Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

OriginThe tree that survived the dinosaurs

Ginkgo trees were already growing 200 million years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the forests - and six trees in Hiroshima survived the atomic bomb in 1945 and are still sprouting today.

The ginkgo is a living fossil in the truest sense of the word: it is the only surviving species of an entire plant order that was widespread throughout the world during the Mesozoic Era. Fossilized ginkgo leaves from the Jurassic period are almost indistinguishable from those of today. Botanically, it is neither a deciduous nor a coniferous tree, but stands alone between the two groups – its fan-shaped, bilobed leaves (hence...) bilobaThey have a forked, branched network of veins, unlike any other plant.

In the wild, it had almost disappeared; cultivation preserved it. Chinese and Japanese temple gardens planted it for centuries, and from there it came to Europe in the 18th century. Goethe dedicated a poem to it in 1815, which made it popular in Germany. Today, it stands in cities worldwide because it is exceptionally robust: it tolerates exhaust fumes, road salt, drought, and soil compaction better than almost any other tree—and is immune to virtually all native pests.

The most famous chapter of its story takes place in Hiroshima. Several ginkgo trees stood only one to two kilometers from the hypocenter of the atomic bomb explosion. They were defoliated and charred—and sprouted again the following spring. Some of them are still alive today and are known as hibakujumoku, Surviving trees were marked. For the Japanese, the ginkgo has since become a symbol of resilience; medically, this has no significance, but it explains part of its appeal.

To useWhat the ginkgo does for you - detailed explanation

Ginkgo is among the best-researched herbal medicines, and precisely for this reason, the results must be considered separately. The European Medicines Agency lists certain standardized dry extracts made from ginkgo leaves in the highest category - well-established use - to symptomatic treatment of mild cognitive impairment in older people and to Improvement in pain-free walking distance For arterial circulatory disorders of the legs. Additionally, it has a traditional use for dizziness and tinnitus.

The word is crucial. Treatment - unlike prevention. Two very large, well-conducted studies have investigated whether ginkgo can prevent the onset of dementia in healthy older people: the American GEM study with over 3,000 participants and the French GuidAge study with almost 3,000. Both found no difference to placebo. Ginkgo is therefore not a means of preventing dementia, and anyone who takes it for that reason is spending their money on a hope that has been tested and not confirmed.

In already existing The situation is different, albeit modest, for mild to moderate dementia: Meta-analyses of a high-dose standard extract—usually 240 milligrams daily—find small but statistically significant improvements in cognitive tests and in managing daily life, especially when behavioral symptoms such as restlessness are present. The effects are small, not all studies yield the same results, and some of the research originates from the manufacturers' network. But it is a real, proven application.

And one more practical point that is often overlooked: Ginkgo leaf tea is not an alternative. The leaf naturally contains Ginkgolic acids, These substances are highly allergenic and chemically related to the irritants of poison ivy. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, they are reduced to below 5 ppm – this does not happen with self-picked leaves. Furthermore, the active ingredients are barely present in relevant quantities in the infusion. Ginkgo is a plant for which only the commercially available preparation makes sense.

IngredientsThat's what's in the leaf

Two groups of substances are responsible for the effect, and together they form the extract. Flavone glycosides Quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin derivatives, standardized to approximately 24 percent in the extract, have an antioxidant effect and stabilize blood vessel walls. Terpene lactones The ginkgolides A, B, C, and bilobalide, adjusted to approximately 6 percent, are the truly unique component: Ginkgolide B blocks platelet-activating factor PAF, a messenger substance involved in blood clotting and inflammation. This explains both the blood flow-enhancing effect and the bleeding risk.

The Ginkgolic acids These are the problematic part. They belong to the same chemical family as the urushiols of poison ivy and are strong contact allergens. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, they are reduced to below 5 ppm through special extraction steps – this is one of the reasons why the production of a ginkgo extract is complex and why the studies have always been conducted using a specific manufacturing process.

A separate chapter is the... seeds. The female trees bear fleshy seed pods that, when rotting, emit a strong butyric acid odor – which is why almost exclusively male trees are planted in cities. The kernel inside, the ginkgo nut, is a delicacy in East Asia and is eaten roasted. However, in larger quantities it is poisonousIt contains ginkgotoxine, an antagonist of vitamin B6 that can trigger seizures. Poisonings have been documented in Japan, primarily in children. A few nuts are harmless, but a whole bowlful is not.

Enhanced combinationsWhat matters in the ginkgo

With this plant, it's not the combination that matters, but the shape - and a very specific safety question.

What contradicts itselfIt's best to avoid these combinations.

ApplicationHow it is used

• Standardized dry extract240 mg daily - the form and dose to which the studies refer.
• In cases of mild dementiaSymptomatic and accompanying treatment, after medical clarification of the cause.
• In claudicationTo improve pain-free walking distance, in conjunction with gait training.
• For dizziness and tinnitusListed as a traditional use - the evidence here is significantly weaker.
• Eight weeks of patienceIt is impossible to assess beforehand whether the preparation will be effective.
• No loose leaf teaSelf-picked leaves contain allergenic ginkgolic acids - do not use.
• Ginkgo nutsRoasted as a delicacy in East Asia - only a few pieces, as they are poisonous in large quantities.
• City treeExtremely robust against exhaust fumes, salt and drought - therefore planted everywhere.
• Male treesPreferred in cities because the female ovules have a strong odor.
• Discontinue before surgeryAt least one week in advance, due to the risk of bleeding.

As a home remedyWhat really matters for the mind

Ayurveda & TCMWhat the old systems say

Warning noticesWhen you should be careful

This page provides information and does not replace medical advice. If symptoms persist, please consult a doctor.

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