Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo herbal tea. Source: Open Food Facts. License: CC BY-4.0.

Ginkgo biloba or ginkgo is an extract of the leaves of the herb ginkgo.

Alternative names

Ginkgo biloba is also known as ginkgo biloba biloba, abricot argenté japonais/Japanese Silver Apricot, adiantifolia, arbre aux écus, arbre du ciel, arbre fossile (fossil tree), Bai Guo Ye, Baiguo, ginkgo seed, graine de ginkgo biloba, Kew Tree, maidenhair tree, Noyer du Japon, Pei Go Su Ye, salisburia adiantifolia, yen xing, yinhsing, and other names. Ginkgo biloba leaf oil is also known as common ginkgo leaf oil/water, ginkgo biloba leaf oil/water, ginkgo macrophylla or salisburia macrophylla leaf oil/leaf water, maidenhair tree leaf oil/water, pterophyllus salisburiensis leaf oil/water, salisburia adiantifolia or salisburia biloba leaf oil/water, and salisburia ginkgo leaf oil/water. Ginkgo is sometimes incorrectly known as gingko bilboa or ginkgo biloba.

Potential uses

Ginkgo is commonly used for symptoms of brain fog including to help improve concentration, or for memory problems. Ginkgo may also be used for vertigo.

Theory

Ginkgo extract appears to improve blood flow to many organs and tissues.

Ginkgo also appears to reduce blood clotting and platelet aggregation by blocking platelet-activating factor (PAF), which have been linked to a number of central nervous system disorders, and some cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory illnesses.

Costs and availability

Ginkgo and ginkgo biloba leaf oil available over the counter without a prescription.

See also

• Brain fog

Learn more

• Ginkgo biloba - drugs.com
• Ginkgo biloba - drugbank.ca
• Ginkgo Biloba - webmd
• Memorial Sloan Kettering

placelet-activating factor (PAF) - "A cytokine involved in a number of processes, especially platelet aggregation, inflammation, and anaphylaxis, which is released from a variety of cells including basophils and neutrophils."

central nervous system (CNS) - One of the two parts of the human nervous system, the other part being the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system consists of nerves that travel from the central nervous system into the various organs and tissues of the body.