Ginkgo (Yin Guo Ye) in Chinese Medicine
Ginkgo (yin guo ye) in Chinese medicine: the leaf and seed in traditional use, why large trials did not show dementia prevention, and bleeding, seizure and seed-toxicity cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What it is
Ginkgo biloba is a tree sometimes called a living fossil. In Chinese medicine the leaf is called yin guo ye; the seeds are a separate material with their own risks.[1][2] NIH says ginkgo has a long history of use in Chinese medicine for cough, diarrhea and other conditions.[1] Memorial Sloan Kettering adds that seeds and leaves have been used to treat respiratory diseases, circulatory disorders, sexual dysfunction and hearing loss.[2]
Most supplements use leaf, usually as a standardized extract.[1] That is a modern product: the European Medicines Agency describes the dry extract as made by dissolving compounds from the leaf in acetone, which is then evaporated,[3] which is not the same as the whole leaf or seed in traditional preparations. Study results on the extract should not be assumed to apply to those traditional forms, and the reverse also holds. Traditional frameworks are explained in qi, yin and yang as traditional concepts; they are separate from what trials measure.
Practical guidance
Memory problems deserve a proper medical assessment, since many causes are treatable. Do not stop or replace prescribed medicine, including dementia medicines, for ginkgo.
Frequently asked questions
What is ginkgo used for in Chinese medicine?
Traditionally, leaves and seeds have been used for respiratory problems, circulation, sexual dysfunction and hearing loss, and NIH notes use for cough and diarrhea.[2][1]
Does ginkgo prevent dementia?
Not in the largest trial. The GEM trial in 3,069 older adults found no reduction in dementia over a median of 6.1 years.[4]
Can ginkgo improve memory in healthy people?
It is uncertain, and much of the research is low quality.[1]
Is ginkgo safe with blood thinners?
Ask a prescriber first. Ginkgo may increase bleeding risk in people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin.[1]
Are ginkgo seeds safe to eat?
No. Fresh seeds are toxic, and serious side effects have also occurred with roasted seeds.[1]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Quick safety note
Ginkgo leaf extract can raise bleeding risk, especially with anticoagulants such as warfarin.[1] Fresh ginkgo seeds are toxic when eaten, and serious side effects have occurred with roasted seeds and the crude plant.[1] If someone has eaten ginkgo seeds and has seizures, vomiting or trouble breathing, call 911 (US) or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; see poison help by country. For the general ingredient guide, see ginkgo.
What regulators and researchers concluded
Sources do not fully agree, and it helps to see why.
| Question | What the sources found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Preventing dementia | The large GEM trial followed 3,069 volunteers aged 75 or older for a median of 6.1 years and found ginkgo extract was not effective in reducing dementia or Alzheimer disease incidence compared with placebo.[4] NIH reports three large studies with the same result.[1] | No good evidence of benefit |
| Treating existing dementia or memory impairment | A Cochrane review of 36 trials found the evidence for predictable, clinically significant benefit inconsistent and unreliable.[5] NIH says ginkgo extract may have a modest benefit for dementia symptoms, particularly at relatively high doses, but the evidence is inconsistent.[1] The European Medicines Agency's committee concluded dry extract can be used to improve age-related cognitive impairment and quality of life in adults with mild dementia, and that a doctor should be consulted if symptoms do not improve after 3 months.[3] | Mixed |
| Memory in healthy people | It is uncertain whether it influences cognitive performance; much of the research is low quality.[1] | Insufficient evidence |
| Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) | NIH says research suggests it is not helpful; Memorial Sloan Kettering describes the studies as mixed.[1][2] | No good evidence of benefit to mixed |
| Heart disease and blood pressure | Research suggests ginkgo is not helpful for preventing heart disease or treating high blood pressure.[1] | No good evidence of benefit |
| Minor circulation problems (heavy legs, cold hands and feet) | European regulators accept powdered leaf for this on long-standing use only, saying clinical studies were too limited to serve as evidence, and only after a doctor has excluded serious conditions.[3] | Traditional use only |
The European "well-established use" finding and the Cochrane and NIH reviews come from different standards and different decision-makers looking at overlapping trials of one standardized extract. They illustrate why a regulator's approval for one product in mild dementia is not the same as proof that ginkgo prevents memory loss.
Some small studies suggest benefit for anxiety, premenstrual syndrome, vertigo and stroke rehabilitation, but the overall evidence is not conclusive.[1]
Side effects, interactions and who should avoid it
For most adults, ginkgo leaf extract is likely safe in moderate amounts by mouth and has been used in studies lasting up to 6 years. The most common side effects are dizziness, stomach upset and headache.[1] The European committee also reports headache as the most common side effect in the dementia indication, with bleeding in the eye, nose, brain or gut also reported.[3]
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Ginkgo may increase bleeding risk; human studies and case reports suggest it may prolong bleeding time.[1][2]
- Seizures. Ginkgo can increase seizure risk in people with a history of seizures, and with medicines that lower the seizure threshold.[2]
- Other medicines. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists efavirenz (an HIV medicine), midazolam and insulin; hyponatremia (low blood sodium) has also been reported.[2] See how interactions work.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. NIH says ginkgo may be unsafe in pregnancy and might cause early labor or extra bleeding near delivery; little is known about breastfeeding.[1] The European summary says ginkgo leaf medicines should only be used in adults.[3]
- Before surgery. Because of bleeding risk, tell your surgical team about any ginkgo use; see herb safety and interactions.
For other herbs sold for focus, see botanical and mushroom nootropics. For quality and contamination issues across Chinese herbal products, see Chinese herbal products: quality, contamination and medicine interactions.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (US NIH), Ginkgo. Read 2026-10-22.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Ginkgo (About Herbs). Read 2026-10-22.
- European Medicines Agency, Ginkgo folium: herbal medicinal product (Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products summary). Read 2026-10-22.
- Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 2008, PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2009, PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.