Ginkgo And MenopauseYes - Ginkgo Can Be Helpful At Menopause TimeGinkgo, or Ginkgo biloba to use its Latin name, is also sometimes spelled "gingko". Ginkgo is one of the top ten best-selling medications in Germany. It is also very popular in France. It is used for a wide range of purposes - mostly related to its ability to improve circulation and act as an anti-oxidant. Ginkgo's main property is that it dilates blood vessels and thins the blood. Both of these properties improve blood circulation. Ginkgo, Menopause and Cold Hand and Feet
A second way in which ginkgo can help at menopause time is with respect to libido. Ginkgo, Menopause And LibidoWomen as well as men have reported benefits to libido when taking ginkgo. In a study in California, 84% of men with sexual dysfunction produced by taking antidepressants, said their situation improved after taking ginkgo. (Sexual dysfunction - ie erectile difficulty - is a common side-effect of antidepressant drugs.) For women THE NEWS IS EVEN BETTER! An even higher proportion of menopause and non-menopausal women - 91% - reported that ginkgo improved all aspects of their sex lives. This could make ginkgo a very beneficial choice for many women, especially at menopause time, when sexual desires often fluctuate or reduce. Another main way ginkgo can be helpful in menopause is in addressing the forgetfulness or the 'brain fogginess' which often accompanies menopause. Ginkgo biloba extract has repeatedly been used to improve mental health in patients with cerebral vascular insufficiency and may exert similar effects in menopause. Ginkgo biloba extract appears to work not only by increasing blood flow to the brain, but also by enhancing energy production within the brain, increasing the uptake of glucose by brain cells and actually improving the transmission of nerve signals. In this way Ginkgo may help improve energy within the brain of women during menopause helping the brain to keep itself working efficiently. The BrainOther conditions where ginkgo can be useful in addition to menopause are:
All these benefits can be explained by the improved circulation to the brain. Ginkgo can be a boon to increase blood circulation - including during menopause. However, it might be a danger if blood-thinning drugs are being taken. These would include warfarin and heparin, but also include such mild agents as aspirin. A small number of cases of bleeding into the eye have been reported, generally while taking Ginkgo with blood-thinning drugs. Also at least two cases have been reported when no drugs were being taken. When Ginkgo has been stopped, no further bleeding has occurred. Ginkgo should be avoided where there is a danger of bleeding of any kind, or where blood-thinning drugs are being taken. DosageThe usual dosage of raw herb (ie not 'standardised extract'), is: Capsules 1-2 capsule 3 times a day.
10-30 drops 3 times a day in water or juice, (This form of the herb is not a "standardised extract" - which is a powder. It is an alcoholic liquid preparation similar to a tincture, except that it is 3-4 times stronger; 1 litre of the liquid has been made with 1 kilo of the herb. Hence the '1:1'. Herbal Tincture 1/2 - 1 teaspoon, 3 times a day in water or juice. A herbal tincture is made with 250-350g of herb steeped in a litre of alcohol. So it is 3-4 times weaker than the equivalent fluid extract. Extract standardised to 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. Follow the instructions on the pack. The usual dosage recommended is equivalent to 120mg of extract. The advantage of a standardised extract is that the quality control is more assured. But it is possible that some of the beneficial components of ginkgo are removed during processing. If you need help when using a Ginkgo product, talk to a company who offers unlimited free advice. A number of reputable online suppliers can provide ginkgo in capsules or liquid form. Ginkgo should be taken for up to 3 months to see if it will be beneficial, although results may be seen sooner. SummaryIn summary ginkgo is useful in many situations, especially:
Also, as well as menopause, there is evidence that ginkgo can:
However, it should be avoided by anyone taking blood-thinning medication, or where there is a tendency to haemorrhage. If any type of harmorrhage occurs, while taking Ginkgo, discontinue its use. ResourcesHerbs: Articles: |
Ginkgo biloba is primarily useful for menopausal and postmenopausal women because it affects the blood circulation system. Cold hands and feet are reported by a fair number of women in menopause; ginkgo is clearly applicable in such a situation. 
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