Have you heard of the herbal supplement with the very odd name of
gingko biloba?

In the last few years, gingko biloba has become one of the most
heavily advertised herbal products in health food stores and
magazines. It seems that gingko is being advertised everywhere, as a
new miracle cure for many common ailments. Gingko is reputed to
improve thinking, stave off Alzheimer's disease, preserve memory, and
reverse memory loss.

Proponents of gingko say that studies show it improves memory and
concentration, and can delay senility.

This herbal supplement is made from an extract of the leaf of the
gingko tree, one of an ancient family of trees. The leaf extract is
filled with many organic compounds that are believed to be
particularly beneficial to the cells of the brain.

Even though gingko, as a memory boosting supplement is relatively new
in North America, it has been a commonly prescribed supplement in
Europe for decades.

In China, the use of gingko goes back even further - over 5,000 years!
So you see, gingko is not really new at all. In fact, it is one of the
most widely prescribed herbal supplements in the world!

Here are some of the beneficial effects that have been attributed to
gingko:

-It increases the supply of blood to the brain
-It neutralizes several kinds of dangerous free radicals that damage
brain cells
-It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent
-It increases neurotransmiter activity
-It increases sugar metabolism in the brain
-It increases alpha brain waves associated with mental alertness
-It works as a anti-oxidant to protect the brain

Gingko contains many organic compounds, including flavonoids and
terpenoids, which are probably the source of its reputed brain
boosting powers.

Millions of people around the world take gingko to boost their memory.
Does it work? Is it safe?

Hundreds of studies of the effects of gingko have been published in
the last two decades. Many of these studies suggest gingko is an
effective and safe remedy for age related confusion and memory loss.

For most people, ginko seems to be very safe. In Europe, it is one of
the most commonly prescribed medications, and there are very few
problems known to be associated with it, even for long term use.

If you do decide to take gingko, don't expect any sudden, dramatic
changes. The effects of gingko biloba can take weeks or even months,
to become noticeable, and not all people experience an improvement. As
many as 50 per cent of the people who take a standardized dose of
gingko do not notice any improvements whatsoever.

People who take gingko may claim to feel somewhat more alert, and
somewhat better able to concentrate. In some cases, the improvements
are often so minor that they are barely noticeable.

The amount of memory improvement claimed for gingko often tends to be
rather small, usually only a few percentage points - about the same
improvement you might get after drinking a cup of coffee!

Unfortunately, despite the fact that gingko has been the subject of
hundreds of scientific studies, many of these studies were not very
well conducted from a scientific point of view.

Many of the studies of gingko were small and rather short term, and
were often conducted by family doctors who were not trained in
rigorous scientific research techniques.

This means that even though many studies have claimed wonderful
positive results for gingko biloba, the scientific proof may not be
very accurate or reliable.

If you decide to take gingko as a supplement, be sure to deal only
with a very high quality brand from a reliable manufacturer. Most
studies have used a dose of 120 milligrams per day, and this should be
sufficient.

If you are younger than fifty years old, there is no proof that taking
gingko will reduce your chances of getting Alzheimer's disease.

As with all herbal remedies, there is a wide variation in the quality
and quality of the actual active ingredients of the herb in question.
Some studies have found that even brands with fairly good reputations
do not always have the levels of active ingredients of gingko that
they claim. And sometimes, bargain brands may have none of the active
ingredients at all.

Get a brand of gingko that you trust to have a standardized level of
active ingredients. Be prepared to take it for several months before
you notice a difference. Keep in mind that some people never notice a
difference at all. And others claim to notice dramatic improvements
right away!

Side effects with gingko are rarely reported. The main precaution you
must take is to check with your doctor if you are already taking blood
thinning medication such as Coumadin, or an anti-depressant such as
Trazadone. It is possible that in some cases Gingko may interact with
certain medications and cause problems.

Before you take gingko, check with your doctor to be sure that you are
not taking any medications that could conflict with the herb.

http://www.cncarrental.cn/html/histo...60924/686.html

Short answer: no.
Even herbals that work are unregulated by FDA, unless harmful, and
active ingredient can vary considerably. Eat a heart healthy diet and
only take what your doctors recommend.

In article
,
wrote:

Before you take gingko, check with your doctor to be sure that you are
not taking any medications that could conflict with the herb.

