What Is Ginkgo Biloba?
Ginkgo Biloba is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world, used as a natural remedy for centuries in Asia. It has gained recent international attention as a supplement with the potential power to ease the effects of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, and low or poor circulation.
Unlike many herbal dietary supplements tested by LabDoor, there are actually significant clinical trials measuring the safety and efficacy of Ginkgo Biloba. While a 2010 meta-analysis (study of studies) found no overall proof of memory enhancement for healthy individuals, there is some evidence to support the efficacy of Ginkgo treatment for dementia patients.
Ginkgo Biloba Drug Interactions
Once you have determined whether Ginkgo is right for you, it is important to understand the potential drug and supplement interactions in your medicine cabinet. When it comes to oral supplementation of Ginkgo Biloba, there is a serious drug interaction risk with a common over-the-counter (OTC) product – Aspirin. Aspirin pain reliever used to help fight inflammation and ease pains associated with everything from headaches to muscle soreness. Aspirin is not usually associated with dangerous side effects, but when combined with a Gingko Biloba supplement, risks increase significantly.
Aspirin is a blood thinner, often used to help patients avoid blood clots. When combined with Ginkgo Biloba, the effects can lead to a wide variety of bleeding-related side effects. This can include excessive bleeding of the gums, bleeding in the eyes, and even brain hemorrhages. Pharmacists, physicians, and scientists alike all highly warn against the use of Ginkgo Biloba in conjunction with Aspirin.
Aspirin is not the only common medication to avoid. When Ginkgo Biloba is combined with Warfarin, patients can suffer from excessive bleeding as well. When the supplement is used with Thiazide, the patient can suffer from high blood pressure. And when combined with Trazadone, Ginkgo can cause severe side effects like coma.
It is important to understand that herbal or “all-natural” products are also subject to drug-supplement and supplement-supplement interactions. You should carefully track your supplement usage and report any new or existing dietary concerns to your physician or other health professional before adding any new treatment. Specifically, never take Aspirin and Ginkgo Biloba, a known interaction with serious health risks.
- Header Image: John Lodder (Flickr)
- Don’t Combine Ginkgo and Aspirin – Health Central
- Effect of Ginkgo Biloba and Aspirin on Platelet Aggregation and Platelet Function – PubMed (National Libraries of Medicine)
- Interactions Between Selected Drugs – Drugs.com