# Ginkgo Biloba's effects on the heart? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628 "2003-01-09T23:32:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Agubwa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@Agubwa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agubwa)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/1 "2003-01-09T23:32:09Z")
Hi everyone, I just spoke to my cousin (well, my cousin’s daughter, literally. Maybe somebody can shed some light on that one? First-cousin once-removed, maybe?), and I just happened to mention that I started taking Ginkgo. She immediately informed me that “It is a heart stimulant.” Admittedly, I didn’t really know what she meant, but she went on talking like it’s someting that you do not want inside of you. She went on too tell me that her sister was shadowing a doctor for a while (she wants too go into medicine), and one of this guy’s patients was taking Ginkgo, and the doctor told this patient to get rid of it. So what’s the deal? Should I be taking it? I know that millions of people are taking it, but I also know that millions of people are eating at McDonald’s. I’d appreciate any help. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/2 "2003-01-10T02:05:51Z")
I don’t know about how it affects the heart, but I did try it two years ago [perimenopausal… thinking it would help my memory lapses] but, I got humongous headaches instead. So, whatever IS in it, may constrict blood vessels, which would affect both the brain and the heart. ---
**Author:** ![Agubwa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@Agubwa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agubwa)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/3 "2003-01-10T04:55:50Z")
Well, on the bottle that I have, it claims to help “Brain function”, and “circulation”. The way I’ve heard it put is that it helps your brain BY increasing circulation. I really don’t know about the truth of this, so it might be just as possible that it does constrict vessels. My question (and point of concern) is mainly about that whole “heart stimulant” thing. In any case, the reason why I’m taking it is to help with memory. I had a friend a while ago who took it for that reason and said it worked miracles for him. Anybody else? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/4 "2003-01-10T05:22:30Z")
Ginkgo has no effect on the heart and is not a heart stimulant. Here, edited to respect copyright, is part of a very recent review of ginkgo and other herbal remedies: > [@](#): > > **Ginkgo (_Ginkgo biloba_)** > > Ginkgo-leaf extracts are advocated primarily for the treatment of dementia (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease), peripheral vascular diseases (e.g., intermittent claudication), and neurosensory problems (e.g., tinnitus)… > > \ > > Two long-term, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have shown positive effects of a well-defined extract (containing 6 percent ginkgolides and bilobalide and 24 percent flavonoids) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease or multiinfarct dementia … These positive results were not corroborated by a recent trial, in which elderly persons with mild-to-moderate dementia or age-associated memory impairment took 80 to 120 mg of the same ginkgo extract or placebo twice daily. However, age-associated memory impairment has been criticized as a broad and ambiguous concept. > > \ > > Meta-analyses show that randomized, placebo-controlled trials of ginkgo in patients with (poor arterial circulation in the legs) have had mixed results, and only limited effects have been observed in the trials with positive findings. Although the differences were statistically significant, the effects were so small that they are of limited clinical relevance. > > \ > > A review of randomized, controlled trials of ginkgo in patients with tinnitus concluded that … a firm conclusion about the efficacy of this treatment was not possible. According to a recent report on a large, randomized, controlled trial, a regimen of 50 mg of ginkgo taken three times daily for 12 weeks was no more efficacious than placebo for the treatment of tinnitus. > > \ > > Ginkgo use has certain known problems. Oral ginkgo may occasionally cause headache, nausea, gastric symptoms, diarrhea, or allergic skin reactions. Case reports suggest that oral ginkgo may be associated with cerebral or extracerebral hemorrhage. Bleeding has also been reported when ginkgo has been combined with aspirin, rofecoxib, or warfarin (Table 3). Bottom line is that ginkgo is of, perhaps, some mild benefit in Alzheimer’s Disease and is, usually, quite safe. Note also, that by definition, people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia will be older and thus more likely to have underlying heart disease. Nevertheless, no increased incidence of heart problems has ever been apparent when such people use ginkgo. ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/5 "2003-01-10T05:24:21Z")
“heart stimulant” is redundant. ---
**Author:** ![Peregrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@Peregrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peregrine)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/6 "2003-01-10T05:32:53Z")
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has a feature called [About Herbs](http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11571.cfm?RecordID=413). The page on Ginkgo includes the rather alarming statement, “Frequently reported adverse events include diarrhea, flatulence, headache, dizziness, and palpitations. There are case reports of spontaneous bleeding and seizures following administration of GBE”, as well as “Seizures have occurred in patients predisposed to seizures or on medications that lower the seizure threshold”. All of the clinical trials cited end on a more reassuring note, such as, “Regarding safety, no differences between ginkgo and placebo were observed.” Under “Mechanism of Action” it says, in part, “Ginkgo can increase blood flow to the brain through arterial vasodilatation by stimulating prostaglandin biosynthesis or indirectly stimulating norepinephrine release.” See also the clinical summary and the section on drug interactions on the same page. ---
**Author:** ![Peregrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@Peregrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peregrine)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/7 "2003-01-10T05:45:21Z")
Oh yes, and you were right–your cousin’s daughter _is_ your first cousin once removed. Here’s a cite to back me up: [Ayrshire Roots](http://www.ayrshireroots.com/Genealogy/Reference/What%20is%20a%20Second%20Cousin%20z.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Agubwa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@Agubwa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agubwa)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/8 "2003-01-10T18:42:43Z")
Hi everyone, Thanks for the replies (that redundant remark was especially helpful). Thanks Gauss for the article, and peregrine for your contibution and sorting out the whole cousin thing. But, as with most of medical reading, I still have no definite answer as to whether the supposed benefits are more that my risk of breaking out into seizures… Any further input would be appreciated! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/9 "2003-01-10T19:38:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalt \* > \*\*“heart stimulant” is redundant. \*\* cite? If I am not mistaken, stimulants can have differing effects on the heart _vis a vis_ the brain. For instance, theophylline (such as found in coffee and tea) is said to have more of a direct stimulating effect on the heart with some caffiene-like effects on the brain as well. As opposed to caffiene (also found in coffea and tea but also in sodas), which definitely stimulates the heart but also stimulates (or would the correct term be under-relaxes) the brain to a larger degree. This is corroborated by my personal experience. As a long-time mountain dew drinker, when I have a small cup of tea rather than the Dew it affects me differently than the Dew does, but perhaps thats more due to the sugar difference. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ginkgo-bilobas-effects-on-the-heart/147628/10 "2003-01-11T01:34:04Z")
Ginkgo Biloba Baggins was Bilbo’s younger sister. She remembered everything, and right up to her untimely death, she never forgave any of it.