Ginkgo
Ginkgo bilobaGinkgo is the only living member of a 200-million-year-old lineage; trees from the age of the dinosaurs are called “living fossils”.
What is Ginkgo?
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is a plant of the Ginkgoaceae family. Traditions that use it: Asia and Siberia. Part used: leaves, seeds.
What is Ginkgo used for?
Traditional use: A sacred tree planted in temple gardens. Scientific evidence: limited. The EMA recognises standardised ginkgo leaf extract for mild age-related cognitive decline.
Is Ginkgo safe?
Safety label: caution. Can increase bleeding risk; stop before surgery. Raw or large amounts of seeds are poisonous and can cause seizures. People with seizures should be careful.
Traditional use
A sacred tree planted in temple gardens. The roasted seed is eaten for coughs and asthma; leaf use is more recent.
Ginkgo trees that survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima are symbols of peace and resilience.
In nature
Mix-up risk
The fruit-like seed coats of female trees smell bad and irritate the skin.
Preparation
The form used is a standardised leaf extract (such as EGb 761). Home tea from the leaves is not recommended.
What science says
The EMA recognises standardised ginkgo leaf extract for mild age-related cognitive decline. But a large US trial (GEM) showed ginkgo did not prevent dementia in older people. Evidence for tinnitus and circulation claims is weak.
Safety
Can increase bleeding risk; stop before surgery. Raw or large amounts of seeds are poisonous and can cause seizures. People with seizures should be careful.
Drug interactions
| Medicine or substance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel) | May increase bleeding risk. |
| Seizure medicines | Ginkgotoxin in the seeds may lower the seizure threshold. |
| Efavirenz and some HIV drugs | Reported to lower drug levels. |
This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Ginkgo.
Conservation
Similar plants
Sources
- EMA monographGinkgo folium: European Medicines Agency herbal assessment
- NCCIHUS National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: use and safety summary
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Ginkgo biloba
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe