As Baby Boomers age, memory problems have gained national attention. Even if you're not of that generation, you might want to enhance your memory and cognition. After all, stress is known to decrease recall ability, and we live in stressful times. With all the interest in memory enhancement, many turn to herbs and supplements for help with remembering names and other details. Among the many "smart drugs" out there, ginkgo biloba draws a lot of attention for its abilities to enhance cognition. Ginkgo's reputation for boosting memory is well deserved. Several large studies have shown an ability to significantly increase recall versus a placebo. More impressively, a 2006 study in the European Journal of Neurology demonstrated that Ginkgo is just as effective in treating mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease as donepezil, a common prescription drug.
What to Look for
Many active compounds in ginkgo leaf produce its healing effects, including flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenoids. Because the chemistry of herbs can be complex, with new healing compounds discovered regularly, it's probably best not to use a product standardized to only one constituent. Rather, using a "full spectrum" product containing a well-balanced portion of all of ginkgo's healing substances may produce better results. Unfortunately, many herbal products in America don't deliver as promised. Numerous studies, in Consumer Reports, Integrative Medicine Clinician's Journal and elsewhere, have shown that products often contain less active ingredient than claimed. Not so in Europe, especially Germany. In general, European standards for natural medicine view herbs as serious medicine. No fraudulent dealings are allowed, and the industry is tightly regulated. As a result, European products commonly have greater potency and efficacy.
Choose European-made products, or seek companies that will readily supply certificates of analysis from third party testing. Companies that support research at major universities must supply certificates in order to participate, so look for suppliers involved in legitimate academic studies.
Common Pitfalls
Ginkgo biloba is strong medicine. It increases blood circulation to the brain dramatically. One study showed that ginkgo extract, while boosting memory, can mildly increase the chance of a stroke in populations with certain risk factors. It's important to take this substance in moderation.
Often, combining several memory-enhancing substances, or taking a formula blended for this purpose can have better results. For example, huperzine A and acetyl-l-carnitine have been shown to assist memory by increasing neurotransmitters associated with recall. Phosphatidylserine helps by healing nerve cell membranes. Combining these substances will yield safer, better results over the long term.
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