Sunday, May 17, 2009

Ginkgo biloba for ADHD: A natural herbal treatment alternative?

A few weeks ago, I discussed the merits of ginseng for treating ADHD. What I did not mention is the fact that this special herb often works even better in tandem with another important "brain herb", Ginkgo biloba. It's benefits also extend beyond the nervous system, and the Ginkgo has been used to treat everything from increasing blood flow to Alzheimer's to glaucoma to hormone replacement to protection against neuronal degradation. While somewhat wary (personally) of using generalized "brain booster" nutrients for ADHD (it is a highly variable disorder of complex etiology and treatment methods), I am interested whenever new research publications arise on the topic. Just this week, a new paper came out on the merits of Ginkgo biloba as an ADHD treatment option.

Here are some of the major points of the publication:

  • Irritability is an often overlooked side effect of ADHD. Medications, especially over-prescription with stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamines can increase this unwanted side effect. However, Ginkgo exhibited a positive mollifying effect on irritability for the individuals in the study.

  • While one of the knocks against Ginkgo biloba is that it can sometimes result in sedative effects, the study found these to be extremely mild. However, to go along with the irritability-reducing benefits above, Ginkgo was able to improve the individuals' tolerance for frustration (to the degree that this behavior could be measured).

  • We have seen previously that oppositional defiant behaviors are often comorbid to ADHD (which can often manifest themselves alongside seemingly unrelated disorders such as auditory processing disorders or even bedwetting). One of the strongest suits of Ginkgo biloba may actually be in curbing these oppositional behaviors. This suggests that Ginkgo may be effective for the more Hyperactive/Impulsive or Combined Subtypes of ADHD, where comorbid oppositional behaviors are more often seen (as opposed to the predominantly inattentive subtype of the Disorder).

  • Nevertheless, Ginkgo biloba appeared to boost symptoms of attention and working memory as well. This may suggest Ginkgo's versatility, and that it could be used universally across the ADHD "spectrum", including for the 3 classic or traditional subtypes of the disorder.

  • The study highlights the relative success for co-treatment with methylphenidate and clonidine for individuals with ADHD and comorbid anxiety disorders. The authors suggest a functional comparison between Ginkgo and clonidine, and hint at its use as an alternative to clonidine/methylphenidate treatment (of course, it is also possible that Ginkgo may be used alongside lower doses of stimulant medications, which could be very useful in reducing unwanted side effects, which are often mild for low doses of stimulants, but typically begin to appear with greater frequency when stimulant dosing is increased). Thus, Ginkgo could possibly act as a side-effect-saving alternative to higher doses of medication.

  • As a precautionary measure, due, in part to some of its anti-clotting properties, there is some concern about Ginkgo triggering internal cerebral bleeding. Indeed, other studies have also addressed this possible concern, highlighting issues such as haemmorrhage risks, as well as herb-drug interactions with Ginkgo and anti-coagulant medications.

  • Keep in mind the extremely small nature of the study (only 6 individuals) should be met with healthy skepticism. However, the results were still notable. Statistically significant reductions in some of the trademark ADHD symptoms (fidgeting, restlessness, inattention, etc.) upon Ginkgo biloba treatment definitely highlight its potential as a more "natural" alternative treatment method for ADHD.

Add to Technorati Favorites

46 comments:

ADHDeveloper said...

I had started taking medication for ADHD 3 months ago (first Adderall XR, then Concerta) and irritability was a big side effect for me. I am generally a pretty mild mannered man but my wife commented a few times that I had become a complete jerk. Still I kept the medication going because the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

After reading this post I went and got myself a bottle of generic storebrand Gingko and started taking 1-2 tablets a day. It has been about 10 days now since I started doing that and irritability has certainly gone down tremendously.

Previously I could feel myself getting irritated by little things but could not control it. I knew it was abnormal and likely a side effect of the stimulants.

Just thought I`d post this so other readers may also give it a try. Thanks for posting this info!

The ADHD Treatment Guide said...

Thanks for the personal "success story" ADHDeveloper. A lot of times the highly-controlled clinical trials for a medication or natural ADHD treatment do not tell the whole story, since there may be dozens of studies which show little or no results and are simply not published (this publication bias is common, so we should take most of these findings with a grain of salt).

Having said that, I want to thank you for your personal anecdote. Clinical studies are fine, but when real people begin to comment on positive effects of a particular treatment method, that carries a ton of weight in my book.

