Ginkgo Biloba is the most ancient tree that is known to man, approximately 200 million years ago. It is also considered to be the misspelling of Japanese ‘gin kyo’, which means a silver apricot. Gingko’s leaf extracts are considered to treat healthy circulation in the body, support brain health and even stimulate sexual energy among men. Ginkgo biloba tree has fan-shaped leaves. It has its roots of origin from China, Japan and Korea

According to the researchers, the best time to make medicines and extract the nourishing qualities from the leaves is the time when they fall and turn yellow. The brain health is improved significantly as Ginkgo Biloba boosts oxygen delivery in the entire body, through breaking platelets which in easy and quick blood circulation. Due to this uninterrupted circulation, gingko is also considered to improve memory function and even treat patients suffering from dementia.  Moreover, gingko is often considered to be the substitute of Viagra, as it highlights the effects of nitric oxide, relaxing artery walls, which escalates the blood circulation in the penis. It is also considered to ameliorate the sexual function among men through improving erectile dysfunction. They are also used as one of the components in cosmetics.

In which form is Ginkgo Biloba available?

Ginkgo biloba is extracted from the leaves of the tree of the same name. They are available in the form of capsules, tablets, liquid extracts and even as dried leaves for tea. The adults are advised to take it for 4 to 6 weeks at least for any significant improvement or results. However, not all adults are advised to use it. Adults who are not supposed to take it include: pregnant women, breastfeeding women, those suffering from epilepsy, adults who regularly take supplements for blood thinners and diabetic patients. Children are also strictly advised not to take it.

As mentioned earlier, it is not advisable for pregnant women to eat ginkgo biloba as it can cause early labor or even cause extra bleeding during childbirth. It is preferred for the patients who are regularly taking blood thinner supplements to avoid ginkgo biloba, as it can react with the supplements in an unfavorable manner causing allergies, or even increase the risk of bleeding.

If you are taking these medications, make sure you do not take ginkgo biloba:

1. Blood thinners which are warfarin and aspirin.
2. SSRIs, MAOIs, or antidepressants such as Prozac or Zoloft.
3. NSAIDS such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol

Now that we are clear of what gingko is, let’s understand its benefits, especially for men:

Ginkgo Biloba Benefits

Here are some of the amazing benefits of Ginkgo Biloba

1. Reduces the risk of psychiatric disorders

With the advancement in age, many adults report attaining certain psychiatric disorders influenced by their genetic impairment, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Although sufficient lacks in this area, it is certain that acquiring ginkgo biloba has shown a marked reduction in cognitive decline in the individuals.

Research also indicates that ginkgo taken along with other antipsychotic drugs for 8 to 16 weeks can also reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia. Moreover, certain antipsychotic medications often induce other side-effects such insomnia, thirst and even constipation. Taking ginkgo helps in reducing these effects.

2. Treats Anxiety and Depression

Due to ginkgo’s anti-inflammatory properties, the body is provided an external impetus in the form of ginkgo to deal with stress. The studies conducted to unravel the ginkgo biloba benefits explain the experiments which were done on mice. The mice which received ginkgo before being introduced to a stressful situation were less affected by stress in relation to the group of mice which did not receive any supplements. However, anxiety and depression have their roots deeply planted in different causes which require more attention and care. Therefore, it is advisable to get professional treatments so that it is cured as soon as possible.

3. Promotes Eye Health

Due to the steady blood circulation promoted by eating ginkgo biloba, it is also considered to ameliorate your vision and promote eye health. According to a study, people suffering from glaucoma had increased blood circulation in the body, due to the intake of ginkgo. Other studies support that by taking ginkgo biloba by the patients who were suffering from age-related macular degeneration, experienced an improvement in the vision. However, these studies fail to be unanimous.

4. Treats Erectile Dysfunction

Although there are a few researches which support the claim that ginkgo can help improve sexual dysfunction especially in men, ginkgo is able to improve the nitric oxide blood levels. This ensures better blood circulation throughout the body. Therefore, ginkgo can be those men suffering from low libido or erectile dysfunction as blood can circulate in the sexual organs and help in stimulating them.

 Moreover, men suffering from anxiety, depression or any other mental health disorder, are supposed to take antidepressant drugs. Those drugs are often rumored to cause sexual dysfunction among them. In those situations, gink is considered to treat the dysfunction, but there has not been any significant research. Regardless of how beneficial the leaves of ginkgo biloba are, an adequate amount of research has not been done. Due to this, there is a high possibility that they can induce some side effects. Therefore, it is required that one needs to be aware of those and then only experiment with it.

Ginkgo Biloba Side Effects

If you are allergic to certain plants or the elements which are present in plants, it is preferable to recommend a doctor and ask whether taking ginkgo will cause them serious harm or not. The possible side effects of ginkgo biloba leaf extract included are:

1. Vomiting
2. Diarrhea
3. Dizziness
4. Headaches
5. Stomach pain
6. Rash/allergic reaction. Allergies of poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, mango rind, cashew shell oil can make you allergic to ginkgo biloba.
7. Infertility. Excessive use of eating the leaf might interfere with getting pregnant.

However, the roasted seed or crude ginkgo plant is considered to be unsafe when taken by mouth. If more than ten roasted seeds of ginkgo biloba are taken, then it causes difficulty in breathing, seizures, loss of consciousness or even shock. Fresh seeds are even more dangerous as they can cause death even. These were the benefits and possible side-effects that come with Ginkgo Biloba. Hope the article benefited you!