In article , (CorK)
wrote:

Hello,

If you want to read about all aspects of the tree Ginkgo biloba then
visit my non commercial awarded homepage.
In English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch.


The Ginkgo Pages:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kwanten/

Cor Kwant

You shouldn't be so reticent about giving factual information about
Gingko's dangers & limited worth as a medicine. Since you give many links
to commercial websites that provide exaggerated claims & encourage faux
uses of gingko, you should want to be more responsible, or your favorite
tree will continue to put lives at risk because people are so fabulously
naive.

Some Gingko biloba facts missing from your FAQ:

Are gingko pills or tablets any good?

ConsumerLab.com of White Plains, N.Y., an independent lab which tests
various "health" products currently on the market, found that in 2003 only
two out of nine products passed minimal requirements for a quality
product. So whether or not there were any actual health benefit to
self-medicating with these products, your "odds" of happening on a quality
preparation are not good. These are sold as commodities, not medicines, so
are not required to meet any standard of quality required for medicines.

But if I got randomly lucky and accidentally obtained a quality product,
would there be health benefits for vascular disease as often advertised?

The most hopeful studies suggest a moderate and temporary value in limited
and specific cases of vascular illness, but other studies show that it has
no such effect at all. So it is either worthless, or very slightly
benificial, but never strongly benificial. It may or may not assist
bloodflow so that, for example, leg-pain from hardened arteries would
experience a slight relief, with the same degree of relief for the heart.
The effect, if any, has not been entirely ruled out, but is moderate at
best, or so subtle as to be immeasurable, rendering even the most
favorable doubleblind studies inconclusive. A cup of coffee would have a
more definitive impact on bloodflow than does gingko biloba.

Does gingko improve memory or decrease senility as many vendors claim?

No. Paul R. Solomon of Williams College conducted a doubleblind study of
260 individuals age 60 or older, half receiving gingko, half receiving a
placebo, followed by standardized tests for learning, memory,
concentration, & attention. Those using gingko fared no better than the
control group taking a placebo. The findings were that there was no
benefit to cognitive function.

THe theory had been, as a stimulant that might increase bloodflow to
extremities & to the brain, gingko should have had temporary effects on
brain activity similar to a cup of coffee, though milder. The chemical
component Bilobalide has been thought possibly to function much like
caffeine as a stimulant. Doubleblind studies, however, put this one to
rest; it has no effect on cognitive function.

Does it cure Alzheimer's disease?

Absolutely not.

I read an article that claimed gingko corrected erectile dysfunction for
half of all men who took it, & improved sexual response for ninety percent
of all women who took it. Does it really improve sex drive?

And the moon is made of cheese. If there were a mild relief for pain by
temporarily increasing blood flow in individuals with arterial disease,
more physical activity might be possible, including sex. If it improves
mental outlook of someone mildly depressed, even if only on the basis of
the placebo effect, that too might increase interest in sex. These are big
"ifs." As to the science, the doubleblind studies, alas, indicate it is
ineffective at increasing sexual function, and is not at all effective as
a treatment for sexual dysfunction.

Does it correct tinnitus, hearing loss, macular degeneration, or blindness
as often promised?

It does not.

Does it cure cancer?

Certainly not.

Does it correct Attention Deficite Disorder or hyperactivity in children?

It does not. And medicating children without a physician's guidance should
be regarded as severe child abuse.

I've heard it's good for altitude sickness, is it true?

Used during airplane flights, mountain clikmbing, or a drive to Denver, it
has a positive effect on altitutude sickness equivalent to that of a
placebo. In other words, if you think it helped, it helped; if you're
unsure, then it didn't.

Then why is it so popular as a medicine?

The same reason Jesus is popular. People want to believe.

I see by the labels that there is no promise of medicinal value, that it
is a food supplement only. Does that mean it is at least nutritious?

Not really. Cattle can digest leaf matter because they have four stomachs
& don't mind farting up a storm & can eat for hours at a go. Humans are
not ruminants so do not process ground up leaves and twigs with much ease.

Whether or not it has the specific medicinal benifit I am dreaming of, are
there any risks or side-effects from trying it anyway?

Yes. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine warns that gingko is
one of the herbs (together with St. John's wort and echinacea) that
negatively impact fertility, so that couples attempting to get pregnant
should not use it. It may be very dangerous for anyone with a clotting
disorder, causing internal bleeding. It can be dangerous used with any
anticoagulant/blood thinner including aspirin. It can be life-threatening
if a surgeon has not been aprised of a patient's self-medicating habits.
It can be dangerous taken with any anti-inflammatory prescription
medication. It may negate the effectiveness of prescription medications,
so a doctor should always be informed if you are self-medicating whether
with booze, cocaine or other illegal drugs, or herbs. It may cause
restlessness, interferring with sleep patterns. It can cause headaches.
It may cause gastrointestinal distress including vomiting or diarrhea.
One of the greatest risks is that individuals with treatabile illnesses
will rely on herbal remedies until their disease has progressed beyond
treatability. Always consult a qualified M.D. before self-medicating with
anything, so that your complaints & your self-medicating are at least on
record.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com