Cochrane for Cam providers: Evidence for action

Abstract

Extracts of the leaves of the maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba, have long been used in china as a traditional medicine for various disorders of health. A standardized extracts is widely prescribed in Germany and France for the treatment of a range of conditions, including memory and concentration problems, confusion, depression, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus, and headache. The mechanisms of action are thought to reflect the action of several components of the extract and include increasing blood supply by dilating blood vessels, reducing blood viscosity, modification of neurotransmitter systems, and reducing the density of oxygen free radicals. Here, Liu and MacLehose assess the efficacy and safety of Ginkgo biloba for the treatment of patient with dementia or cognitive decline