In the article, we consider the instructions for use and reviews for the Ginkgo Biloba preparation.
What is this plant? Ginkgo biloba can be called the only representative of the gymnosperms of the ginkgo species. Traces of this plant are found in fossils belonging to the Paleozoic era.
The height of this tree reaches 30 m, the crown is pyramidal in shape, spreading, the leaves look like fused needles. His bark is rough, resin never forms on it.
Ginkgoes have been cultivated in European countries since 1974. Entire plantations of this plant, which is grown specifically for the pharmaceutical industry, are available in the USA and in the French province of Bordeaux. This plant is rarely affected by insects, in addition, it is resistant to acid rain, smoke, fungal diseases. Its distribution on the planet is limited only by low frost resistance.
Interesting Facts
Relict samples of this plant are fraught with many secrets. Only some of them are known to man, so scientists continue to research this unique representative of the plant world. Here are some interesting facts about ginkgo biloba:
- The first plant to be greened since the extinction of the dinosaurs has been growing in the Netherlands in the Utrecht Botanical Garden since 1730.
- Ginkgo biloba is the only tree that has been reborn after the atomic explosion in Hiroshima.
- Phytotherapist Varro Tyler called it the most important plant sold in Europe.
- The ginkgo tree can live for more than a thousand years. Near Japanese temples there are relics more than four thousand years old.
- In Germany, ginkgo-based medicines are included in the standard insurance medicine for patients with dementia.
From the dry raw materials of the ginkgo biloba tree, both certified medications and dietary supplements are produced. When purchasing them, you need to make sure that they contain the standard volume of terpenolactones (6%) and flavone glycosides (24%).
Pharmacological properties
In cosmetology and the pharmaceutical industry, the fruits and leaves of ginkgo biloba are used to produce tinctures, tea, tablet forms and solutions for mesotherapy. The best time to harvest is autumn, when they contain the highest percentage of flavonoids. The leaves of this plant contain unique elements:
- terpene trilactones (bilobalides, ginkgolides);
- condensed tannins;
- valerianic, propionic, ginkgolic acid;
- bioflavonoids (quercetin, kempferol, ginkgetin, isoramnetin, bilobetin);
- benzoic acid, as well as its derivatives;
- superoxide dismutase;
- amino acids;
- thymine;
- antioxidant elements (selenium, phosphorus, titanium, iron, magnesium).
The article describes dietary supplements from the Evalar company in detail. Reviews about "Ginkgo Biloba" are abundant. They will be presented at the end of the article.
Mechanism of action
According to the instructions for use and reviews of "Ginkgo Biloba" from "Evalar" has the following effects:
- Stimulates the expansion of blood vessels, thereby reducing the level of pressure and the likelihood of a stroke.
- Increases glomerular filtration rate, reducing proteinuria and increasing reabsorption of sodium and water.
- Lowers cholesterol.
- Prevents age-related disorders in the brain that are caused by damage to neurons.
- Reduces the likelihood of a stroke caused by the formation of a blood clot.
- It inhibits the spread of metastases in cancer pathologies.
- It attenuates the effects of cerebral ischemia through antioxidant activity.
- It activates the absorption of glucose in certain parts of the brain that are responsible for coordination of movements, complex actions and perception of sensory information.
- It stimulates the production of adrenaline, which alleviates the symptoms of depressive disorders.
- Prevents obstruction of the bronchi with the development of allergies and bronchial asthma.
- Actively struggling with sleep disorders in the elderly, including those who can not take sedative and hypnotic drugs.
- It activates mental activity, improves memory, which worsened with age.
- Smoothes the effects of alcohol and tobacco intoxication.
- It stops the main symptoms of venous insufficiency and increases venous tone, reducing the manifestations of hypoxia.
- It inhibits the growth of pathogenic microorganisms such as pneumococcus, staphylococcus, E. coli.
- Improves potency.
- Relieves itching, pain and bleeding with hemorrhoids.
- Restores the structure of connective tissue, slowing down the aging process of the skin.