Here's to your continued success!

Rachel said...

From the second link:

'Bilobalide has been shown to be protective against glutamate-induced excitotoxic neuronal death.'

That's interesting because ADHD brains on average contain more glutamate, according to a couple of studies online.

Although I can't ever be sure, it does seem to me that meals containing artificially high levels of MSG stop me sleeping and feeling tired at night. They don't do that to others eating at the same places at the same time, so I do seem to react to unusually to ingesting large amounts of free glutamate, which I usually avoid (possibly explaining my sensitivity, but I don't know whether your regular exposure level affects your reaction at all), maybe because my brain's already got too much.

Anonymous said...

I have used ginkgo and found it helpful, but one of the studies found that in "healthy young people" most of the effect is lost pretty quickly.

Bookwurm2

Treatment glaucoma and green tea said...

Very much a vital topic. On my blog it is considered medical properties of green tea at a glaucoma. Very interesting article.
I will put the reference to your article from the blog.

Unknown said...

I was about to make a trip to the nearest Costco upon reading this post when I stumbled upon this information:
http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/ginkgo-with-methylphenidate-1174-0-1606-0.html

I'm not sure how this warning applies, if at all, specifically to the actual documented interactions between gingko biloba (in commercially available capsule format) and methylphenidate. However, it does mention some pretty gruesome side effects from ingesting the neurotoxin included in gingko.

I found your website and this post while surfing the web for information on Concerta, which I have just started taking. Judging by the description on the above page, would you say that's generic information that only warns potential users of theoritical dangers? Or should I really stay away from GB while I'm on Concerta for the fear of getting a seizure?

The ADHD Treatment Guide said...

This is a response to Julian's comment from a couple months ago (sorry for not seeing or addressing it sooner) about the side effects of ginkgo and methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, etc.)

To the best of my knowledge (at the moment), the negative side effects of ginkgo at reasonable doses and interactions with other drugs for ADHD is relatively low, and the dangers are predominantly theoretical at this point.

However, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT AN INCREASED RISK DOES NOT EXIST. When looking at things such as seizure potential, a number of ADHD stimulant meds have been shown to lower seizure thresholds (although a lot of contradiction and controversy exists among the design, results and conclusions of these studies).

As an individual who has worked with multiple seizure prone children who are on various medications, I know first-hand how volatile these situations can be.

I wrote an earlier post (about a year ago) on ADHD medications and epilepsy/seizure risks and cited how some studies say that stimulants increase the risk of seizure, while others highlight a decreased risk. Here's a link to this post on ADHD medications and epilepsy.



Although I'd rather not defer an answer to your question or use the usual cop-out "talk to your doctor" bit, I do need to make that suggestion (for liability reasons among other things!).

As far as compounds in Ginkgo go, one of the components called "ginkgo B component" does have potential anticoagulant (anti-clotting) factors, so if you suffer from some type of disorder with improper blood clotting, ginkgo may possibly trip this even further.

Finally, it's important to note that herbal treatments (at least in most countries) do not undergo the rigorous testing or regulations of prescription medications, and the variability in dosing from one capsule or bottle to the next can be quite pronounced.

(It is important to note that many of these herbal products contain literally hundreds or even thousands of compounds, which are not always distributed consistently or uniformly throughout the plant).

Please don't make the mistake of automatically associating "natural" with "safe".

I definitely don't want to rail on ginkgo biloba, especially after mentioning its positives in this blog post. However, please be aware that drug/herb interactions can be just as severe as drug/drug interactions, and may be even more of an issue because drug/herb or herb/herb interaction studies are often way more scarce and incomplete.

jmcleod76 said...

I have suffered from the primarily inattentive subtype of ADHD - cloudy mind, can't concentrate, get lost in daydreams for long periods of time - for as long as I can remember, but was not diagnosed until my early 30s. My experience with prescription treatments has been mostly negative. My psychiatrist first prescribed Strattera. The benefits were almost immediate. My mind felt sharper, and I no longer had trouble concentrating on tasks for more than a few minutes at a time. Unfortunately, I experienced extreme nausea as a side effect the entire time I took this medication. At first, this was mild, but it gradually grew worse, until it began to outweigh the benefits of the medication. No dietary changes or over-the-counter nausea remedies helped. My doc then switched me to stimulants, which had no effect at all. I stopped taking the stimulants after several months with no improvement. Recently, I've begun taking gingko and flax seed oil supplements, in addition to a multivitamin, on a daily basis. Right now, I'm taking only 60mg per day, and the difference in my clarity and alertness has been marked. I'm really amazed by the improvement. My reading indicates that the best benefit comes from taking at least 120mg per day, but right now I'm satisfied enough with the results to hold at 60mg.

jmcleod76 said...

