anti-platelet activity, it may interact with
other anticoagulants (blood thinners). In the two cases in which haemorrhage (bleeding) was reported,
the patient also took walfarin or aspirin in addition to ginkgo biloba extract. Therefore, it is advised
that do no take ginkgo together with acetylsalicylic acid, rofecoxib, warfarin and trazodone5.
In summary ginkgo has an excellent safety profile. However, as always, caution should be taken with
regard to possible contraindications and with any adverse effect during ginkgo uptake.
Reference
1. Le Bars PL, Katz MM, Berman N, Itil TM, Freedman AM, Schatzberg AF. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo
biloba for dementia. North American EGb Study Group. JAMA. 1997
Oct 22-29;278(16):1327-32.
2. Solomon PR, Adams F, Silver A, Zimmer J, DeVeaux R. Ginkgo for memory enhancement: a randomized controlled trial.
JAMA. 2002 Aug 21;288(7):835-40.
3. Drew S, Davies E. Effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba in treating tinnitus: double blind, placebo controlled trial.
BMJ. 2001 Jan 13;322(7278):73.
4. Maclennan KM, Darlington CL, Smith PF.The CNS effects of Ginkgo biloba extracts and ginkgolide B.
Prog Neurobiol. 2002 Jun;67(3):235-57.
5. De Smet PA. Herbal remedies. N Engl J Med. 2002 Dec 19;347(25):2046-56.
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product specification
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ActiveHerb Ginkgo Biloba Standardized Extract
(ginkgolic acid < 1ppm)
60 mg Tablet, 60 ct
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