11 Side Effects of Ginkgo Biloba for Health You Have to Be Aware of

For some of us, ginkgo biloba may still sound foreign, but this Chinese herb is believed to give great benefits in curing some diseases. Although it has been widely used, there is no thorough evaluation regarding its risk or harm of this herb.

Side Effects of Ginkgo Biloba for Health

So, in your opinion, what are the side effects of ginkgo biloba that you have to know before consuming the herb?

1. Low Blood Pressure

Hypotension or low blood pressure can potentially experience by people who consumed ginkgo biloba. This happens due to the nature of ginkgo biloba to improve blood circulation and will eventually overcome high blood pressure. For those who experience high blood pressure, consuming ginkgo biloba is an advantage, but if the blood pressure is normal to begin with, then it will be even lower and will lead to low blood pressure.

2. Allergic Reaction

The benefits of ginkgo biloba for our health are indeed extraordinary and consuming the herb will certainly cure some diseases. However, some people are allergic to this particular herb. If that’s the case then what’s best for you is to avoid the consumption of ginkgo biloba. As a solution, you should try taking ginkgo biloba in the form of supplements which are also made from the herb’s extracts.

3. Insomnia

Ginkgo biloba offers one benefit as the improver of blood circulation, so if you consume it a few hours before bed, at least 2 hours before, the main effects that you will experience is insomnia. When the blood circulates normally, oxygen supply to the brain will also improve so the drowsiness will disappear.

If you want to maximize ginkgo biloba’s benefits but insist to consume it before bed, then you should consume it right before bed time. That way blood flow to the brain will be smoother so that the sleep is also better. The next day, you will definitely wake up fresher and fitter, with increased concentration in your daily activities.

4. Bleeding

Although it seems that herbal medicines are always safe and better than chemical drugs, there are still some side effects that are quite dangerous. Internal bleeding is one of the risks of ginkgo biloba. That is why it is recommended not to consume the herb before undergoing any type of surgery.

36 hours before surgery, patients are prohibited to consume ginkgo biloba in any form. It’s safe to say that ginkgo biloba is a blood diluter, so that the risk of bleeding is greater when someone undergoes medical procedure. 

5. Digestive Problem

Consuming ginkgo biloba can potentially cause digestive problem such as:

• Bloated
• Stomachache
• Diarrhea

These conditions are the not-too-dangerous effects. Such reactions can occur when the digestive system is trying to adapt to compounds that are in ginkgo biloba. When the condition of bloating and nausea does not go away even after 3 weeks, stop the consumption ginkgo biloba because there is a possibility that you have allergy towards ginkgotoxins. Diarrhea that occurs more than 2 weeks should be overcome by stopping the consumption and immediately seek doctor’s help.

6. Reaction to Certain Drugs

Be aware of certain reactions if you take ginkgo biloba along with other types of medications. The specific medication referred to here is a kind of aspirin or ibuprofen which when consume together with ginkgo biloba can cause the risk of internal bleeding. Another effect happens to the formation of serotonin hormone if you consume ginkgo biloba along with the consumption of antidepressants.

7. Liver Problems

Liver problems are also one side effect of consuming ginkgo biloba that you have to be aware of. Long term consumption of ginkgo biloba can adversely affect your liver health. The risk of liver damage needs to be prevented because liver tolerance can decrease due to high level of ginkgotoxin contained in ginkgo biloba. It does not rule out the possibility that liver cancer can also occur as an effect of long term consumption of ginkgo biloba. Also read about Bay Leaf Side Effects for Health

8. Stroke

People who consumes ginkgo biloba regularly is potentially susceptible to stroke. Again, the risk of stroke can be caused by long term consumption of ginkgo biloba. So, to avoid the risk of stroke, consumer should take gingko biloba as on and off every 3 weeks. This rule is especially made for older people who consume the herb to retain their cognitive ability.

9. Poisoning

In ginkgo biloba, especially in its leaves and stems, contained toxins that we call ginkgotoxins. It is still poisonous even though the toxin level is very low, when consumption is carried out for a long time or in a large quantity. Here are the conditions that we should be aware of as signs of ginkgo biloba poisoning:

• Weakening of the body
• Headache
• Faster heartbeats

If it happened, then you should know how to treat poisoning fast and preferably using natural ingredients.

10. Risk of Direct Contact

Because of the toxicity that has been mentioned before, we should avoid direct contact with the fruits and seeds of ginkgo biloba. Some effects that can occur and trigger skin problems are as follows:

• Skin swelling
• Itchiness
• Red skin

11. Blood Glucose Level Imbalance

Blood glucose level can be affected by ginkgo biloba, so make sure to consult with your doctor before the consumption in any form, especially if you consume ginkgo biloba to treat diabetes. Ginkgo biloba is able to reduce insulin inside the body, and it triggers the deposition of glucose in blood. The proper dose of ginkgo biloba for diabetics are 120-124 mg every day, 2-3 times per day just to make sure the blood circulates properly. Also read about Side Effects of Ginseng

For other medical conditions, make sure to always consult with your doctor first to determine the proper dosage for you. Try to at least consume only 120 mg of ginkgo biloba up to only 12 weeks to avoid any side effects of the herb that has been reviewed. That’s about the side effects of Ginkgo Biloba for health!