Oh, forgot to mention: I experience frequent irritability and sudden mood shifts - not drastic, but noticeable - as part of my ADHD. The gingko seems to be helping with that, as well. My moods have been much more stable since I began taking it. I feel really good.

NB said...

jmcleod76 - thanks so much for your personal account. i have been wrestling with the decision to take Ritalin or not. i have not had good luck with meds in the past (Lexepro was a disaster), although I've never tried Ritalin so I'm not sure what would happen if I did. for now, it's sitting in my cabinet until I feel the absolute necessity to try it.

in the meantime, i'm trying some supplements (Mg, Zn, Iron, B6...) to see if these will alleviate my issues. I've been reading about Ginkgo Biloba and it seems that of any of the herbal rememdies, this is the most safe and has been proven to help with memory enhancement. i appreciate personal accounts b/c of the over generalization of some of the articles. hopefully I will have a positive personal account to post on here at some point in the near future. :)

jmcleod76 said...

Hi NB - I hope you have as good of luck with Gingko as I did - several weeks now, and it still seems to be helping - but I don't want my endorsement of it to come across as anti-medication. Bottom line is, stimulant medication didn't work for me. I have other ADHD friends for whom Ritalin was a lifesaver. I think there is something to the correlation the blogkeeper here makes between the effectiveness of Gingko and other non-stimulant medications. Strattera worked for me, but made me sick. Stimulants did not. Gingko seems to work in the same way Strattera did (only maybe less dramatically, if I'm honest), but without the nasty side-effects.

As a side note, I did end up increasing my dosage to 120mg per day. I find the Gingko works better fo me if I take a breakfast dose and another at lunchtime.

Anonymous said...

asdasdsad

dancilhoney said...

I think that this is very very interesting and many parents of children with ADHD do not recognize it in themselves and they could be of better help if they knew what they should be watching for! buy synaptol

Natural Remedies said...

Include supplements containing iron, zinc, magnesium and omega 3 fatty acid supplements like shark liver oil in your diet. It is scientifically proven that children with ADHD have a deficiency of these essential fatty acids.

vivaherbal said...

Altough,ginkgo biloba may be an alternative for ADHD treatment, further studies is needed to prove its effectivity.
herbal supplements online

www.leon-3d.com said...

Oh my god, there's a lot of effective material in this post!

Sharon said...

That is awesome that you have had found help with Ginkgo Biloba. It is hard to break away from conventional medicine and try something natural and I applaud you. I take VAXA Attend. It is a homeopathic medicinal that also contains vitamins including Ginkgo Biloba and have had enormous success with helping with my OCD's and problems not being able to stay on one task. It has been three months now and I feel the best I have in years.

Sharon said...

That is awesome that you have had found help with Ginkgo Biloba. It is hard to break away from conventional medicine and try something natural and I applaud you. I take VAXA Attend. It is a homeopathic medicinal that also contains vitamins including Ginkgo Biloba and have had enormous success with helping with my OCD's and problems not being able to stay on one task. It has been three months now and I feel the best I have in years.

MInfinity said...

Is there a recommended dose for young children? Tks a lot for the post, I will definitely get my suspected add husband back on his ginkgo.

sports handicapping services said...

currently mentioned much and is said to have very good results for many ills that have used it quite recommend

http://sideeffectsadderall.org/natural-adderall-alternatives said...

i've found that eating raw greens really helps me with my ADHD. nootropics work as well.

Katrina said...

I started taking Ginko 1200mg slow release tablets a month ago. I take 1 a day. I noticed it helps my memory and I just turned 40. It decreases my anxiety level, while ADD meds increased my anxiety and I had way too many side effects with antidepressants and antianxiety meds. I feel more calm and my mind doesn't feel so cluttered. I'm a believer in Ginko Biloba. I take no other medication except birth control.

Elina said...

