Ellen Campbell-Grizzle, Contributor
Ginkgo Biloba, once widely touted as a 'brain herb' is gaining acceptance as a natural health product for the relief for a wide range of health problems.
The use of ginkgo leaf extracts can be traced back for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Gingko Biloba is the oldest living tree species. More than 40 components of gingko have been identified but only two are believed to be responsible for the beneficial claims.
Today, Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) is among the best selling herbal medication in Europe and ranks among the top five of all prescriptions written in France and Germany. Both gingko leaves and seeds are used but less information is available on the safety of the seeds. Commercially- available extracts are usually made from the dried leaves.
Improves memory
In Jamaica, GBE is widely used to improve memory, learning and alertness. Recent research findings show promise in the treatment of impotence, asthma, lessening of some retinal problems and relief from pain in walking due to inadequate blood flow to the legs.
Persons with tinnitus (the perception of ringing, hissing or other sounds in the ears or head when no external sound is present) have reported benefits from ginkgo. GBE is usually given orally but has also been made into a topical form to treat skin sores, scabies and to improve circulation for wound healing.
GBE, dementia and Alzheimer's disease
Ginkgo Biloba Extract improves blood flow in the brain. It also contains antioxidants that scavenge damaging compounds in the body called free radicals. These damaging particles occur naturally in the body, but can be increased due to exposure to environmental toxins. Antioxidants neutralise these free radicals that contribute to a number of diseases, including Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Studies suggest that gingko provides the following benefits for people with Alzheimer's:
Improvement in thinking, learning and memory.
Improvement in carrying out daily function.
Improvement in social interactions.
Fewer feelings of depression.
Drug interactions and side effects
Despite encouraging findings, some researchers and clinicians remain sceptical of GBE. Also, ginkgo is implicated in numerous drug interactions. Consumers who add GBE to their treatment should be aware of the following common drug interactions:
Warfarin, other antiplatelets or anticoagulants - increased risk of bleeding.
Anticonvulsants - break-through seizures.
Cyclosporine, theophylline and diazepam - possible inhibition of enzymes linked to body's breakdown of other drugs.
Conflicting evidence exists as to whether gingko helps to control blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar level closely when starting or stopping therapy with gingko. Most adverse effects resulting from gingko use are mild and transient including headaches, gastric upset including nausea and vomiting, increased beating of the heart and rare allergic skin conditions. Serious side effects include seizures and spontaneous bleeding. Your physician may recommend close monitoring of your laboratory values and that you avoid gingko at least 14 days before surgery.
Safety first
Natural health products, like GBE, are often standardised against the presence of specific concentrations of selected marker compounds that are measured and tested. However, the presence of higher or lower percentages of these marker compounds does not necessarily reflect the degree of biological activity. Consumers must know that marker compounds and standardised levels change based on current scientific findings.
Remember, if you are taking prescribed medication, always consult with your healthcare provider before adding herbals to your regimen.
Ellen Campbell Grizzle, president, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists; director, Information & Research, National Council on Drug Abuse; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
