* Please Note: Traditional Use information is provided as a courtesy only. Although we have done our best to review the validity of these uses and we continue to revise this information as new data emerges, the traditional uses indicated on this page for this product may be wrong. This information is based on Traditional and Folklore Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA and is not necessarily based on scientific evidence from any source. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Gingko would appear to be one of the most popular medicinal herbs of all time. Its ability to improve shortterm memory and clarity of thought to aid sufferers from poor circulation, and to show promise in the treatment of Alzheimer's, puts ginkgo in steady demand.
In 1988 German prescriptions of gingko topped 5.4 million. However, there have been concerns relating to the increase in demand since the ginkgo tree is slow growing and the harvesting of its green leaves has intensified greatly.
Health Benefits
Clears the Head: One of ginkgo's names is the memory tree. It has long been noticed that those taking the herb report improvements in memory and a clarity of thought. Several scientific studies can now support this finding. Studies also indicate that the herb can be of help in cases of vertigo, tinnitus arid some types of depression. Many age-related conditions have been shown to improve, especially those associated with impaired blood circulation.
One theory holds that as ginkgo increases the circulation to the brain, the levels of oxygen and glucose rise. These are two vital substances for optimal brain function and may be somewhat diminished in those suffering from poor peripheral circulation, such as the elderly or people with hardening of the arteries.
The treatment of Alzheimer's disease using ginkgo has been studied and some of the early results look promising, but reversing the effects of nerve destruction is beyond the scope of this herb.
Helps Cold Hands and Feet: Ginkgo appears to stimulate the circulation in the periphery, such as the hands and feet, as well as around the brain. Just why this is so is still unknown although studies have confirmed that the herb acts on the lining of blood vessels. Ginkgo has been shown to stimulate the release of special chemicals from the lining of the blood vessels. The end result is an opening up of blood vessels and an increased supply of oxygen and nutrition to the tissues of the body.
In one clinical trial, patients with poor circulation in the lower limbs were given 160 mg of a standardized ginkgo extract to take for two years. The results were astounding. Patients who could only manage to walk 200 feet could extend their pain-free exercise level to a 500-feet walk and their total walking distance to over 1,000 feet.
For those with less serious circulatory problems the extract may help ease the pain associated with Raynaud's disease, or simply help alleviate chilled hands and feet.
Combats Impotence: Known medically as erectile dysfunction, impotence is a distressing problem for many men. In most cases of erectile dysfunction the nervous system works well but the blood flow is impaired due to narrowing of the arteries. This may be age-related or due to underlying disease such as diabetes. Modern drugs like Viagra have revolutionized some men's sex life, but planning when to take the pill is not always convenient. Ginkgo is nature's Viagra due to its tonic effect on the erectile tissues and their blood supply. Taking ginkgo will not, however, yield instant results. After six months of taking 120 mg daily over 50 percent of those in a study reported improved erectile function. The longer ginkgo was taken the better the results.
Failing Eye Sight: Another common age-related problem is macular degeneration. The macula is a special region of the light-sensitive lining of the eye, the retina. With advancing years the macula may suffer from a lack of blood supply and degenerate slowly, affecting the ability to read printed matter or see the fine detail of objects. Ginkgo has been shown to help slow this process and in some diabetic patients actually prevent it occurring in the first place.
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Directions
Suggested Usage: 1 tablet 3 times per day preferably before meals. Keep out of reach of children.
How to Take Ginkgo
In general, 15 to 20 drops of the traditional 65 percent alcohol-based tinctures can be taken 2 to 3 times a day. For those needing a stronger remedy, tablets and capsules are the preferred form. Most of the research on ginkgo has focused on standardized extracts, which explains why some products state the percentage of active agents in their product. A good product will typically contain 24 percent ginkgoflavonglycosides at a dose of 40 to 60 mg. One tablet or capsule is normally taken 2 to 3 times daily. Higher 80 mg doses can also be taken but professional advice should be taken.
Another way to take ginkgo is in the phytosome form. This process makes the herb highly absorbable by mixing it with a fatty substance called phosphatidyicholine. An 80 mg dose of ginkgo phytosome (standardized to contain 24 percent ginkgoflavonglycosides) is probably the strongest ginkgo extract available.
Ingredients
Each Tablet Contains: Ginkgo Leaf Extract - 60 mg (24% Ginkgo flavonglycosides and 6% Terpene lactones)
Calcium phosphate, Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate.
Cautions
Should not be used by individuals who are hypersensitive to Ginkgo biloba.
Use should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.
ANTICOAGULANT, ANTIPLATELET DRUGS: Ginkgo can increase risk of bleeding with anticoagulant, antiplatelet drugs.
WARFARIN: Ginkgo can increase the effects of warfarin (Coumadin) and risk of bleeding.
MAOIs: Theoretically, ginkgo can potentiate the activity of monamine oxidase inhibitors.
THIAZIDE DIURETICS: Ginkgo can increase blood pressure used concomitantly with thiazide diuretics.
SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIs): Ginkgo extract can reverse fluoxetine or sertraline-induced sexual dysfunction.
INFERTILITY: Some evidence suggests that ginkgo biloba might inhibit oocyte fertilization and should be avoided in couples attempting to conceive.
Toxicity
When taken in the safe herb. There have been over 44 scientific safety trials, involving some 10,000 people. Only minor side effects such as stomach upset, headache, and occasional dizziness have ever been reported.
It should be noted that the fruit of the ginkgo tree must be avoided. It is potentially toxic and even slight skin contact can produce a rash, itching, and blisters.
Drug-Herb Interactions
Ginkgo may interact with anticoagulant drugs and enhance their activity. This effect has been noted in those long-term anticoagulant users who also took ginkgo for a long time. Another positive interaction of ginkgo is the improved effect it has on injected papaverine, a drug used to treat male impotence.
Label Information
Hermetic seal under cap for safety and freshness. Contains no artificial preservatives, color, dairy, sweeteners, starch, wheat or yeast.
For product freshness protect from humidity.
Additional Information
Researchers report that gingko biloba might help improve cognitive behavior and sleep patterns in patients with depression - Further research is needed. When people talk about ginkgo, they usually mean ginkgo leaf extract. Fossils of the ginkgo tree have been found to be over two hundred million years old, making the tree the oldest living species in the world, and the tree itself can live as long as one thousand years.
Our 'standardized' herbs have amounts of certain components that have been measured and tested to remain consistent from bottle to bottle, capsule to capsule. Standardization takes the uncertainty out of buying herbal supplements.
For 50 years the webber name has been trusted in North American households as the source of Vitamin E. Now webber naturals is a 'natural' extension, bringing consumers a wide range of vitamins, minerals, herbs and special supplements to meet their families' health and nutrition needs.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
