Ginkgo Biloba

A Doctor’s Guide to Herbs, by Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, May 31, 1998, Parade Magazine
Dr. Rosenfeld’s latest book is Dr. Rosenfeld’s Guide to Alternative Medicine

Ginkgo Biloba is one of the most widely studied and prescribed herbal preparations in Europe. Because it dilates blood vessels everywhere - including the head, heart and legs - it has been used (a) in the elderly to treat memory loss, Alzheimer’s and ringing in the ears; (b) in persons with coronary artery disease; and (c) to improve blood flow in narrowed arteries in the leg that make walking painful. The recommended dose is 60-80 milligrams of the standardized leaf extract, 2 or 3 times a day. Ginkgo reduced the tendency to clot, much like aspirin and other anticoagulants. If you are taking blood thinners and decide to try ginkgo, let your doctor know. He or she can adjust the blood-thinner dosage. One of the first studies of ginkgo, reported in the US in 1997, documented its effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s and senile dementia. The reported benefits lasted six months to a year.