Does Ginkgo Biloba Have Caffeine

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What Other Drugs Interact With Ginkgo Biloba

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

Severe interactions of Ginkgo biloba include:

There are no known severe reactions from the use of Ginkgo biloba.

Serious interactions of Ginkgo biloba include:

There are no known serious reactions from the use of Ginkgo biloba.

Moderate interactions:

Ginkgo Biloba has known moderate interactions with at least 75 different drugs.

Mild interactions:

• ticlopidine
• tirofiban

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

The Traditional Benefits Of Gotu Kola

Gotu kola is a perennial groundcover plant thats a member of the same plant family as parsley and carrots.

It grows abundantly in the wetlands of Asia, South Africa, and Australia.

Gotu kola is an important natural remedy in traditional Chinese, Indonesian, and Indian Ayurvedic medicine its health benefits are legendary.

In traditional Chinese medicine, gotu kola is believed to promote longevity and is considered a potent elixir of life.

In fact, its Chinese name means fountain of youth.

Legend has it that herbalist and martial arts master Li Ching-Yuen lived to be 200 years old in part due to the longevity-promoting benefits of gotu kola.

A Sri Lankan legend says that elephants live exceptionally long lives because they eat lots of gotu kola.

Gotu kola has a particularly long list of traditional uses.

” In human studies, gotu kola increased calmness, contentedness, and alertness by 100% and significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

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It was used to treat disorders of the mind including mental fatigue, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and insomnia.

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Can Treat Headaches And Migraines

In traditional Chinese medicine, ginkgo is a very popular treatment for headaches and migraines .

Very little research is available on ginkgos ability to treat headaches. However, depending on the root cause of the headache, it may help.

For example, its well known that ginkgo has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. If a headache or migraine is caused by excessive stress, ginkgo may be useful.

Additionally, if a headache is related to reduced blood flow or constricted blood vessels, ginkgos ability to dilate blood vessels may improve symptoms.

On the contrary, some migraines are caused by the excessive dilation of blood vessels. In this situation, ginkgo may have little to no effect.

But these examples are just inferences and dont substitute hard evidence.

If you want to try ginkgo for your migraines, its unlikely that it will cause much harm. Just be aware that it may not necessarily help.

Summary

Because of its ability to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation, ginkgo may be an effective treatment for some types of headaches.

Gotu Kola Helps You Sleep

Getting adequate sleep is one of the best things you can do for your brain.

Researchers have found that one bad night of sleep can impair your mental faculties as much as being drunk.

Chronic insomnia is a common modern malady, but the usual solution, sleep medication, is a bad idea since it robs you of restorative sleep and can cause significant memory loss.

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The popular sleep drug Ambien has been called the amnesia drug and sends thousands of people to the emergency room every year.

Gotu kola has been used as a natural sleep aid for thousands of years.

Traditionally, gotu kola tea is sweetened with a little honey as an Ayurvedic remedy for insomnia.

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Gotu Kola Alleviates Stress Anxiety And Depression

Research indicates that gotu kola increases levels of the feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, while reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Additionally, gotu kola protects the brain from inflammation.

Chronic inflammation of the brain is now thought to be an underlying cause of depression.

In human studies, gotu kola increased calmness, contentedness, and alertness and significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

It has been shown to lower symptoms of anxiety and stress in persons with generalized anxiety disorder.

Gotu kola significantly reduces the startle response caused by sudden noises within 30-60 minutes after ingestion.

Since the acoustic startle response is a reliable way to tell if someone is anxious, this is another indicator that this herbal remedy may be useful for treating anxiety.

Phosphatidylserine: A Biological Detergent

Phosphatidylserine acts like a biological detergent, keeping fatty substances soluble and cell membranes fluid. It also seems to work by increasing glucose metabolism in the brain, and by increasing the number of neurotransmitter receptor sites.21 The increased number of receptor sites may explain why the memory-enhancing effects last for up to a month even after the supplement is discontinued.

