Ginkgo Biloba: Ancient Tree With Powerful Modern Health Benefits

Overview

Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient tree that has gained wide popularity as an ingredient in herbal supplements due to its numerous health properties. Also referred to as Maidenhair, it is distinguished in appearance by its fan-shaped leaves and can grow up to 100 feet tall.

What can Ginkgo do for you? Science backs its many potential benefits, including helping to boost brain health, enhance circulation, alleviate erectile dysfunction in men, improve mood, and heighten stress resilience.

In this article, we explore the properties, safety, and benefits of Ginkgo Biloba and provide you with tips and recommendations for optimal intake and dosing. Keep reading to explore the multiple advantages of this enigmatic tree extract.

What is Ginkgo Biloba?

Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient gymnosperm tree native to China, and its leaves and seeds have long been used in Chinese medicine to treat a range of conditions, including asthma, dementia, and kidney disease.

Rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and other bioactive properties, modern science has found support for the leaf extract in helping to boost circulation, lower anxiety, sharpen cognition, enhance sexual function in men, support hearing and eye health, and more.

Ohio-based registered dietician Kristine Dilley explains, “Ginkgo contains high levels of flavonoids and terpenoids, which are compounds known for their strong antioxidant effects of Ginkgo Biloba. Antioxidants combat or neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals. Many of the suspected benefits of taking ginkgo are related to these antioxidant effects”.

Currently one of the most popular over-the-counter supplements in North America and Europe, Ginkgo Biloba is available as a single ingredient and also included in other popular natural products like nootropics and sexual enhancement formulas.

This extract may offer powerful advantages to health and well-being. Should you consider adding it to your routine? Let’s look at this mystical tree in detail and discuss some of the special Ginkgo Biloba benefits and qualities.

Fun Facts About Ginkgo Biloba

• As one of the oldest living species of trees in the world, ginkgo existed when dinosaurs roamed the earth 245 and 66 million years ago and are often referred to as living fossils
• The roots of the Ginkgo tree grow deep into the soil, which allowed them to survive the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.
• Scientists have discovered fossils of ginkgo trees dating back 200 million years.
• Ginkgo Biloba is currently considered an endangered species on the IUCN red list and is preserved through conservation efforts.
• This tree can live for over 1000 years, and there is one in Beijing currently that is over 3500 years old.

What Are the Health Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba?

Ginkgo Biloba: What is it good for?

This tree has research support for multiple benefits to health and well-being. These are some of its most potent advantages:

Helps Improve Circulation and Support Heart Health

Ginkgo helps increase the production of nitric oxide, which supports improved circulation body-wide. It enhances blood flow to the heart, helping to enhance cardiovascular health, and some evidence indicates it could help lower blood pressure.

A study of patients with arterial hypertension published in the National Library of Medicine Journal found that supplementation with Ginkgo improved systolic and diastolic BP within a month of treatment.

Ginkgo is also rich in antioxidants that kill free radicals and lower oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory agents that decrease bodily swelling. This helps repair damage to cardiovascular tissue to support the well-being of the heart.

Supports Brain Health and Cognitive Function

Ginkgo improves cerebral circulation, helping to enhance alertness and mental focus and alleviate brain fog. In addition, its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents help repair damage to brain cells and optimize communication between neurons.

The Ginkgo Biloba extract also helps increase the synthesis of several key brain neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, and norepinephrine. Ginkgo Biloba supports cognitive functions like memory, clarity, and concentration, and some research shows potential benefits for individuals with neurodegenerative conditions.

A review of the research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found some support for the benefits of ginkgo in dementia patients at a dose of 200mg/day for at least 5 months.

Helps Boost Mood, Lower Anxiety, and Support Mental Health

By increasing the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, Ginkgo helps boost mood and motivation. It also heightens levels of the inhibitory brain chemical GABA, which blocks key central nervous system receptors to lower anxiety and stress.

There is some evidence indicating the role of Ginkgo in supporting mental health. A research review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology concluded that the extract could safely help decrease depression. In addition, a 4-week study of young adults in the Journal of Psychiatric Research concluded that it helped alleviate the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Helps Enhance Sexual Function in Men

Ginkgo helps boost circulation all over the body, which also sends additional blood flow to the penis. This may help men with erectile dysfunction by promoting harder erections that last longer, improving sexual function and performance.

A 9-month study of men with impotence published in the Journal of Sex Education and Therapy found that ginkgo supplementation helped 19 out of 30 men regain erectile function.

In addition, the increase in circulation to the genitals could boost sexual sensitivity for added enjoyment and pleasure during sex for both men and women.

The potent antioxidants in this ancient tree also lower oxidative stress in the male testes, enhancing the function of the Leydig cells to help testosterone synthesis. Ginkgo could enhance sexual libido, arousal, and virility in men.

Helps Enhance Ear Health and Reduce Tinnitus

The antioxidants in this tree extract repair damage to the cells in the inner ear and decrease inflammation, helping to support healthy hearing. Ginkgo also increases blood flow to the ears, and some evidence indicates that it could decrease the symptoms of tinnitus.

A 14-week study of tinnitus patients published in the Journal of Audiology and Otology found that administration of 60 mg of Ginkgo twice a day with antioxidants led to a significant improvement in symptoms.

