What does ginkgo biloba do?

Your brain uses about 20% of your body's blood supply. As you age, blood flow to the brain naturally decreases — and that's when you start forgetting names, losing your train of thought, or feeling mentally foggy.

Ginkgo works by widening blood vessels and reducing blood stickiness, so more blood reaches your brain. More blood means more oxygen and glucose for your neurons. In imaging studies, people taking ginkgo show measurably increased cerebral blood flow within 2 weeks.

What can you expect?

• Sharper memory — especially recall of names, words, and recent events
• Better focus — sustained attention improves, particularly on complex tasks
• Clearer thinking — less brain fog, faster mental processing
• Eye health — improved blood flow to the retina can support vision
• Antioxidant protection — helps shield brain cells from oxidative damage

How to take it

How long to take it: Ginkgo is generally taken continuously. Most studies run 12–24 weeks, and benefits appear to increase over time. There's no established need for cycling.

When to avoid it: If you're on blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel), have a bleeding disorder, or are scheduled for surgery within 2 weeks. Also avoid during pregnancy.

Which form to buy?

Not all ginkgo supplements are created equal. Here's what matters:

Look for EGb 761 on the label, or at minimum an extract standardised to 24/6. Avoid raw ginkgo leaf or unprocessed powders — they contain ginkgolic acid, which is allergenic and potentially toxic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How it works in your body

Ginkgo contains two main classes of active compounds: flavone glycosides (antioxidants) and terpene lactones (ginkgolides and bilobalide). Together, they do three things:

• Vasodilation — they relax blood vessel walls, increasing blood flow to the brain and extremities
• Antiplatelet activity — they reduce platelet aggregation factor (PAF), making blood less "sticky" and improving microcirculation
• Neuroprotection — they scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in neural tissue, which slows age-related neuronal damage

The net result is that your brain gets more oxygen and glucose, while also being better protected from the cumulative damage of ageing. This is why ginkgo's benefits are most noticeable in people whose cerebral blood flow has already started declining.

What the studies show

• Cognitive function: A meta-analysis of 21 RCTs found significant improvements in attention, memory, and executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment at 240 mg/day for 22+ weeks
• Cerebral blood flow: fMRI and SPECT imaging confirm increased blood flow to frontal and temporal regions within 2–4 weeks
• Dementia prevention: The large GEM trial (3,000+ participants) found no significant benefit for preventing dementia in healthy elderly — ginkgo works better for existing mild decline than as pure prevention
• Tinnitus: Some evidence for improvement in noise-related tinnitus, though results are inconsistent
• Peripheral circulation: Modest improvements in walking distance for people with intermittent claudication

Side effects & safety

Ginkgo is well-tolerated by most people, but here's what to watch for:

• Headache — The most common complaint, usually mild and resolves within a week as your body adjusts
• Dizziness — Related to the blood flow changes. Usually temporary
• GI upset — Nausea or stomach discomfort, more common on an empty stomach
• Bleeding risk — Ginkgo reduces platelet stickiness. On its own this is mild, but combined with anticoagulants it can be significant. Always disclose ginkgo use before surgery
• Allergic reaction — Rare, but possible if the extract contains high levels of ginkgolic acid. Use standardised extracts to minimise this

Who should skip it: People on blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, anyone with a bleeding disorder, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people scheduled for surgery within 2 weeks.

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