Ginko Biloba

Question: Can I take Ginko Biloba with antydeprsants? I am currently take antydepresants and tablets for epilepsy.Can I use Ginko Biloba 100mg at the same time? Anti-depressants for depression (thanks) topamax - for epilspesy.

Answer: Ask a pharmacist. go to the nearest drug store or grocery store with a pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist. That would be your best route to get the best answer. Also, read the drug insert completely through. Go to www.medicalguide.org (a division of consumer reports) and it will tell you will get a great education on drugs and herbal suppliments and what they shouldn't be taken with. Some drug go through the liver and combine with liver enzymes to be activated (pro-drugs). The same is true for herbal suppliments. They will affect you liver and the metabolism/activation of the drugs. A few months ago, I was taking a medication similar to an anti-depressant (I forgot the name) and the pharmacist told me not to take Gingko. She said Ginseng was OKay but not gingko.

Question: Is ginko biloba meant to be taken daily? I took ginko biloba once right before a test and it really helped me focus. Is it meant to be taken every day?

Answer: yes, for up to two weeks. after that the effects are diminished.

Question: How many mg a day of Ginko Biloba? It is mixed in with another supplement I take so it doesn't state the daily dose of just the Ginko Biloba.

Answer: It depends on what form the herbal is in. Only a standardized extract can provide a "dose" because that's the only time you know there is a consistent level of a specific compound available. Generally, start with the label amount and take that for at least a few days. Then, you may choose to increase the amount by some "step" that you determine. In all fields of medicine this is simply known as "titration." You increase the amount until you get a body response. With some herbals and all drugs, titration is something that requires care because some herbals and all drugs are toxic. But you've no doubt titrated on your own before. Ever had a "bad" headache and took three aspirin instead of two? Ginko is considered to be generally safe, but the phytochemicals in it increase circulation in the head and neck. Because of this, too much may cause a headache. If you're taking Ginko for "memory" or "student performance," keep in mind that it will only help if you have a known circulation problem above the head. Ginko does not improve memory, but by increasing blood flow to the brain (if it was restricted for some reason), it does therefore increase oxygen to the brain.

Question: What is the dose level for Ginko Biloba? What is the dose level for Ginko Biloba? (same as above)

Answer: The most common dosage recommendation is 120-240 mg per day.

Question: How to harvest & prosess home grown Ginko Biloba?

Answer: The seeds are usually steamed until the hard shell cracks open, then the kernel can be removed (or can be cracked open) and eaten like pistacho nuts, or used in pilaf, porridges, soups, vegetable dishes or mixed with rice, tofu, mushrooms and stir-fried vegetables. The seedcoat contains a small amount of urushiol, an allergen that may cause a mild form of poison oak (poison ivy) dermatitis in sensitive people, so when picking the seeds up from the ground wear latex gloves. "SMALL PRINT:" When eaten the inner seed can cause food poisoning -especially with children- caused by MPN ( 4-methoxypyridoxine) when seeds are eaten for a long period and/or in large quantities (over 5 seeds a day). MPN is heat-stable. Studies have demonstrated that convulsions caused by MPN can be prevented or terminated with pyridoxine.

Question: Has anyone who has taken Ginko Biloba to increase mental alertness noticed improvement?

Answer: I have taken it with great results... I can also tell the other answerer hasn't done thorough research on Ginkgo or on herbs in general. I was skeptical of it's benefits when I took it, but the effect I got from it convinced me of how well it worked. I did more research on it after that and it has been shown in clinical settings to increase circulation to the head, which is why it commonly helps for brain health. The reason that some people don't see benefits they want from it is that herbs basically give your body nutrition it's otherwise looking... if you don't need that increased circulation to the brain, you may not get specific benefits you want to get (eg. focus, better IQ, memory, etc) from it, which is why not all college students take it like the other answerer suggested. If your body needs the nutrients, you'll get the benefit. For me, it took me about 5 weeks to realize the benefits... I walked into a room and realized that I hadn't forgotten why I walked into a room for about 3 weeks before that (which was common for me before that). It's helped some aspects of my short term memory (which was always bad for me) and some aspects of focus, but I still have trouble reading things when I don't want to read (it doesn't force me to focus more), my long-term memory has had only a little boost, and I still have trouble remembering things at times. All in all, I feel that I am much better off for having tried Ginkgo and would encourage you to at least try it (and check with your pharmacist first if you are taking any prescriptions). Good luck and I hope I helped!

Question: I am thinking of taking Ginko Biloba to increase memory, and acai berries for my diet? Should I be worried of anything? or be cautious?

