Ginkgo Biloba Supplements | Memory, Focus & Circulation

Ginkgo Biloba supplements are derived from the leaves of one of the oldest living tree species on Earth — a "living fossil" traceable back more than 200 million years to the Permian period. The medicinal use of Ginkgo Biloba is recorded as far back as 2800 BC in Chinese writings, and preparations of its leaves have been used as remedies in China for more than 5,000 years, since the earliest origin of Chinese herbal medicine.

Today, Ginkgo Biloba supplements rank among the most commonly used herbal medicines worldwide and are the subject of extensive scientific study. The standardized extract most widely researched — designated EGb 761 — is produced from dried ginkgo leaves and concentrated to deliver optimal levels of naturally occurring flavonglycosides and terpene lactones, the two compound classes responsible for the plant's pharmacological activity.

Because of the wide variation of ginkgo products on the market, it is important that the Ginkgo Biloba you use is standardized so you are sure to get maximum quality and potency. This standardized Ginkgo Biloba extract is made under strict European quality standards, which are comparable to over-the-counter drug standards in the United States, and each capsule contains 120 mg of standardized Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract in a 50:1 concentrate.

Ginkgo Biloba supplements act through several well-documented mechanisms that collectively support memory, circulation, and focus. The most commonly described mechanisms include antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonism, cerebral glucose utilization enhancement, neurotransmitter regulation, and vasomotor effects.

Antioxidant Protection

The flavonol glycosides in ginkgo are potent free-radical scavengers. This antioxidant activity has been established as one possible mechanism for numerous pharmacological effects, including protection of neuronal and cardiovascular cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated damage. Ginkgo Biloba supplements serve as a very powerful antioxidant, especially important for the brain, retina, and cardiovascular system.

Circulation and Blood Flow

Ginkgo Biloba acts to increase blood flow throughout the body. Its ginkgolides — particularly ginkgolide B, the most potent known naturally occurring inhibitor of platelet-activating factor — support healthy circulation by promoting vasorelaxation and improving perfusion across different vascular beds without significantly affecting blood pressure and heart rate.

Neurotransmitter and Cognitive Support

Chronic treatment with Ginkgo Biloba extract has been shown in research to increase dopaminergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex, an area critical for focus and concentration. Ingredients of ginkgo leaves also exert appreciable blood-brain barrier-crossing efficacy and neuroprotective activity, with direct effects that may support neural plasticity.

Ginkgo Biloba supplements may be particularly well-suited for adults looking to support memory, circulation, and focus and concentration. Early evidence, while inconclusive, shows great promise for Ginkgo Biloba to support memory in healthy subjects.

Research suggests Ginkgo Biloba supplements may be beneficial for:

• Adults seeking cognitive support: Studies suggest improvements in attention, working memory, and processing speed. Research is most supportive in individuals experiencing age-related cognitive changes or mild cognitive impairment.
• Those looking to support healthy circulation: Multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrate improved blood flow across coronary, cerebral, cutaneous, and peripheral vascular beds. Nine double-blind RCTs in peripheral arterial insufficiency showed significantly increased pain-free and maximum walking distances.
• Individuals wanting antioxidant support: Ginkgo's flavonol glycosides are potent free-radical scavengers with particular importance for the brain, retina, and cardiovascular system.
• People interested in focus and mental clarity: Research demonstrates that chronic ginkgo treatment may increase dopaminergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex, an area central to attention and executive function.

This product is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and grain free, making it suitable for individuals with common dietary sensitivities.

Important considerations: Ginkgo may be unsafe for use during pregnancy, as it might cause early labor or extra bleeding during delivery if used near that time. Little is known about whether it is safe to use ginkgo while breastfeeding. People taking anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin should be aware that ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding. Concomitant use with efavirenz is not recommended.

Take one (1) vegetarian capsule, two (2) times daily with meals.

Each capsule contains 120 mg of standardized Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract in a 50:1 concentrate, providing optimal levels of naturally occurring flavonglycosides and terpene lactones. This formulation has been standardized under strict European guidelines to ensure maximum quality and potency.

The ginkgolides and bilobalide in Ginkgo Biloba extract are described in the literature to be bioavailable by up to 70–80%, meaning that taking Ginkgo Biloba supplements with meals supports efficient absorption of its active compounds.