Ginkgo biloba & Microcirculation
For Your Eyes Only!
Ginko and Eye Health
Studies demonstrate that standardized extracts of Ginko support blood parameters that impact retinal health:
· Decrease lipid peroxidation (1,2)
· Decrease clotting factors and support of RBC.
· Improved blood viscosity and elasticity, improving retinal capillary blood flow rate (2).
· Ginko has produced the following changes in age-related vision changes.
· Improvement in visual acuity and field of vision (3)
· Improvement in near and far vision, color recognition, and field of vision. (3)
· Ginko also improves the functioning of higher brain centers associated with vision. (4)
1) Kudolo GB, Delaney, Blodgett J Short-term oral ingestion of Ginko biloba extract (EGb761) reduces malondialdehyde levels D, in washed platelets of type 2 diabetic subjects Diabetes Res Clin Prac 2005;68(1):29-38
2) Huang SY, Jeng Kao C, Kao SC, et al. improved hemorheological properties by Ginko biloba extract (EGb 761) in type two diabetes mellites complicated with retinopathy. Clin Nutr2004; 23(4): 615-621
3) Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Modern Phytotherapy. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2000, pp 413-414
4) Page JW, Findley J Crognale MA et al. Electrophysiological analysis of the effects of ginkgo biloba on visual processing in older healthy adults. J Gerontology A Biol Sci Med Sci 2005; 60 (10): 1246-1251
5) What KM. Potential interaction of Ginkgo biloba leaf with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs: what is the evidence? Mol Nutr Food RES. 2008; 52(7):764-771
Ginko and Bleeding
· Many older patients take warfarin. You need to know that they are cautioned against herbal products, other drugs, and even aspirin without the full concurrence of their prescribing physician.
· What Dr. Kerry talked about is the science as he perceived it. He was not suggesting nor was he implying that patients taking blood-thinning medicines like warfarin should ever be prescribed Ginko. This should never be done without the sign-off of their physician.
Lack of Evidence of Ginko Interaction.
· Regular Ginko intake has been tentatively linked with bleeding episodes, and the potential interaction of Ginko with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs has become an intense focus.
· published reviews first sought to examine the likelihood that Ginko influences normal hemostasis critically.
· In a comprehensive study, the effect of 240 mg/day of Ginko extract in 50 healthy male volunteers was assessed using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design.
· None of the 29 coagulation and bleeding parameters evaluated showed any evidence of inhibition of blood coagulation or platelet aggregation by Ginko intake.
· Four small, controlled studies found no additional impact on hemostasis when Ginko was combined with either aspirin or warfarin (6)
· The results of these controlled studies appear to be at odds with the 21 case reports published between 1996 and 2006, which described adverse bleeding events in connection with the consumption of Ginko.
· Establishing causality from these case reports was difficult due to the generally low quality of the reports. However, causality is not the key to adverse reactions. They provide us with legitimate signals of medical concern, which must be respected. (6)
· Not only is there variability in herbal products, but a lack of documentation of critical factors such as product name, level of standardization, other potentially active ingredients, and type of extract used are generally absent.
· Further confounding any interpretation, in most of the reported cases, other clinical risk factors for bleeding were present.
· But this is always the way with adverse event reports. They provide signals, not clean lines of causality. (6)
· An excerpt of the Mediplus database in Germany providing information for 320,644 patients was used to evaluate reported bleeding events.
· The risk of bleeding with any Ginko preparation was around 1, indicating that the frequency of reported bleeding events in patients taking Ginko was the same as that in patients not taking Ginko.
· No increase in the prevalence of bleeding was seen for co-administration of antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.
Ginko and safe use:
1) The US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine advises that there are some data to suggest that Ginko can increase bleeding risk, so people who take anticoagulant drugs, have bleeding disorders, or have scheduled surgery or dental procedures should use caution and talk to a health care provider if using Ginko. Kudolo GB, Delaney, Blodgett J Short-term oral ingestion of Ginko biloba extract (EGb761) reduces malondialdehyde levels D, in washed platelets of type 2 diabetic subjects Diabetes Res Clin Prac 2005;68(1):29-38
2) Huang SY, Jeng Kao C, Kao SC, et al. improved hemorheological properties by Ginko biloba extract (EGb 761) in type two diabetes mellites complicated with retinopathy. Clin Nutr2004; 23(4): 615-621
3) Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Modern Phytotherapy. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2000, pp 413-414
4) Page JW, Findley J Crognale MA et al. Electrophysiological analysis of the effects of ginkgo biloba on visual processing in older healthy adults. J Gerontology A Biol Sci Med Sci 2005; 60 (10): 1246-1251
5) What KM. Potential interaction of Ginkgo biloba leaf with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs: what is the evidence? Mol Nutr Food RES. 2008; 52(7):764-771
6) Bone KM, Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008; 52(7): 764-771
Summary by TSA:
For the microcirculation of my retinas, I use the following formulas from Medi-Herb, a division of Standard Process:
1) Ginko Forte tablets (2/day)
2) Bilberry Forte (3 to 4 tablets)
3) Gotu Kola Complex tablets (3-4)
Now, herbs that are genuinely correctly processed are expensive. This is a heavy dose, but my eyes are worth it. This concludes our Eye health mini-series. In the future, there will be further information, including preventive ( & treatment) for cataracts and glaucoma and several essential eye nutrients! Also, upcoming posts on the microbiome (simplified), and an integrative Physician (me! ) approach to Parkinson’s.
Below is a way to communicate with my staff. We offer a 20 % discount to all non-local Substack readers through July 2024 or upon request. We will also give you sources to order yourself.
This post is not only non-profit but also profit-free. Any profits derived from my posts will be used for World Vision programs. These include well-building (our goal is six wells), the support of two children, and micro-loans to populations needing this help. Anyone contributing to even a tiny profit is welcome to review year-end statements.
A shout out to two of my darling patients, Jan C. and Carolyn W. I love you both and appreciate all of your support!
We love you too!!! You are one of the smartest and most dedicated people we have the privilege of knowing.
Agree with Dr. Yoho on pun. Thanks for very interesting information!