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Ginkgo

Ginkgo

Best for

Strengthen your memory

Likely strong benefit · 120–240 mg/day for 8–317 weeks · 5 studies , n=3.6k

47 papers · 8 claims · 99 outcomes scored · 6 positive

Evidence overview

Evidence overview Likely strong benefit

Ginkgo delivers its strongest benefit for memory and mental speed in adults, with smaller gains for executive function and modest help for dementia symptoms.

  • Across 5 studies (n=3,610), ginkgo improved memory, with the clearest signal in dementia and healthy-adult testing.2
  • Forty-seven papers covered 99 outcomes, including cognition, dementia symptoms, and bleeding safety.5
  • Healthy-adult cognition trials showed smaller, less consistent gains than dementia-focused studies.4

Outcomes

What ginkgo actually does, by outcome

Each row is one outcome with effect size, evidence base, the dose that worked in trials, and time to first effect. Magnitude tiers come from native-unit MCID where available, Cohen's d otherwise.

Outcome Effect Evidence Dose Weeks Rank
Strengthen your memory Likely strong benefit
large 		5 RCTs n=3.6k 120–240 mg 8–317 wk #1/42
Boost overall cognitive performance Large effect, needs confirmation
large 		2 meta-analyses n=3.4k Meta-analyzed 120 mg 23–317 wk #9/21
Strengthen planning and mental control Proven benefit
moderate 		6 meta-analyses n=5.4k Meta-analyzed 120–240 mg 8–317 wk #1/28
Speed up thinking and reactions Likely benefit
moderate 		4 RCTs n=331 60–240 mg 1–24 wk #1/28
Slow cognitive decline in dementia Likely modest benefit
small 		18 meta-analyses n=20k Meta-analyzed 57.6–240 mg 11–317 wk #4/23
Sharpen thinking and language in kids Not enough research
small 		1 RCT n=210 120 mg — #7/8
Lower dementia risk over the long term Probably doesn't help
large 		1 RCT n=3.1k 240 mg 317 wk —
Sharpen focus and mental stamina Doesn't appear to help
trivial 		3 RCTs n=3.3k 60–120 mg 1–317 wk —

Forms & standardisation

Look for a standardized leaf extract, especially EGb 761 or an equivalent product that lists flavone glycosides and terpene lactones on the label6. The human trials do not study random ginkgo leaf powders the same way, so the standardized extract matters more than the plant name alone126.

Risk profile

Adverse events and known drug interactions

Safety events

hemorrhagic stroke severe
intracranial_hemorrhage severe
angina pectoris severe
ventricular arrhythmia severe
coma severe
recurrent seizures severe
priapism severe
Hepatocellular carcinoma / carcinogenicity (animal) severe

Drug interactions

Clopidogrel major increases toxicity
Drug:Warfarin major increases effect
Warfarin major increases toxicity
Ticlopidine major additive
Antiepileptic Drugs (Valproate, Phenytoin, Others) major decreases concentration
Antithrombotic Agents major increases toxicity
Risperidone major increases concentration
Trazodone major increases toxicity
Valproate major decreases concentration
Various Anticonvulsants (Phenytoin, Carbamazepine) major decreases concentration

Frequently asked

Common questions

What does ginkgo help with most?

Memory comes out on top, then mental speed and executive function. Focus and long-term prevention do not show the same payoff1234.

How long before ginkgo starts working?

Most positive studies run for several weeks, so you judge it after steady daily use for about 6 to 12 weeks, not after a few doses12.

Does ginkgo help dementia?

It shows a small to modest benefit for thinking in some dementia studies, especially with standardized extracts, but it does not prove prevention12.

Is ginkgo safe with blood thinners?

Not as a casual combo. The interaction list includes warfarin, clopidogrel, and ticlopidine, so you need clinician guidance before pairing it with clotting meds5.

Sources

  1. 1. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia (1997) ↑
  2. 2. Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia, a systematic review and meta-analysis (2012) ↑
  3. 3. Ginkgo biloba extract for cognitive performance in healthy adults, a randomized trial (2010) ↑
  4. 4. Ginkgo biloba extract and cognitive performance in healthy adults, a meta-analysis (2014) ↑
  5. 5. Ginkgo biloba and bleeding risk, a review of the clinical evidence (2012) ↑
  6. 6. Pharmacology of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761, a review (2005) ↑

Generated May 15, 2026

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