Supports Eye Health

Among its many benefits, supplementing with Ginkgo may also support eye health and help prevent vision loss. Its antioxidant properties help repair damage to ocular cells and decrease inflammation, and this extract also boosts circulation to the eyes.

A research review published by the Cochrane Library found some support for the potential benefits of Ginkgo Biloba in slowing the progress of age-related macular degeneration.

Is Ginkgo Biloba Safe?

On the whole, Ginkgo extract is safe and well-tolerated by most adults, but it could lead to mild side effects like dizziness, digestive upset, headaches, or an allergic skin reaction in some users. You should never eat the raw seeds, as they could be harmful.

Individuals who have an allergy to products with alkylphenols should avoid the extract, and there are also some medication contraindications, including blood thinners, anti-depressants, and NSAIDs. These are some important safety tips to note when selecting a Best Ginkgo Biloba Supplements:

• Look for a product produced in an FDA-registered, GMP, or NSF-certified facility following strict safety practices.
• Check that the supplement is third-party tested independently for quality and purity.
• Choose an all-natural supplement free of artificial or chemical additives, toxins, and common allergens.
• Buy from a well-known, highly regarded company that is transparent about ingredients, dosages, and safety practices.

Forms and Dosage Recommendations

Ginkgo biloba supplements are believed to support brain health and circulation

You can purchase purified Ginkgo extract in the form of capsules, powder, liquid, tea, or gummies, and it is suitable for adults. In addition, it is often included as an ingredient in popular supplements for benefits like brain health, sexual function, and mood.

When it comes to dosage, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the ideal daily intake. A typical dosage is 120-160 mg daily, but expert opinions vary, and it has been given to adults at up to 240 mg daily for a period of a few months.

Follow the instructions on the label carefully, and consult with a healthcare practitioner for approval and dosing advice before supplementing with this herb.

FAQs

Q: What is Ginkgo used for?

A: Ginkgo has several potential health benefits, including helping to enhance heart, eye, ear, and brain health, improve mood, lower stress, enhance circulation, and improve sexual function in men. You can take a Ginkgo Biloba supplement alone or purchase a targeted natural product that incorporates Ginkgo Biloba as an ingredient.

Q: What is special about Ginkgo?

A: Ginkgo is one of the oldest living tree species and survived both the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs and the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. It is widely known as a living fossil and, despite its incredible resilience, is currently considered an endangered species.

Q: What can Ginkgo do for men?

A: Ginkgo Biloba helps boost levels of nitric oxide in the body to improve circulation and vasodilation. According to some evidence, this could send added blood flow to the penis, promoting harder erections to help alleviate erectile dysfunction.

Q: Who should avoid Ginkgo?

A: Ginkgo is not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and individuals with seizure disorders like epilepsy should also avoid supplementing with this extract as it could exacerbate the condition.

Q: Why is Ginkgo Biloba called a living fossil?

A: The Ginkgo Biloba tree is called a living fossil because it has existed since the time of the dinosaurs and has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.

Conclusion

In prehistoric times, dinosaurs munched on Ginkgo Biloba leaves for sustenance, and the long-surviving Maidenhair Tree offers incredible benefits to human beings today. Science shows its multiple properties, including supporting brain, eye, and heart health, lowering stress, easing tinnitus, and boosting male sexual function.

Currently on the endangered species list, you may consider reaping the benefits of this extract while it is still available. There are multiple supplements available, either in purified Ginkgo extract form or as an ingredient in a tailored health product. Make an appointment with a healthcare practitioner to discuss suitability, dosage, and timing.

14 Sources

We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.

[1] Everything You Need to Know About Ginkgo Biloba: https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ginkgo-biloba/
[2] Ginkgo Biloba: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32353/9700472
[3] Ginkgo Biloba Influence on Blood Pressure in Patients With Arterial Hypertension: https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/abstract/2018/10003/a11847_ginkgo_biloba_influence_on_blood_pressure.853.aspx
[4] Effects of Ginkgo Biloba on Dementia: An Overview of Systematic Reviews: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27940086/
[5] Effects and Safety of Ginkgo Biloba on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1364030/full
[6] Ginkgo Biloba Special Extract Egb 761 in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Adjustment Disorder With Anxious Mood: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16808927/
[7] Ginkgo Biloba Extract in the Therapy of Erectile Dysfunction: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01614576.1991.11074006
[8] Ginkgo biloba Administered Singly and Combined With Antioxidants in Tinnitus Patients: https://www.ejao.org/journal/view.php?number=818
[9] Ginkgo Biloba Extract For Age related Macular Degeneration: Ginkgo Biloba Extract For Age?related Macular Degeneration
[10] Examining Brain-Cognition Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract: Brain Activation in the Left Temporal and Left Prefrontal Cortex in an Object Working Memory Task: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3166615/
[11] Ginkgo Biloba For Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9611693/
[12] The Effect of Ginkgo Biloba and Psycho-Education on Stress, Anxiety, and Fatigue Among Refugees: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2010105817716184
[13] Ginkgo Biloba: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541024/
[14] Ginkgo Biloba and Memory: An Overview: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27414695/

Angela Lemond, RDN, CSP, LD

Angela Lemond is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Angela Read Full Bio