Herb Profile
Ginkgo
Ginkgo Biloba centers on the leaf.
Last reviewed: •3 human studies cited
B ModerateUse extra caution — Raises bleeding risk when combined with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or NSAIDs (aspirin, clopidogrel); may lower the seizure threshold and reduce the effectiveness of seizure medication, so avoid combining with anti seizure drugs. Details
- Evidence
- Strong Human Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Cognitive, Cardiovascular, Neuroprotective
- Avoid / review if
- Anticoagulants, SSRIs
Monograph visual
Ginkgo
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Safety & Cautions
Raises bleeding risk when combined with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or NSAIDs (aspirin, clopidogrel); may lower the seizure threshold and reduce the effectiveness of seizure medication, so avoid combining with anti seizure drugs. Discontinue at least two weeks before elective surgery; raw or roasted ginkgo seeds contain ginkgotoxin and are a distinct seizure risk from the extract.
28%
High caution — review carefully
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- - Anticoagulants
- - SSRIs
Safety classifications
- - Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- - Anticoagulant Caution: Bleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
Full safety note
- - Raises bleeding risk when combined with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or NSAIDs (aspirin, clopidogrel); may lower the seizure threshold and reduce the effectiveness of seizure medication, so avoid combining with anti seizure drugs. Discontinue at least two weeks before elective surgery; raw or roasted ginkgo seeds contain ginkgotoxin and are a distinct seizure risk from the extract.
Safety labels
- - Interaction-Aware
- - Anticoagulant Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
High-Priority Caution
173 flagged pairingsSerotonergic activity · Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
173 flagged pairingsSerotonergic activity · Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Serotonergic activity
- 5-HTP
- Caffeine
- crocetin
- crocin
- Crocus Sativus
- Damiana
- DMT
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- Harmaline
- Harmine
- Kanna
- Mucuna
- Mucuna pruriens
- Passionflower
- Passionflower
- Passionflower Extract (Standardized)
- Phenylalanine
- Rhodiola
- Rhodiola Extract SHR-5
- Saffron
- Saffron Extract
- St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- Tryptophan
- Yohimbe
- Yohimbine
Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
- aescin
- Aged Garlic Extract
- ajoene
- Ajwain
- Allicin
- Garlic
- American Ginseng Extract
- Andrographis
- Angelica Archangelica
- Angelica Dahurica
- Angelica Pubescens
- Angelica Root
- Angelica Sinensis
- Arjuna
- Artemisia Capillaris
- Artichoke
- Ashitaba
- Ashitaba Extract
- Astaxanthin
- Berberis
- Black Seed
- Black Seed Oil
- Blueberry
- Boldo
- Boswellia
- Capsicum
- Caraway
- Carnitine L Tartrate
- Cayenne
- Chamomile
- Chinese Skullcap
- Chuanxiong
- Cissus
- Citicoline
- Clove
- Cnidium Monnieri
- Coleus Forskohlii
- Commiphora Mukul
- Coenzyme Q10
- Cordyceps
- Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
- crocetin
- crocin
- cryptotanshinone
- Curcuma Wenyujin
- Curcumin
- Damiana
- Danshen
- Devils Claw Extract
- Dong Quai
- EGCG
- Epimedium
- Epimedium Brevicornum
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Fenugreek
- Fenugreek Extract
- ferulic acid
- Feverfew
- Fisetin
- forskolin
- Fraxinus Rhynchophylla
- Fucoxanthin
- Galangal
- Reishi
- Garcinia Mangostana
- Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Garlic Aged Extract
- Garlic Extract
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Ginkgo Biloba Extract
- Ginkgo Extract EGb 761
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- ginsenoside rg3
- Glucosamine
- Goldenseal
- Lion's Mane
- Holy Basil / Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
- Horse Chestnut
- hydroxytyrosol
- Japanese Knotweed
- Kudzu
- L-Carnitine
- Ligusticum Chuanxiong
- Magnolia
- Mangosteen
- Maral Root
- Chamomile
- Melatonin
- MSM
- Myrtle
- Nettle Root
- Nigella Sativa
- Noni
- Notoginseng
- Ocimum Basilicum
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Oregano
- Paeonia Lactiflora
- Asian Ginseng
- Panax Ginseng Extract
- Papaya Leaf
- Pastinaca Sativa
- Pau D'arco
- Perilla
- Phosphatidylserine
- Piper Longum
- Bifidobacterium Probiotic
- Lactobacillus Probiotic
- Probiotics - Bifidobacterium spp.
- Probiotics - Lactobacillus spp.
- Psoralea Corylifolia
- Pycnogenol
- Quercetin
- Quercetin Phytosome
- Red Clover
- Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Resveratrol
- Rhodiola Extract SHR-5
- Rose Hips
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- Saffron Extract
- Salvia miltiorrhiza
- Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
- Saw Palmetto Extract
- Schisandra Berry
- Schisandra Chinensis
- Scutellaria Baicalensis
- Selaginella Tamariscina
- Soybean
- Syzygium Aromaticum
- Terminalia arjuna
- Thunder God Vine
- Thyme
- Tongkat Ali
- Trans-Resveratrol
- Fenugreek
- Tripterygium Wilfordii
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
- Turmeric Curcumin + Piperine
- Valerian
- Vitamin D3 + K2
- Grape
- White Peony
- Willow Bark Extract
- Yarrow
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Most useful for practical interpretation when safety context also fits.
StrongStrong Human Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Vascular Function Support · Neuroprotective Activity
Research maturity: More interpretable — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Raises bleeding risk when combined with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or NSAIDs (aspirin, clopidogrel); may lower the seizure threshold and reduce the effectiveness of seizure medication, so avoid combining with anti se
This profile cites 3 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
A
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
B
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
C
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
D
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)Cited studies informing this profile. RCTs and reviews shown first.
| Study | Type | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Warfarin and food, herbal or dietary supplement interactions: A systematic review Tan CSS et al. (2021) | — | — | PubMed → |
Plant-derived nootropics and human cognition: A systematic review Lorca C et al. (2023) | — | — | PubMed → |
Singh SK et al. (2019) | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
Dose guidance
EGb 761 extract specifically; clinical mild NCD context. Separate EGb 761 dosing from generic ginkgo products.
How Ginkgo Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Ginkgo Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways
Preclinical pathways
Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
Vascular Function SupportNeuroprotective Activity
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Ginkgo, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Ginkgo
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Affiliate-ready sourcing
Ginkgo Biloba product picks
Affiliate recommendations for Ginkgo. Review safety, dose, and product quality before buying.
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Product Form & Quality Guidelines
When sourcing Ginkgo, verify the label for:
- Standardized Extract: Confirm active content percentages on the supplement facts panel (e.g. standardized to specific marker compounds) rather than simple raw herb weights.
- Third-Party Testing: Look for independent purity labels (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab, or Eurofins) to ensure the product is free from heavy metals, solvents, and contaminants.
- Form Bioavailability: Ensure the form matches evidence-supported configurations (e.g. standardized active extracts like bacosides, withanolides, or curcuminoids) for optimal onset and digestion tolerance.
Supplement stacking
Stack Ginkgo With
Commonly paired with Ginkgo. Review interactions and dosage before combining.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Botanical profile context
How to interpret Ginkgo
Ginkgo dosage ranges, effects, drug interactions, and harm-reduction safety guide for cognitive. Strong Human Evidence research evidence. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Ginkgo, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.