Looking for natural adderall alternatives? Try out Doxiderol, which contains high quality ingredients like Bacopa, Vinpocetine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine etc.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your blog! I was taking ginseng/ginkgo daily for adhd-inattentive type,depression, anxiety, and lethargy. Didn't really help much. But then decided to add caffeine one day on a whim. Wow, the caffeine really increased my energy and I felt so much quicker and sharper. But didn't notice that any of it helped me to focus more though I felt more mentally sharp and motivated, which for now is good enough for me. I don't really want to do more than a cup of coffee a day, so i'm thinking of just doing the ginkgo/ginseng in the latter half of the day to see what happens. Being scatterbrained, unfocused and forgetful is no fun, but being no fun and flat and mentally lethargic and unmotivated is even worse. I am going to try out the adhd-i med and an antidepressant but at least I know I can fall back on my alternative supplement cocktail if things don't work out. I also take a b complex, fish oil, and a multi daily. Nothing has improved my memory or ability to focus on tasks that are not interesting or stimulating to me but at least I'm sharp and witty again. This add game is all about trial & error. this crap was untreated for 40 something years as a result I have built up years of automatic negative self talk and trying to build my self esteem back up. Good luck to you all!!

Rahul Islam said...

AddieUP™ is an herbal dietary supplement that promotes energy, focus and concentration. There are different stimulants in AddieUP™. These stimulants prolong energy, focus and concentration. Each of the stimulants help improve energy, cognitive function, alertness, endurance, focus, and stamina. Taking this supplement may allow you to better complete complex tasks, including writing, studying, and mental clarity. For more visit http://www.AddieUp.com

Obat Kutil Kelamin Herbal said...

good evening

Unknown said...

Nice Info! Once you have a herbal facial at a beauty salon some women or girls never give themselves another facial again. Herbal salon facials include a face massage and to the stressed out girls the extra money is well worth it.

Herbal Beauty Salon in NY | Herbal Beauty Salon Valley Stream

Unknown said...

Very rich information...
I am searching for Herbal stress remedy
for insomnia.
My age is 25 years and I am a single parent of 2 kids. Please add some points to come out from the situation.

clarck said...

I will recommend to try Doxiderol ( http://bit.ly/1mly9G2 ) once if you are looking for naturall adderall, which contains all natural ingredients. Hope you heard about it, because it is very popular now as adderall alternative.

Carlos William said...

I am taking enhancement pills from last month. And Feeling extra ordinary with Tengenix results
. Very good for better sexual life. A lot meaningful. Capable to deliver what they promise.

Unknown said...

How my daughter was saved from grand mal seizure.
I am not really a fan of sharing my personal private story on the internet but i decided to do this because this joy is too voluminous for me to hide. My daughter which i took over 8 years after marriage to conceive had her first seizure at age 8 and ever since then it has been from one seizure to another in school, in church, at picnics. This got me worried because she has a bright future that i do not want epilepsy to become a hindrance, i tried several doctors in Texas and none could help with an effective cure. I went on the internet and saw testimonies about a treatment for epilepsy which a doctor offered and i was interested, i got in contact with him and i was able to get the medicine for my daughter which she used for 3 months as he instructed and it has been over 6 months now she is doing just fine without any allergies or aftermath effects. If you are suffering problem try to reach him too on (josephalberteo@gmail.com) i can count on him for a cure for you too.

Unknown said...

My daughter suffered from a terrible tinnitus for more than 25 years which
started after she turned 5 we all thought it will end but got even worse as
days went by. We tried all several treatments and therapy prescribed by
various doctors we met but to no avail, she lost total concentration and
screamed most times. She usually tells me she hears hissing and ringing
noises. This were steady noise that disrupted her entire life, even at
night she screams even more because the sounds become louder because
everywhere is quiet and she slept less because of this. I was able to
contact Dr.lewishill. on the matter and his medicine was able to restore
her back to normal and she is very okay now without any side effects
whatsoever. If you have Tinnitus, do not hesitate to contact him on
drlewishill247@gmail.com for advice and for his product. I hope this helps
someone out there.

Unknown said...

I highly recommend 5 htp with concerta, especially during the crash phase. I no longer feel anxious/depressed since I started taking 5 htp with it.

Rama Rehab said...

If you are looking wedding choreographer in delhi, so contact to our India Choreographer club team for book more detail visit on the website

http://www.indiachoreographersclub.com/

Akami Ayurveda said...

