In ancient Chinese Medicine, the ginkgo nuts were taken for asthma, bronchitis, heart dysfunction and enuresis.12,16 Later physicians used the leaves for skin ailments, to kill worms, to induce labor and to treat arthritis.(2,17) Today, Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners use ginkgo leaves for dressing wounds.(18)

In 1965, Dr Schwabe developed a proprietary standardized extract of ginkgo for treatment of cerebral insufficiency.12,18 Ginkgo is widely used in Europe and increasingly popular in the US with sales comparable to Zantac.(19)

Preparation and dosage:
Most clinical studies have used an extract standardized to 24% ginkgo flavonoid glycosides, 6 % terpene lactones and no more than 5 parts per million ginkgolic acids.(11)

1. For demential syndromes in which reversible causes have been excluded: 120-240 mg po (given in 2-3 doses per day).(5)
2. For claudication: 120-240 mg daily in dvided doses is standard.
3. For vertigo and tinnitus: 120-160 mg daily in divided doses.(5)

Ginkgold, Gikoba, and Ginkai are the brands in this country equivalent to the preparations used in clinical trials.(11)


Effectiveness for treatment of peripheral vascular disease: Possible, particularly in improving pain-free walking in patients with intermittent claudication. In animal experiments, GBE reduced post-stroke cerebral hypoperfusion, blood viscosity, and oxidative stress and resulted in improved learning and memory ability (rats, mice).(20) Human studies of this type are rare, however. In one study in India, researchers found no reduction in cerebral infarct size in patients [given 40 mg of GBE q6h starting at 48 hours post-infarct] as measured by CT scan.(21)

GBE appears to be effective for the symptomatic treatment of peripheral vascular disease.(18) Three randomized, double-blind clinical trials (N=264) demonstrated an increase in pain-free walking distance with doses of 120-240 mg/day.(6)