- Relieves headaches of vascular etiology.
- Slows down the processes of visual impairment.
- Evens skin color, brightens age spots.
Reviews of neurologists about "Ginkgo Biloba" consider below.
Due to the biochemical composition, the presence of unique active elements, the drug can be used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Clinical studies are ongoing, which is why the range of prescriptions may expand in the near future.
Indications for use
Even thousands of years ago, people used the leaves of this medicinal plant to treat a number of pathological conditions. Today, extract from its various parts is used in the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in many European countries. Reviews of ginkgo biloba extract in these cases are mostly positive.
However, the scope of use of this plant is not limited to these diseases. Numerous scientific studies have proved that ginkgo extracts can be used in the treatment of the following conditions and pathologies:
- impaired blood supply to the limbs;
- multiple sclerosis;
- initial stages of Alzheimer's disease;
- cardiovascular disease;
- migraine;
- impotence;
- age-related changes in the cognitive sphere;
- Dizziness
- phlebeurysm;
- bronchial asthma;
- pathology of the hearing system and hearing loss;
- hemorrhoids;
- toxic shock;
- diabetes;
- allergic diseases;
- intermittent claudication syndrome.
According to reviews of Ginkgo Biloba tablets, this dietary supplement is well tolerated, rarely causes side effects and is not equal in effectiveness.
The list of pathological changes that dietary supplements can cope with is constantly expanding, because in the course of research, scientists note all the new possibilities and properties of this medicinal plant. For example, the possibility of using it to relieve the symptoms of mountain sickness is currently being investigated.
Side effects
Food supplement is classified as highest safety. However, according to reviews of Ginkgo Biloba, when used in rare cases, patients may experience:
- gastrointestinal upset;
- decreased appetite;
- noise in ears;
- skin rashes;
- increased salivation;
- nausea, bouts of vomiting;
- dizziness and cephalalgia.
In people suffering from epilepsy, seizures may occur while taking this biological supplement. The reviews of Ginkgo Biloba from Evalar confirm this.
Contraindications
These include:
- decrease in blood coagulability;
- digestive ulcer;
- erosive gastritis at the stage of exacerbation;
- acute circulatory disturbance in the brain;
- myocardial infarction in the acute phase;
- arterial hypotension;
- age up to 18 years;
- lactation, pregnancy;
- high sensitivity to drugs.
In addition, drugs containing ginkgo are not prescribed to patients before surgery, since they tend to increase bleeding. You should also not take at the same time several dietary supplements containing extract or ginkgo leaves. In this case, adverse reactions caused by an overdose are observed most often. So it is said in the instructions for "Ginkgo Biloba." Reviews on this subject are also available.
Drug interaction
In cases where among the components of the drug based on ginkgo biloba there is heptaminol hydrochloride, a rapid increase in blood pressure, tachycardia, and disturbance of the heartbeat in the form of arrhythmia are possible.
A biological supplement is not recommended for people who regularly need to take acetylsalicylic acid and anticoagulants. Simultaneous administration with efavirenz may provoke a decrease in the concentration of the latter in plasma.
Therefore, reviews of Ginkgo Biloba from Evalar should be reviewed in advance.
Analogs
Based on the extracts of this medicinal plant, there are a large number of medicines and active food additives. These include the following:
- "Tanakan" is an angioprotective herbal medicine based on ginkgo. This is a titrated and standardized preparation, the effect of which is due to the effect on metabolic processes in cells, vasomotor vascular reactions, and rheological properties of blood. It stabilizes the supply of brain cells with glucose and oxygen, normalizes the tone of arteries, improves microcirculation and blood flow, and prevents the aggregation of red blood cells. In addition, it improves metabolic processes, has an antihypoxic effect on tissues, inhibits the formation of free radicals and oxidation of lipids of cell membranes, affects the reuptake, release and catabolism of neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine), as well as their ability to bind to membrane receptors. According to reviews, the analogues of Ginkgo Biloba are no less effective.
