Is Ginkgo Safe to Use?
Taking ginkgo biloba extract by mouth in moderate amounts is safe for most people, but do not use it for more than 10 days in a row; intravenous ginkgo biloba extract may be harmful to the body. Eating ginkgo biloba raw or roasted ginkgo seeds may not be safe because ginkgo seeds are toxic and may be harmful if eaten raw. There isn't enough research to know if ginkgo is safe to apply topically to the skin.
special attention
Pregnant or breastfeeding women: Ginkgo biloba may not be safe to take during pregnancy, and may cause premature labor or abnormal bleeding during delivery. There is not enough safety research on the use of ginkgo in breastfeeding women. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, Ginkgo biloba is not recommended.
Infants and young children: short-term oral administration of ginkgo biloba extract is safe. Some studies suggest that short-term administration of ginkgo leaf and American ginseng extract compound products can be given to infants and young children, but do not allow children to eat ginkgo seeds, because they may be toxic.
People with bleeding disorders: Ginkgo may make bleeding disorders worse. Do not use ginkgo if you have a bleeding disorder.
Diabetes: Ginkgo may affect the control of people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, watch your blood sugar closely.
Epilepsy: Ginkgo has been linked to triggering epilepsy and is not recommended if you have a history of epilepsy.
Favism: Ginkgo may cause severe anemia in patients with favism. If you have favism, use caution or avoid ginkgo.
Infertility: Ginkgo may interfere with conception. If you are planning to become pregnant, please consult your healthcare provider before using Ginkgo.
Surgery : The anticoagulant effect of ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding during or after surgery. Do not consume ginkgo for 2 weeks before surgery.
Potential Side Effects of Using Ginkgo
Ginkgo can cause some mild side effects such as nausea, headache, dizziness, constipation, heart palpitations, and allergic skin reactions. Ginkgo biloba extract may increase the risk of liver cancer and thyroid cancer, but this phenomenon is only observed in large doses of animal experiments, and there is not enough research information on whether it has the same effect on humans. Ginkgo biloba may cause severe skin allergies and mucous membrane irritation, especially in people who are allergic to ivy, oak, sumac mango peel, or cashew oil.
In addition, Ginkgo biloba extract may increase the risk of blood stasis or bleeding, because Ginkgo has the function of thinning blood and anticoagulation. Some people think that Ginkgo can increase blood flow to the eyes and brain, but it will cause massive bleeding during surgery. Some people have allergic reactions to ginkgo biloba extract. Eating more than 10 roasted ginkgo seeds a day may cause difficulty breathing, weak pulse, epilepsy, loss of consciousness or stroke; eating raw ginkgo seeds may cause seizures and death. However, not everyone will experience side effects, and each person will experience side effects differently. If you have any concerns about side effects, please consult your physician.