Ginkgo biloba supplements are among the best-selling herbal remedies in the United States and Europe, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and ginkgo also is one of the most-prescribed medicines in Germany and France. Ginkgo biloba may be useful for enhancing memory and improving circulation. The herb interacts with at least one blood pressure medication. The UMMC recommends taking Ginkgo biloba only under supervision of a health care provider qualified in botanical medicine.
Benefits
Ginkgo biloba improves blood circulation, according to the UMMC. The herb has benefits for people with intermittent claudication, a condition involving reduced blood flow to the legs that causes intense pain when walking. Additionally, ginkgo may enhance memory in older adults and appears effective for treating dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
Components
Standardized Ginkgo biloba extract is prepared from the dried green leaves. The extract is highly concentrated and appears more effective at treating health problems than other ginkgo preparations, according to the UMMC. Flavonoids and terpenoids are the components primarily responsible for the medicinal effects of Ginkgo biloba. Flavonoids have protective effects on the nerves, heart, blood vessels and retina, while terpenoids improve blood flow by widening blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of platelets.
Expert Insight
Although Ginkgo biloba improves blood flow, beneficial effects on blood pressure have not been determined. An article published in the May 2010 issue of the American Journal of Hypertension investigated the effects of Ginkgo biloba on blood pressure in elderly people, using data collected during a study of over 3,000 individuals that evaluated the effects of ginkgo on memory. Participants took 120 mg of Ginkgo biloba twice a day for a varying number of years. The results indicated that Ginkgo biloba had no effect on blood pressure in elderly people, whether or not they had hypertension at the beginning of treatment.
Caution
The UMMC advises consulting with your doctor before taking ginkgo if you also use drugs to reduce blood pressure. Although research does not confirm that Ginkgo biloba reduces blood pressure, its effects on blood vessels still may call for caution.
Drug Interactions
Ginkgo biloba extract interacts with one particular blood pressure medication, nifedipine, sold as Procardia. Combining these two substances significantly elevates levels of nifedipine in the blood, as shown by a study published in the December 2004 issue of the Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. Participants taking both substances experienced worse side effects associated with nifedipine, such as more severe headaches, dizziness and hot flushes. Average heart rate also tended to be more rapid. Additionally, one report has been made of a person developing high blood pressure after combining Ginkgo biloba with a thiazide diuretic medication. The UMMC recommends talking with a doctor before taking ginkgo if you use this type of medicine.