And then buy a tree (male).
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo...u-need-to-know

In article ,
Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote:

Short answer: no.
Even herbals that work are unregulated by FDA, unless harmful, and
active ingredient can vary considerably. Eat a heart healthy diet and
only take what your doctors recommend.

Long answer: maybe

The FDA, through no fault of its' own has been gutted by lobbist
promoted bills to limit the FDA's power. Consider Monsanto's premium
sweetener, NutraSweet, that would be thrown on the scrap heap, if
"stevia" (a plant that most of us could grow in our gardens) is
legalized for dietary products. Yeah, and it would please me to get
along without pharmaceuticals.

Some illnesses are idiopathic, with a myriad of possible causes.
Different treatments will give varying results based on the cause.
Opinion on Ginkgo is mixed, but because there are no know adverse side
effects, it can't hurt to try it. Make up your own mind.

I'm taking prunella for hypertension, and it has allowed me to cut my
meds in half. I tried better melon for diabetes II, and saw no effects.

You may want to read up on ginkgo biloba at

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ginkgo+biloba

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?art...64-A98A809EC58
80105

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...edu/group/hope
s/treatmts/antiox/f_k01ginkgo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.stanford.edu/group
/hopes/treatmts/antiox/k2.html&h=378&w=360&sz=40&tbnid=ZJWNU-VfRJVJDM:&tb
nh=122&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dginkgo%2Bbiloba,%2Bpicture%26um%3D1&s t
art=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo...u-need-to-know

In article
,
Billy wrote:


I'm taking prunella for hypertension, and it has allowed me to cut my
meds in half. I tried better melon for diabetes II, and saw no effects.


Billy


Where do you obtain prunella ? Yada Yada

Bill who likes bitter melon and has grown it. A Vietnamese friend
introduced it to me. One of the five flavors not popular but as a
contrast it is useful. Think wrinkled cucumber and a simple soup...yum.

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
"Energy is the only life and is from the Body and Reason is the bound
or outward circumference of Energy.
Energy is Eternal Delight"
William Blake

Don't have time or inclination to read all of your references but quote
from the one in Scientific American says what I think:

"Information on most dietary supplements is based far more on folklore
than on EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS."

In article
,
Bill wrote:

In article
,
Billy wrote:


I'm taking prunella for hypertension, and it has allowed me to cut my
meds in half. I tried better melon for diabetes II, and saw no effects.


Billy


Where do you obtain prunella ? Yada Yada

Bill who likes bitter melon and has grown it. A Vietnamese friend
introduced it to me. One of the five flavors not popular but as a
contrast it is useful. Think wrinkled cucumber and a simple soup...yum.

Bill

Prunella Vulgaris, Self Heal, all Heal all the same thing.

I just ordered some from Herbal Advantage. Give me a couple of days and
I'll report back what I think of it.
https://www.herbaladvantage.com/show...oryID=2&Produc
tSKU=11-3129C

There are a number of herb seed sellers. I think I used Horizon Herbs
http://www.horizonherbs.com/search.asp?mode=results
https://www.herbaladvantage.com/show...oryID=2&Produc
tSKU=11-3129C

What I've used so far has been from the garden but it doesn't grow back
as fast as during the summer.
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.antiwar.com/eland/index.php?articleid=8282
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet expounded:


Don't have time or inclination to read all of your references but quote
from the one in Scientific American says what I think:

"Information on most dietary supplements is based far more on folklore
than on EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS."

EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS funded by a pharmaceutical company, one way or
the other.

Think is, the pharmaceutical companies don't see much profit in these
'folklore' remedies, so they never are properly tested, and they don't
see the light of widespread distribution. I'll put my trust in the
tried and true anytime, but I'm careful about who that trust goes to.
Stockholders and corporations aren't high on my list.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

Ann wrote:
Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet expounded:


Don't have time or inclination to read all of your references but quote

from the one in Scientific American says what I think:

"Information on most dietary supplements is based far more on folklore
than on EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS."


EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS funded by a pharmaceutical company, one way or
the other.

Think is, the pharmaceutical companies don't see much profit in these
'folklore' remedies, so they never are properly tested, and they don't
see the light of widespread distribution. I'll put my trust in the
tried and true anytime, but I'm careful about who that trust goes to.
Stockholders and corporations aren't high on my list.

I take Ginkgo every day but either in a tea or a tincture. I found it
cut back on the "what am I forgetting" feeling.

Kate - experimenting on myself

Wow, you certainly are wordy.

