- The leaves and seeds of the Ginkgo biloba tree have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Modern research has
looked at ginkgo extract, which is typically made from the leaves, and it's found some interesting potential health benefits and uses and that's what I'm gonna
look at in this video. Number one, improves circulation and heart health. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginkgo seeds were used to open channels of energy to
different organ systems, including the kidneys,
liver, brain and lungs. Ginkgo's apparent ability to increase blood flow to various parts of the body may be the origin of many of its supposed benefits. One study in people with heart disease who supplemented with ginkgo revealed an immediate
increase in blood flow to multiple parts of the body. This was attributed to a 12% increase in levels of circulating nitric oxide, a compound responsible for dilating, or expanding, blood vessels. Similarly, another study showed the same effect in older adults who were treated with ginkgo extract. More research is needed
to fully understand how ginkgo affects circulation and heart health, but it looks promising. Number two, reduces symptoms of psychiatric disorders and dementia. Ginkgo has been repeatedly evaluated for its effects on anxiety, stress, depression and other symptoms associated with age-related
cognitive decline. A review of 21 studies revealed that when used in conjunction
with conventional medicine, ginkgo extract may increase
functional capabilities in those with mild Alzheimer's. Another review evaluated four studies and found that a 22 to 24-week treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract
improved behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia except psychotic-like features and caregiver distress
caused by those symptoms. These positive results could be related to the role that ginkgo has in increasing blood flow to the brain, especially as it relates to vascular
types of dementia. But it's definitively too soon to make any absolute statements about ginkgo's role in treating dementia. Number three, can treat
headaches and migraines. This is one of its really popular uses in traditional Chinese medicine. Very little research is available on ginkgo's ability to treat headaches. However, depending on the root cause of the headache, it may help. For example, it's well known that ginkgo has anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant effects. If a headache or migraine is caused by excessive stress, ginkgo may be useful, theoretically. Additionally, if a headache is related to reduced blood flow or constricted blood vessels, ginkgo's ability to dilate blood vessels may improve symptoms. On the contrary, some migraines are caused by the excessive dilation of blood vessels so in this situation,
ginkgo would have no effect. Ultimately, these
examples don't constitute as hard evidence, so
if you've got headaches you could try and see if it helps. There's no harm, I guess, but I wouldn't expect much. Number four, can reduce anxiety. Some research indicates that ginkgo might help with anxiety. In one study, 170 people
with generalized anxiety were treated with either 240 mg or 480 mg of ginkgo or a placebo. The group treated with
the highest dose of ginkgo reported a 45% greater reduction in symptoms of anxiety, compared to those who received the placebo. The problem with that is that it's self-reported
results from the patient and we just need a lot
more evidence on that. So, definitely you can't make any firm conclusions. Number five, treating sexual dysfunction. Lastly I want to highlight this topic 'cause several sources say that ginkgo can help with sexual dysfunction, particularly erectile
dysfunction and low libido. Ginkgo has the ability
to improve circulation via the dilation of blood vessels. As a result, it may also be useful for treating various symptoms of sexual dysfunction by improving blood flow to those areas of the body. Some research has investigated using ginkgo to treat sexual dysfunction caused by the use of antidepressant drugs, or SSRIs. Results indicated that ginkgo wasn't any more effective than a placebo in these cases. Another study evaluated the use of ginkgo to increase sexual desire in women who were undergoing sexual psychotherapy and they found that it wasn't useful. The rationale for using ginkgo to treat sexual dysfunction makes sense, but the research certainly doesn't really support it so I just wanted to make that clear. Ultimately, while the ginkgo plant has been used for centuries, much of the current
research is inconsistent or underwhelming so I
wouldn't expect too much if you choose to supplement with it. Thanks for watching! Make sure to give this video a thumbs-up if you've found it informative. Don't forget to subscribe to Healthline's Authority Nutrition YouTube channel by clicking the red Subscribe button below this video. (upbeat music)