Improvement in normal, healthy people. Thomas Crook and his colleagues studied 149 individuals who suffered from age-associated memory impairment. These people had no overt illnesses, but showed signs of memory loss that normally occurs with aging. Those who took phosphatidylserine showed improvement in memory and learning. As with many other smart-drug studies, the people who functioned the worst in the beginning were the most likely to improve. The researchers concluded that the compound may be a promising candidate for treating memory loss in later life.22

Treating depression and senility in the elderly. In a study at the University of Milan, Italy, 10 elderly women with depressive disorders were given placebos for 15 days, then 300 mg of phosphatidylserine for 30 days. Phosphatidylserine alleviated depression and improved memory and general behavior. No adverse effects were noted in any of the patients.23 Other studies have found similar, positive results. Phosphatidylserine has also proved effective in treating early and mild Alzheimers Disease24 and senility.25

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How To Use Gotu Kola

Few herbal remedies are used as food because, frankly, they dont taste very good!

But thats not the case with gotu kola.

This mild-tasting plant has the texture and appearance of watercress and a taste similar to parsley.

Its a common ingredient in many Asian cuisines where its added to salads, rice, and curry dishes.

In the US, its unlikely that youll find gotu kola at your local grocery store, but you can buy seeds or plants and grow your own.

If you live in a warm, moist climate, you can grow it as a perennial groundcover.

If not, you can grow gotu kola in a pot like youd grow any herb.

Ginkgo Biloba Benefits Energy Mood And Memory

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

• Uses and Dosage

Ginkgo biloba, also known as maidenhair, is an ancient plant extract that has been used in China to heal various health ailments for thousands of years. In fact, its reported by Examine.com to be the most commonly ingested herb for brain health.

What is ginkgo biloba good for? Its been widely studied for its effective anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, platelet-forming and circulation-boosting effects.

According to current research, ginkgo biloba benefits may include improved cognitive function, positive mood, increased energy, improved memory and reduced symptoms related to multiple chronic disease.

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The Value Of In Vitro Versus In Vivo Studies

In response to the several calls for more clinical studies, an audiencemember emphasized that in vivo studies would not be possible without invitro studies. The same is true of preclinical animal studies. Phase Iclinical trials are safety studies that can only be conducted afterpreclinical animal data have been collected.

Higgins replied that most two-compound studies have been conducted onlyin vitrofor example, studies on the effects of combiningcaffeine and taurineand it is likely that there may be otherinteractions in vivo that may result in different effects.

Goldberger pointed to sudden cardiac death as a very complex conditionaffected by multiple factors. Even though long QT syndrome is a riskfactor for sudden cardiac death, a person can live with long QT syndromefor years until suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, sudden cardiac deathappears. Many factors must converge at a particular time in order tocreate that environment. Even if sudden cardiac death is related tocaffeine ingestion, it probably emerges in people who have beeningesting caffeine for years. The complexity of the problem and thechallenge of ferreting out these factors need to be part of the analysisand consideration.

Prevagen Vs Ginkgo Biloba Final Words

So, which one is the better option? Ginkgo Biloba or Prevagen? If youve been with us throughout this review, its pretty clear that the answer here is Ginkgo Biloba.

Its got more evidence backing it up, whereas Prevagen only has two ingredients, one of which is vitamin D, and the other ingredient doesnt work.

So, while Ginkgo takes the win here, we dont currently rate it as one of the very best nootropic supplements available right now.

Its good for circulation, but then again, so are many other nootropics. And its better to stack more than just one ingredient if you want complete brain optimization.

Weve picked the top three nootropic stacks that are available to you right now for cognitive support.

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What Should I Avoid While Taking Ginkgo Biloba

Avoid using Ginkgo Biloba together with other herbal/health supplements that can also affect blood-clotting. This includes angelica , capsicum, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, horse chestnut, panax ginseng, poplar, red clover, turmeric, and willow.

Avoid using Ginkgo Biloba together with other herbal/health supplements that can increase your risk of seizures. This includes EDTA, folic acid, GBL , GHB , glutamine, hyssop oil, juniper, L-carnitine , melatonin, rosemary, sage, wormwood, and others.

Gotu Kola Improves Memory And Mood In Alzheimers Patients

Gotu kola can enhance mood and cognition in both healthy seniors and those with Alzheimers disease.

Alzheimers patients have significantly reduced levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter strongly associated with memory and learning.

Alzheimers drugs like Aricept work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine.

Triterpenes, steroid precursors found in gotu kola, are beneficial for Alzheimers in two ways.

Much like Aricept, these compounds inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine.

They also prevent the formation of amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimers.

