Its leaves and seeds have had extensive use under the discipline of traditional Chinese medicine. However, most of the modern research on ginkgo focuses on its extracts obtained from its leaves.
Ginkgo is used as a supplement, thought to benefit cognitive and mental function, apart from improved circulation.
Ginkgo supplements come in tablets, capsules, extracts, or as a tea.
It has been thought to have beneficial effects on:
- Dementia
- Glaucoma and other eye problems
- Leg pain caused by narrowing arteries
- Tinnitus
- Irregular blood pressure
There’s no shortage of supplements that make claims about cognitive and mental performance as well as a circulatory boost that make use of ginkgo. But is there any basis for such claims? Let’s find out what you need to know about this plant.
What It Does
Ginkgo is rich in free radical-fighting antioxidants. The body doesn’t do as good of a job in removing free radicals, which affect brain cells that lead to memory loss. Based on studies, ginkgo has positive effects on dementia, while another study showed that little effect.
Ginkgo is also thought to help with glaucoma and tinnitus, but mixed results were observed in a study involving humans.
However, lab studies demonstrate its circulatory properties due to its capability to open up blood vessels and reducing the blood’s stickiness due to compounds it possesses called terpenoids. Hence, the link. Here are the top 7 benefits of ginkgo.
- Rich in Strong Antioxidants
Ginkgo’s rich antioxidant content is its primary reason for many of the health claims behind it.
Ginkgo is rich in terpenoids and flavonoids, which are substances known for their rich antioxidant content.
Antioxidants are compounds that combat the cellular damage that free radicals cause. Free radicals are reactive particles that are produced from metabolic processes like converting food into energy.
However, free radicals contribute to aging by their potential to damage healthy tissues.
The studies on ginkgo’s antioxidant properties are optimistic, but the exact manner of how it works and its effects on treating specific diseases.
- May Help Control Inflammation
Inflammation is a critical aspect of the body’s immune response to foreign substances, trauma, or injury.
Inflammation is due to the immune system’s components being mobilized to neutralize foreign objects or remedy the injured area.
Certain chronic medical conditions trigger inflammation even when there is no foreign invader or disease present. This persistent, long-term inflammation may cause irreparable damage to DNA and bodily tissue.
Ginkgo extract may reduce inflammation in human and animal cells based on animal and test-tube research.
Some of the particular conditions where ginkgo extract has succeeded in reducing inflammation include arthritis, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and irritable bowel disease.
- Promotes Blood Circulation and Cardiovascular Health
Ginkgo’s use as a vasodilatory aid has roots in traditional Chinese medicine.
This ability to boost blood flow to various parts of the body is the primary source of its purported benefits.
A study in people with cardiovascular disease who took a ginkgo supplement showed a rapid increase in blood flow throughout the body. Much of this was due to a substantial increase in nitric oxide levels in the body, a vasodilator compound. This was supported by another study that demonstrated a similar effect in senior adults given a ginkgo extract.
Further research shows ginkgo’s beneficial effects in protecting the heart, brain and preventing strokes. While more research is needed to fully understand how ginkgo benefits circulatory, heart, and brain health, it is thought that this is due to the anti-inflammatory compounds present in it.
- Reduces Dementia and Psychiatric Disorder Symptoms
Ginkgo has been studied for its ability to reduce symptoms associated with age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
The jury is out as studies show mixed results.
Individual studies showed a substantial reduction in cognitive decline in ginkgo-supplementing people, but others fail to achieve the same result.
In essence, most of the positive results obtained from studies may be linked to ginkgo’s role in promoting blood flow to the brain because they were studied in vascular type dementia.
It’s too early in the game to declare or dispel ginkgo’s dementia-treating properties, but more studies are bringing discoveries to light.
- Boosts Cognitive Function and Health
It has been suggested that ginkgo may boost brain function in healthy individuals.
A small handful of studies suggest that ginkgo supplementation may boost cognitive performance and perception of well-being. This what has led to claims about ginkgo as a focus and memory-boosting supplement.
While taking a ginkgo supplement may help boost mental capability, there are no certainties.
- May Help Reduce Anxiety
Taking a ginkgo supplement may help control anxiety symptoms based on several animal studies, which may be attributed to its antioxidant content.
Studies have also been conducted on individuals with generalized anxiety being given a ginkgo supplement or a placebo. Those who were given high ginkgo dosages reported nearly a reduction in half of the anxiety symptoms than the group that took the placebo.
While supplementing with ginkgo may reduce anxiety, it’s still too early to draw any definitive conclusions from the available research.
- May Help Treat Depression
Last but not least, animal studies have shown that ginkgo supplementation may help reduce depression symptoms.
Lab mice that were given ginkgo before a stressful situation were less affected by stress than the others that weren’t.
Again, this demonstrated ginkgo’s anti-inflammatory capabilities, which improve the body’s ability to endure stress when cortisol levels are high.
Like many of its benefits, more research is needed to determine the nature of the relationship between depression and ginkgo in humans.