I've used gingko. Did nothing for my memory, but my cold hands went away
and it, slowly, stopped my asthma (which is what I was taking it for).
You don't hear much about it, but it's an anti-inflammatory specific to
the bronchials.

wrote:
Have you heard of the herbal supplement with the very odd name of
gingko biloba?

In the last few years, gingko biloba has become one of the most
heavily advertised herbal products in health food stores and
magazines. It seems that gingko is being advertised everywhere, as a
new miracle cure for many common ailments. Gingko is reputed to
improve thinking, stave off Alzheimer's disease, preserve memory, and
reverse memory loss.

Proponents of gingko say that studies show it improves memory and
concentration, and can delay senility.

This herbal supplement is made from an extract of the leaf of the
gingko tree, one of an ancient family of trees. The leaf extract is
filled with many organic compounds that are believed to be
particularly beneficial to the cells of the brain.

Even though gingko, as a memory boosting supplement is relatively new
in North America, it has been a commonly prescribed supplement in
Europe for decades.

In China, the use of gingko goes back even further - over 5,000 years!
So you see, gingko is not really new at all. In fact, it is one of the
most widely prescribed herbal supplements in the world!

Here are some of the beneficial effects that have been attributed to
gingko:

-It increases the supply of blood to the brain
-It neutralizes several kinds of dangerous free radicals that damage
brain cells
-It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent
-It increases neurotransmiter activity
-It increases sugar metabolism in the brain
-It increases alpha brain waves associated with mental alertness
-It works as a anti-oxidant to protect the brain

Gingko contains many organic compounds, including flavonoids and
terpenoids, which are probably the source of its reputed brain
boosting powers.

Millions of people around the world take gingko to boost their memory.
Does it work? Is it safe?

Hundreds of studies of the effects of gingko have been published in
the last two decades. Many of these studies suggest gingko is an
effective and safe remedy for age related confusion and memory loss.

For most people, ginko seems to be very safe. In Europe, it is one of
the most commonly prescribed medications, and there are very few
problems known to be associated with it, even for long term use.

If you do decide to take gingko, don't expect any sudden, dramatic
changes. The effects of gingko biloba can take weeks or even months,
to become noticeable, and not all people experience an improvement. As
many as 50 per cent of the people who take a standardized dose of
gingko do not notice any improvements whatsoever.

People who take gingko may claim to feel somewhat more alert, and
somewhat better able to concentrate. In some cases, the improvements
are often so minor that they are barely noticeable.

The amount of memory improvement claimed for gingko often tends to be
rather small, usually only a few percentage points - about the same
improvement you might get after drinking a cup of coffee!

Unfortunately, despite the fact that gingko has been the subject of
hundreds of scientific studies, many of these studies were not very
well conducted from a scientific point of view.

Many of the studies of gingko were small and rather short term, and
were often conducted by family doctors who were not trained in
rigorous scientific research techniques.

This means that even though many studies have claimed wonderful
positive results for gingko biloba, the scientific proof may not be
very accurate or reliable.

If you decide to take gingko as a supplement, be sure to deal only
with a very high quality brand from a reliable manufacturer. Most
studies have used a dose of 120 milligrams per day, and this should be
sufficient.

If you are younger than fifty years old, there is no proof that taking
gingko will reduce your chances of getting Alzheimer's disease.

As with all herbal remedies, there is a wide variation in the quality
and quality of the actual active ingredients of the herb in question.
Some studies have found that even brands with fairly good reputations
do not always have the levels of active ingredients of gingko that
they claim. And sometimes, bargain brands may have none of the active
ingredients at all.

Get a brand of gingko that you trust to have a standardized level of
active ingredients. Be prepared to take it for several months before
you notice a difference. Keep in mind that some people never notice a
difference at all. And others claim to notice dramatic improvements
right away!

Side effects with gingko are rarely reported. The main precaution you
must take is to check with your doctor if you are already taking blood
thinning medication such as Coumadin, or an anti-depressant such as
Trazadone. It is possible that in some cases Gingko may interact with
certain medications and cause problems.

Before you take gingko, check with your doctor to be sure that you are
not taking any medications that could conflict with the herb.

http://www.cncarrental.cn/html/histo...60924/686.html

Ann wrote:
Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet expounded:

Don't have time or inclination to read all of your references but quote
from the one in Scientific American says what I think:
"Information on most dietary supplements is based far more on folklore
than on EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS."

EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS funded by a pharmaceutical company, one way or
the other.

Think is, the pharmaceutical companies don't see much profit in these
'folklore' remedies, so they never are properly tested, and they don't
see the light of widespread distribution. I'll put my trust in the
tried and true anytime, but I'm careful about who that trust goes to.
Stockholders and corporations aren't high on my list.

This is not the case. Numerous medicinals are derived from plants.
There is plenty of money to be made by the pharmaceutical companies in
isolating active ingredients and selling as purified, tested medicines
or using their chemistry as a jumping off point to make even better drugs.

In article ,
Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote:

Ann wrote:
Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet expounded:

Don't have time or inclination to read all of your references but quote
from the one in Scientific American says what I think:
"Information on most dietary supplements is based far more on folklore
than on EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS."

EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS funded by a pharmaceutical company, one way or
the other.

Think is, the pharmaceutical companies don't see much profit in these
'folklore' remedies, so they never are properly tested, and they don't
see the light of widespread distribution. I'll put my trust in the
tried and true anytime, but I'm careful about who that trust goes to.
Stockholders and corporations aren't high on my list.

This is not the case. Numerous medicinals are derived from plants.
There is plenty of money to be made by the pharmaceutical companies in
isolating active ingredients and selling as purified, tested medicines
or using their chemistry as a jumping off point to make even better drugs.

Do you have special knowledge or is this a faith based assertion?

True, drug companies, medical and agricultural, are patenting anything
that looks promising (Indeed, even your genes can be patented and become
the property of others, without your knowledge. Isn't greed great? (
http://books.google.com/books?id=Lz3...PA391&dq=indiv
idual's+genes+patented+without+his+knowledge&sourc e=web&ots=kM-BNOEbx6&si
g=LkODeKY7p155s85ErF17Y5HRPWE )

Drug companies by and large are interested in diseases that affect a
large number of rich people. Tropical diseases, rare diseases, or
diseases of poverty, forget it. Businesses are here to make money,
whether their products help you or not.

But the subject at hand is traditional medicine and there are no
patents, personal property rights, or big bucks to be had in traditional
medicine. Just like allopathic medicine, it works in varying degrees on
different people.
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.antiwar.com/eland/index.php?articleid=8282
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

Billy wrote:

Drug companies by and large are interested in diseases that affect a
large number of rich people. Tropical diseases, rare diseases, or
diseases of poverty, forget it. Businesses are here to make money,
whether their products help you or not.

But the subject at hand is traditional medicine and there are no
patents, personal property rights, or big bucks to be had in traditional
medicine. Just like allopathic medicine, it works in varying degrees on
different people.

Billy,

If you are taking ginko biloba, it's not working because you are not
thinking clearly.

Programs like medicaid pay for poor people's medicines

Frank

In article ,
Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote:

Billy wrote:

Drug companies by and large are interested in diseases that affect a
large number of rich people. Tropical diseases, rare diseases, or
diseases of poverty, forget it. Businesses are here to make money,
whether their products help you or not.

But the subject at hand is traditional medicine and there are no
patents, personal property rights, or big bucks to be had in traditional
medicine. Just like allopathic medicine, it works in varying degrees on
different people.

Billy,

If you are taking ginko biloba, it's not working because you are not
thinking clearly.

Programs like medicaid pay for poor people's medicines

Frank

One of the requirements of a conversation, Frank, is a subject. If
you're going to wander in and out of a dementia like delirium, I'll
leave now so that you can jerk-off undisturbed:-)
--

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bars
http://www.antiwar.com/eland/index.php?articleid=8282
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movemen...George_W._Bush

Billy wrote:
In article ,
Frank frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet wrote:

Billy wrote:

Drug companies by and large are interested in diseases that affect a
large number of rich people. Tropical diseases, rare diseases, or
diseases of poverty, forget it. Businesses are here to make money,
whether their products help you or not.

But the subject at hand is traditional medicine and there are no
patents, personal property rights, or big bucks to be had in traditional
medicine. Just like allopathic medicine, it works in varying degrees on
different people.
Billy,

If you are taking ginko biloba, it's not working because you are not
thinking clearly.

Programs like medicaid pay for poor people's medicines

Frank

One of the requirements of a conversation, Frank, is a subject. If
you're going to wander in and out of a dementia like delirium, I'll
leave now so that you can jerk-off undisturbed:-)

Further proof, you're either forgetful or just downright stupid