- "Bilobil" is a herbal medicine that increases resistance to hypoxia, especially brain cells, inhibits the development of toxic or traumatic cerebral edema, normalizes peripheral and cerebral blood circulation and blood rheology. This ginkgo-based drug has a dose-dependent regulatory effect on the vascular walls, expands arteries, increases venous tone, and prevents the release of free radicals and the oxidation of lipids in cell membranes. This remedy is prescribed for discirculatory encephalopathy of various etiologies, which is accompanied by a decrease in attention, memory, intellectual abilities, and sleep disorders. The drug is also used in cases of peripheral circulation disturbance, Raynaud's syndrome, sensorineural disorders, and diabetic retinopathy.
- "Ginkoum" is a herbal remedy, the active elements of which improve the processes of blood circulation in the vessels of the brain and heart. Against the background of the use of this medicine in patients, an improvement in the blood picture, stabilization of the heart muscle, an increase in vitality, concentration of attention and memory are observed. The active components of this drug improve brain function and stop ischemic phenomena in the cerebral vessels, which serves as a prophylaxis for the occurrence of ischemic stroke and hypoxia of brain tissue. Ginkgo biloba extracts increase the supply of glucose to the brain and reduce the process of platelet adhesion to each other. This medicine has an antioxidant effect, which ensures the protection of the blood vessels of the brain from the negative effects of the environment and the inhibition of the development of cancer. The therapeutic efficacy of this drug is observed gradually.
- Ginos is a standardized ginkgo biloba extract. The medication contains biological substances and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. It increases their elasticity, regulates the supply of brain tissue with glucose, has a cerebroprotective effect, improves the process of microcirculation and metabolism in cell structures. In addition, this medicine reduces vascular permeability, increases the body's level of resistance to hypoxia, reduces the fibrinolytic properties of blood, and eliminates red blood cell aggregation.
- "Vitrum Memori" - a remedy that belongs to the number of herbal medicines. It has anti-edematous and antihypoxic effects (brain, peripheral areas), improves memory and learning ability, normalizes brain function, stabilizes neurotransmitter processes in the central nervous system and rheological properties of blood. It promotes microcirculation, metabolism in cells, improves blood circulation in the head and the supply of oxygen to the brain, prevents thrombosis, expands small arteries, and increases vein tone. This drug is shown with a decrease in attention, speed of thinking, impaired memory, vision, hearing, speech function and intellectual abilities, as well as with circulatory disorders and blood circulation in the lower extremities.
- Memoplant is a medicine that has all the properties of the above medicines and biological additives and is prescribed for patients with impaired brain function, decreased cognitive abilities, cephalgia, tinnitus, venous insufficiency, etc.
- "Ginkgo Biloba" from the "Doppelherz". According to reviews, this drug is very effective. A nutritional supplement restores the cognitive functions of the brain, strengthens memory, and activates mental activity. Supplements are also useful for the elderly, because it improves cerebral circulation, metabolic processes, supports the nervous system and intellectual capabilities.
- Also on sale you can find the dietary supplement "Ginkgo Biloba + glycine." Reviews about him are only positive. The drug is suitable for people engaged in intense mental work: students, managers, supervisors; developers of design documentation and software; people experiencing stress; the elderly, suffering from all kinds of manifestations of cerebral atherosclerosis; people experiencing problems with impaired memory, attention, mental abilities.
Ginkgo Biloba Reviews
Patient reviews on this food supplement are generally positive. They indicate a very good tolerability of this agent and its effectiveness in the treatment of a variety of vascular pathologies. According to reviews, "Ginkgo Biloba" has proven itself very well in various disorders of intellectual abilities, memory impairment and perception of information. Some patients say that the product normalizes blood pressure and heart function, eliminates dizziness.
Reviews of specialists
The doctors' comments about Ginkgo Biloba also contain a lot of positive information. Doctors note its high safety, as well as positive properties in various disorders of the brain. A remedy is prescribed, according to experts, to many elderly people (for example, with senile dementia), students after 18 years who suffer from impaired memory, and adult patients with the above problems.