Ginkgo Biloba vs Ginseng – detailed comparison:
Ginkgo biloba is the oldest known living tree species with fossils dating back 270 million years. Chinese records are believed to mention using its leaves as far back as 2800 BC to improve lung function and blood circulation. It is the only living member of the Ginkgoales family.
Nutrition Facts
It is high in terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and other organic chemicals from which the extensive list of its health benefits are derived.
Health Benefits
Anxiety Relief
Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million American adults or 18.1 percent of the population a year.
Individuals with an anxiety disorder who took this leaf extract experienced better anxiety relief than people who took a placebo, according to a study issued in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Regulates Blood Flow
Research has definitively shown that ginkgo extract is able to stimulate blood flow and increase blood vessel dilation to extremities in the body, especially the essential organs and skin as well as boosts strength and energy.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a serious neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Common symptoms include tremors, muscle rigidity, and changes in gait and speech.
Scientists theorize that along with other treatments, ginkgo may help reduce symptoms by increasing the brain’s blood flow, hence, allowing more of the depleted dopamine (a chemical messenger which transports signals between brain cells) to circulate to the areas which need it most.
Tinnitus
This condition involves the annoying sensation of hearing sound when no external sound is present. Common causes are neck or head injuries, cumulative or excessive noise exposure, and ear infections.
A meta-analysis of eight trials concluded that this condition can be successfully treated with ginkgo supplements.
Antioxidant Properties
It contains high levels of terpenoids and flavonoids, potent antioxidants which provide protection against oxidative cell damage from free radicals – highly reactive and unstable molecules.
Raynaud’s Disease
This disease causes some areas of the human body (especially the toes and fingers) to feel cold and numb in response to stress or cold temperatures. Symptoms include:
- tingling or pain;
- numbness;
- cold extremities;
- a color change in the hands or feet.
Ginkgo may help patients with Raynaud’s disease by widening the small blood vessels, which would keep these spasms from blocking the blood flow.
Side Effects
It may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. The risk may be substantially higher if the individual is allergic to an oily resin found in poison sumac, ivy, mango rind, and poison oak, called urushiols.
Ginseng
Chinese or Asian and Korean ginseng are the same plants, however, they grow in different areas. American ginseng is a relative of the same species but is native to North America.
According to studies, ginseng improves mental performance and memory, enhances mood as well as has a powerful anti-stress effect. In China, it was considered so valuable that emperors paid for it with its weight in gold.
In addition, it is considered to be an adaptogen. An adaptogen is a substance that can increase resistance to stress of any type, either physical or mental, and can invigorate the user in a non-specific way.
Nutrition Facts
It contains numerous pharmacological components, including a series of tetracyclic triterpenoid ginsenosides (saponins), polyphenolic compounds, polyacetylenes, and acidic polysaccharides.
Health Benefits
Lowers LDL and Total Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is usually called bad cholesterol since it can build up in the walls of the arteries (arteries are the blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart) and form plaque, that can narrow and reduce the flow of blood through the arteries.
Recent studies have proved that this root lowers LDL and total cholesterol levels in the body. This property can be attributed to the presence of ginsenosides.
Lowers Weight
When consumed in its dried form, this root can quickly suppress the “hunger hormones” from triggering any cravings, hence, helping people that want to lose unnecessary weight, while delivering a variety of other health benefits at the same time.
Anti-Cancer Properties
Ginsenosides found in this root have anti-tumor effects and can damage ovarian cancer cells, prostate cancer cells, and lung adenocarcinoma cells, according to research conducted by the Chinese Medicine Journal.
Premature Ejaculation (PE)
A combination of herbs (including this root) may help treat premature ejaculation, a form of sexual dysfunction which can negatively affect the quality of a man’s sex life. According to statistics, about 1 out of 3 men experiences premature ejaculation at some point.
This natural treatment involves the topical application of 0.20 g of ginseng suspension cream to the genitals.
Improves Brain Function
Alzheimer’s disease is a serious neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells leads to cognitive decline and memory loss.
The precise cause of AD is unknown, however, a number of factors are thought to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. These include:
- a diet rich in trans fats and animal products;
- previous severe head injuries;
- increasing age;
- sedentarism;
- poor sleeping habits;
- alcohol intake.
According to some studies, taking this root daily for 3 months can improve mental performance in sufferers with AD.
How to Use
It is available in many forms:
- in capsule form – this one is usually recommended since it contains the standardized extract which has been most studied;
- as a mildly sweet herbal tea;
- raw.
Side Effects
Possible side effects may include:
- sleep problems;
- gastrointestinal discomfort;
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially if you take type 2 diabetes mellitus medication, like Metformin;
- headaches.
In addition, supplementation with this potent root can increase the risk of bleeding, especially for people with heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, or a bleeding disorder.
Bottom Line – Ginkgo Biloba vs Ginseng
These are two of the most widely consumed herbal nutritional products in the world. Also, because they work synergistically to support cognitive function, in the last two decades, there is an increase in their use as cognitive enhancers.
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References https://nccih.nih.gov/research/results/gems/qa.htm http://www.berkeleywellness.com/supplements/herbal-supplemen https://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/american