Answer: Long used in traditional Oriental medicine, ginkgo biloba is believed to improve blood circulation and is also believed to enhance mental alertness and memory. However, ginkgo biloba is known to decrease the speed of blood clotting. So people with blood circulation problems need to consult a physician first before using this. Acai berries are a great source of antioxidants, but the claims of rapid weight loss are yet to be proven by scientific means. More info here:

Question: Has (Ginko Biloba) helped anyone with memory and and focus? Im taking strattera for my (add) and want to start taking ginko biloba for memory. Has it worked for anyone? If not whats the best thing to take to help your brain focus and memorize?

Answer: ginko biloba doesnt do anything it is a supplement

Question: does ginko biloba pills work? i was wondering if ginko biloba(spring valley brand) helps with carpel tunnel. a few months ago when i was working i would constantly use my hands and after working 6 days a week and 10 hour shifts my hand had this pain that would appear every time i used it.the pain is mostly in my palm between my index and thumb fingers.

Answer: it has a placebo effect ,

Question: Does ginko biloba counter act birth controll? I'm taking classes right now and I heard ginko biloba helps with circulation and brain activity but does i effect birth control?

Answer: mmmm.....

Question: Can over the counter Ginko Biloba supplements help ? in memory or its just a placebo.

Answer: I agree with the first answer too. First of all, you don't know what effects it might have. Also, I don't know if you are taking any other medications, but over the counter medications can interact with anything you are taking, sometimes with disastrouss results.

Question: Is it safe to take birth control pills and ginko biloba at the same time?

Answer: check with your doctor.

Question: Can I take salmon oil omega 3 tablets and those of ginko biloba together? No poroblem? Do they have any side effects?

Answer: No problem whatever as they are both natural supplements. Mixing prescription medications can be dangerous.

Question: Has anyone tried ginko biloba? I'm interested in possibly trying ginko biloba (to help me concentrate). Has anyone tried ginko biloba? If so, did you find it helpful? If it was helpful, how long did it take to "work"? Did you notice any bad side effects? I've looked stuff up about it on the internet, so really I'm just looking for people's personal experiences. Thanks!

Answer: It's not good. It may give you the jitters and your heart may race. Similar to ephedra. It's not a safe herb all around.

Question: Is Ginko biloba good for blood flow increase to the head?

Answer: Apparently, yes. There are many studies on the go at the moment into the effectiveness or otherwise of ginkgo biloba as it has been credited for doing many things. Increasing blood flow to the brain (as well as increasing ocular and coronary blood flow in some studies) seems to be one that's been researched and found to be effective.

Question: Does B-complex and Ginko Biloba really help improve memory? Im taking both every day for about a week now. Does anyone know if it will give me really good results? If not what else is out there? And Would it be ok if I took a multivitiman with it too? Or would that be too much vitiman B? Thanks everyone for taking the time to help me out = }

Answer: B vitamins are essential nutrients required by the brain and nerve system, as well as other parts of the body. Our foods now don't have naturally occuring balanced blend of all the B vitamins, so a supplement can help. Take it WITH food, not on an empty stomach. Having started only 1 week ago is nothing. Its an everyday thing, for a long time that will affect your health. Don't expect to have instant results or "cures" or perfection after such a small amount of time. Its nutrition ! The effects will be cumulative. Good brain-nutrition, plus study and thinking, and normal day-to-day stress, will condition your brain to be better at all that, just like an athlete who gets good nutrition and exercises his muscles will gradually become better and better, not a muscle-man or star athlete after just one week at it. B-vitamins are essential for health, although with the B-vitamins, there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing". Excessive B3 (2000 mg or more per day) could begin to harm the liver. Frequent excessive B6 can result in some nerve damage in some people. High doses of PABA can be toxic to liver, heart, and kidneys, and cause nausea and vomiting. Pay attention to signals your body tells you. Supplements can be very beneficial, but don't overdo them. Ginkgo Biloba is a vaso-dilator, opening the diameter of blood vessels and increasing blood flow, thereby increasing efficiency and availability of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Be careful with it. If you get headaches from it, ease off from it. Ginkgo is something to be careful with for people who are taking other medications that have the same effect, people who are taking blood-thinners too, could overdo the flow to the brain, or let cholestrol or fatty globules/clots in where they would otherwise not have gone. Make sure your cholestrol and circulation health are fine without other medications. If you can, actually, jogging will have better results for aerobic health and circulation to the brain, and actually decrease risk of stroke instead of increasing it. Other things good for the brain / memory, Peppermint, Ginseng, cafeine within moderation, and balance your energy supply / blood-sugar level.