I came across through your blog. I found the valuable information from your blog.
spondylitis ayurvedic treatment

Anderson said...

I’m so very happy to share my testimony,my little Son suffered from Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. It was so embarrassing for me seeing my son not being able to focus and be responsible for once, i have prayed and tried doctors prescription and advice but nothing worked. I was very lucky i found a spell caster from the shango temple, some one referred me to him that i need a spiritual help because ADHD is not normal and i was happy he responded to me, i was assured that he will be cured and after he performed everything in his temple in just few days later i noticed changes in my Son, he is doing great now and i am proud of him. His father is happy now, back then i used to call him a useless son but now every one in the family is happy for what Priest Okojie have done in the life of my family. If you have similar condition, fertility and marital problems i will advice you contact his email:shangosolutiontemple @ yahoo . com

Yer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John peter said...

Very useful tips. Consider also herbal supplement for memory booster.

rikek said...

Learn about free slot games.
Is a casino game and online casino that is becoming increasingly popular among players around the world. Slots are a type of casino cabinet game. Anyone who has ever played in a casino knows what kind of slot machine.

http://wall2wallgaming.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=87466
https://forum.sferagamera.pl/thread-124534.html
http://192.243.101.79/smf/index.php?topic=498906.0
http://webboard.sesao33.net/viewforum.php?f=2
http://businesskool.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=793974&sid=c2f48c8b271936a16ac6f5aa01716d62
http://203.157.184.27/bookalakornboard/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1825816&sid=2d97fd0a2edfb349dbdb7df5b792b810
http://huzad.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=218100
https://forum.teknogods.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=305889
http://rallyandprotest.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=442586
http://www.matt-ben.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=300530

Yashasvi said...

Microsoft Office Setup is the complete bundle of Microsoft programs as it takes to the a variety of jobs, servers, and affiliations like PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, Publisher, OneNote, and Access.office setup is the best programming which is broadly utilized in globe .It is a dazzling association that causes you release your best contemplations, complete things, and stay related on the go.for more subtleties visit: office.com/setup today.

Yashasvi said...

Apple products can assist you in recovering lost, deleted, corrupt or damaged files from your MacBook, iPhone, iPad, iPod, or any other Apple device. Our specialists recover lost messages, pictures, contacts, music and files from Apple devices. For support contact us by clicking on to the apple.com/recover link.

Yashasvi said...

All purchasers worldwide have been casualties of cybercrime. webroot.com/safe Webroot offers total insurance from infections and data fraud for every one of your gadgets, without backing you off.

Yashasvi said...

After you buy Norton Antivirus visit sign in to norton account then enter norton product for Norton Setup or Install norton.com/setup Antivirus
.

Yashasvi said...

Would you like to set up hulu antivirus in your PC?... at that point click here hulu.com/activate for more subtleties.

techmanoj said...

Norton products are very effective for Internet threats. However the installation process of the Norton product is still easy for non-technical people or beginners find some obstacles with the install process.

norton setup

shwan said...

Always, anywhere and anytime,I feel very comfortable now all to the work of Dr Ebacol,the Herbalist who prepare for me the remedies to my health challenges.i could feel more comfortable when he explained to me how dangerous it's caring Herpes with me getting affected easily with Other sexually transmitted infections. Genital sores increases my risk of transmitting or contracting other sexually transmitted infections, including AIDS.
Newborn infection. ...nd a lover who ran into it and had a shock on me after the checkup and develop stroke.
This has been my earnest prayers for the physician therapist to come in with positive solutions to remedies Herpes and most
Bladder problems. ...
Meningitis. ...
Rectal inflammation (proctitis).
I was so scared when he says that because I fou viral infections. I'm now free and I thank God for leading me to see others getting cured with Herbs. I decided to try and found out that the best way I would have done was to get rid of it and give my testimony. Glory to God I became free after I received his medicine from the DHL and applied as instructed. Till date I had no SYMPTOMS nor virus to detect of me, I called him and thankful for what he did,and ask if he could cure my stroke boyfriend,he said yes and did the same preparation to my boyfriend for his stroke and Recovered from it. Nothing is impossible with Herbs IN CURES, you're the next if you will be willing to apply his medicine and instructions on how to manage.
Sickness has no right to dwell on us,you can reach him at his email address
For your immediate response to health

   drebacolherbalhome1@gmail.com  
Cell number (WhatsApp/calls)
    +2348159042641