G
PNC); Atherosclerosis (1; FAY; MAB; SKY); Bacteria (1; DAA); Blennorrhea (f; DAA); Bronchosis
(1; APA; FAY; PED; WHO); Cancer (1; COX; DAA; FNF); Capillary Fragility (1; BGB; PH2;
SHT; WHO); Cardiopathy (1; APA; MAB; SKY); Caries (f; FAY); Cellulite (1; HFH/JA/’99);
Cerebral Insufficiency (2; KOM; PHR; SHT); Chilblain (f; FAY; WHO); Circulosis (1; PHR; SKY);
Convulsion (1; MAB); Cough (f; APA; FAD; FAY); Cramp (f; PH2); Cystosis (f; DAA); Deafness
(1; APA; MAB); Dementia (2; KOM; SHT; WHO); Depression (1; AKT; KOM; MAB; SKY);
Dermatosis (f; FAD); Diabetes (f; SKY); Diarrhea (f; FAD); Dizziness (1; WHO); Dysentery (f;
FAY); Dysmenorrhea (2; MAB); Dysuria (f; FAY); Edema (1; KOM; WHO); Emphysema (1; PED);
Encephalosis (f; FAY); Enuresis (f; FAY); Fatigue (1; MAB); Filariasis (f; FAY); Freckle (f; FAD);
Fungus (f; FAY); Glaucoma (1; AKT); Gonorrhea (f; DAA); Headache (1; KOM; FT69:195; PH2;
WHO); Hearing Problem (1; CAN; FT69:195); High Cholesterol (f; FAY); Hypertonia (f; PH2);
Impotence (1; APA; BGB; SKY); Inflammation (1; PH2; WHO); Intermittent Claudication (2;
KOM; PHR; PH2; SHT; WHO); Ischemia (1; MAB; FNF; WHO); Leukorrhea (f; DAA); Maculosis
(2; MAB; SHT); Mastocytosis (1; MAB); Migraine (1; MAB); Multiple Sclerosis (f; SKY); Mycosis
(f; FAY); Neuralgia (1; APA); Nystagmus (1; PH2); Obesity (1; MAB); Ophthalmia (1; APA); Pain
(1; APA); Parturition (1; WHO); PMS (1; AKT; MAB); Polydipsia (1; MAB); Polyuria (f; FAY;
MAB); Post-Phlebitis Syndrome (1; WHO); Pulmonosis (f; FAY); Raynaud’s Syndrome (1; DAA;
SKY); Retinosis (1; KOM; MAB; PHR; SHT); Rhinosis (f; DAA; WHO); Ringworm (f; FAY);
Scabies (1; APA; FAY); Schizophrenia (1; AKT); Senile Dementia (2; FAY; KOM; SHT); Shock
(1; MAB); Sore (1; APA; FAY); Spermatorrhea (f; FAY); Stroke (1; CAN; MAB; SKY); Strangury
(f; FAY); Swelling (1; KOM; PHR; WHO); Thrombosis (1; MAB); Tinnitus (2; KOM; PH2; SHT;
WHO); Tonsilosis (f; PH2); Tuberculosis (1; APA; DAA; FAY); Vaginosis (f; APA; FAY); Varicosis
(1; APA); Vertigo (2; KOM; MAB; PH2; SHT); Worm (1; WHO).
Dosages (Ginkgo) — 4.5 g seed (FAY); 4.5 g leaf with 4.5 g root Polygonum multiflorum and 4.5
g bark Uncaria for cardiopathy (FAY); 1–2 tbsp fresh leaf (PED); 2–3 g dry leaf (PED); 2 g dry
leaf:10 ml alcohol/10 ml water (PED); 40 mg solid leaf extract 3 ×/day (CAN); 80–120 mg leaf
extract/day (CAN); 0.5 ml fluid extract (1:1) 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.5 ml tincture 3 ×/day (SKY); 1 (40
mg extract) tablet 3 ×/day with meals (APA); 1 (385 mg) capsule (StX to contain 40 mg certified
potency 50:1 ginkgo leaf extract with at least 24% flavonoid glycosides) 3 ×/day (NH); 40–80 mg
StX 3 ×/day; 120–160 mg StX (6% terpene lactones, 24% flavone glycosides) 2–3 ×/day (SKY).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Ginkgo) — Class 2d. May potentiate MAOIs
(AHP; WAM). “Hazards and/or side effects not recorded for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2).
Though regarded by many as a poisonous plant, ginkgo, selling at $500 million a year in Europe,
has not accumulated much data in the alarmists’ journals. According to LRNP (February 1994) and
SHT, mild adverse effects include allergic dermatosis (0.09%), anxiety (0.07%), diarrhea (0.14%),
GI upset (0.14%), headache (0.22%), insomnia, and nausea (0.34%). Schulz discounts the MAOI
warnings saying there are “no known interactions with other drugs.” In my CRC Handbook of Nuts,
I don’t discuss the leaves (extracts of which are sold as medicine). Fruits are allergenic (and
disgustingly malodorous) and too many of the edible seeds can cause serious problems, even death.
The seed toxin 4-O-methylpyridoxine is reportedly responsible for the gin-nan food poisoning,
with convulsions, loss of consciousness, even lethality in 27% of Japanese cases, especially infants.
Ginkgolic acid may act like urushiol of poison ivy fame. Bilobin and ginkgolic acid are similar to
poison ivy’s allergen (LRNP, February 1988). German herb companies may be forced to document
that their ginkgo products contain no more than 5 ppm ginkgolic acid. CAN cautions against gastric
upset and headache (CAN). All that and Lininger et al. (1998) counter, “essentially devoid of any
side effects. Mild headaches lasting for a day or two have been reported ... There are no known
contraindications to the use of GBE by pregnant and lactating women” (SKY). Contraindicated for
any person on coumadin or heparin; should not be taken by people with a clotting disorder, such
as hemophilia or von Willdebrand’s Disease (O’Brien, 1998).