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Herbs Marketed With Limited Scientific Research

Several other plants such as Yohimbe, Spirulina , Moringa , Bala and Camu CamuMyrciariadubia) have been used as source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins . They were found to reduce body mass and increase endurance performance in runners and bodybuilders. Some of these plants have shown greater antioxidant capacity .Other plants such as Lignosus Rhinocerotis , Citrus aurantium have been used in combination with exercise training or with caffeine to enhance performances of young athletes. They were also found to be effective in reducing muscle soreness but failed to demonstrate any improvements in anaerobic or aerobic performances. Lignosus Rhinoceros for example has been extensively used safely without specific side effect in human or animals, while extracts from Citrus Aurantium are believed to induce similar harmful side effect of Ephedra .

Panelist Discussion With The Audience

Following the panelists’ remarks, audience members were invited to askquestions of the panelists. Topics covered ranged from the challenge ofdetecting a small health risk to thedemonizing of energy drinks and the need for an assessmentof the science of the safety of caffeine exposure to consider all of themany different types of food and beverages that contain caffeine.

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What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item

Disclaimer: While we work to ensure that product information is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists. Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown on our Web site. We recommend that you do not solely rely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product. For additional information about a product, please contact the manufacturer. Content on this site is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information as self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Amazon.com assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products.

Which Ingredients Work And Which Need More Research

The more scientific classification of these supplements and their ingredients is called nootropics. The term, coined by psychologist Corneliu E. Giurgea in 1972, describes natural or man-made substances designed to support cognitive functioning and improve mental performance. Other terms you may have heard for them could include smart drugs or cognitive enhancers. They range from familiar substances such as caffeine or turmeric to complex blends of many different herbs and other ingredients sold online.

Now, for the million-dollar question: Do they work? Well, yes and no. The reason for this ambiguous answer? The research on brain-boosting supplements is ambiguous itself. While some of the ingredients in brain-boosting supplements have shown to be beneficial, the studies have been inconsistent, explained Dr. Michael Genovese, a clinical psychiatrist and chief medical officer of Acadia Healthcare.

Plus, unlike other medications, the does not regulate the distribution of so-called nootropics, so there is no way to tell with certainty if the label on the bottle is what is really in the supplement, he added.

So, with that said and a healthy dose of skepticism lets dive into what the research says about a few common ingredients used in mental clarity supplements:

Caffeine

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Ashwagandha

Rhodiola

Bacopa Monnieri

Ginkgo Biloba

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What Kind Of Scientific Study Was This

This randomised placebo-controlled trial was double blind and ran as a pilot study for 42 months.

The researchers invited 10,700 people aged 84 or older to take part in the study 636 independent, healthy people who had no complaints of memory loss and had not previously sought assessment for memory loss responded to the invite. Telephone questionnaires were then used to screen these people and exclude those who were already showing signs of dementia. This was followed by a home visit where further cognitive tests, a medical history review and a blood sample were taken. An MRI scan of the brain was also completed. The tests and scan were carried out to make sure they did not have any other illnesses, such as diabetes , angina, heart failure, mental illness or Parkinsons disease.

This vetting resulted in the exclusion of over 400 people who had responded to the original invite. This left 134 people to reach the stage where they were randomly allocated to either receiving to ginkgo or a placebo.

The groups were further reduced after 16 participants developed medical conditions, refused to participate or were deemed inappropriate for other reasons. This left 60 people who were given 240mg of gingko each day and 58 in the placebo group who took dummy pills designed to look identical to the ginkgo pills.

What Is Ginkgo Biloba Tea

Ginkgo biloba tea is a popular warm beverage brewed from the whole or cut leaves of the ginkgo tree, which bears the scientific name Ginkgo biloba. This tree is known as the oldest on Earth, with fossils dating back more than 270 million years it is the last non-extinct species in its taxonomic division, Ginkgophyta. Various parts of this tree have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes, and it is considered sacred in many parts of the world. The tree is native to China, but its benefits have now become known across the globe.

Brewing these leaves into a tea isnt the most popular use of this plant, as ginkgo supplements are quite common, but the benefits are well worth the effort of brewing this tonic. There is also no caffeine in ginkgo biloba tea, which makes it a great alternative for people trying to cut back their dependence on that stimulant chemical.

Ginkgo biloba tea Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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