Gingko is well known as one of the oldest living species of tree. In recent years it has become a popular ingredient in herbal supplements sold in North America and Europe.
It has also long been used in traditional forms of medicine as a way to improve memory and alertness.
Modern studies show that Ginkgo is both a vasodilator and an antioxidant and, as such, is often used for the treatment of poor circulation and dementia.
It is also thought that two of the forty components found in Gingko – terpenoids and flavonoids can help to ward off heart disease, as they increase blood flow and reduce the build-up of harmful free radicals in the body.
Terpenoids have a vasodilatory effect and prevent blood platelets from becoming stuck. Flavonoids are antioxidants which have been shown to protect the heart, blood vessels and nerves in laboratory testing.
The Tree’s Origins
The tree itself is a native of the Far East. It has long been Eastern traditions, and its name in English is a corruption of the Japanese ‘gingkyo’, or ‘silver apricot’ – used to refer to the plant.
The tree is known for its hardiness and longevity – a gingko tree can live around 1,500 years – which may be why it has attracted the attention of medical practitioners for so long.
Certain living species are thought to be over 2,500 years old. Modern research tends to be focused on extract from dried green gingko leaves, although traditional forms of medicine also make use of its seed.
Does it Work for Hair Loss?
(1) Gingko’s properties as a vasodilator are thought to be able to help reduce hair loss, as the widening of blood vessels which supply hair follicles enables a better supply of nutrients, thus improving the follicles’ performance.
A pilot study in 2011 in which males were given a twice-daily dosage of 60mg ginkgo biloba extract, showed an improvement in cerebral blood flow.
(2) When hair loss is attributed to the body’s conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5-a reductase, it is unlikely that gingko would be able to prevent damage to hair follicles. Its role would be only aiding the supply of nutrients to the scalp.
Therefore, in cases of androgenic alopecia, gingko can be used as an effective companion to finasteride or curcumin, both of which have been shown to be 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which prevent attacks on the hair follicles from taking place.
The University of Maryland Medical Centre advise using a standardized extract of Gingko Biloba at the dosage of 40-80mg up to three times a day for alopecia and disorders of the hair shaft, because it improves blood flow to the scalp.
Researchers in Massachusetts General hospital conducted a study, which proved that increased blood flow creates more lustrous hair. They used a protein, which stimulates blood vessel growth in skin, to treat the hair follicles of mice.
This resulted in a total increase in the volume of hair by 70%. This study was documented in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Japanese researchers conducted a similar experiment with mice. They found that mice treated with an extract of Gingko achieved a better rate of hair growth than those who did not receive the extract.
(3) The same Japanese researchers performed an experiment with 50 human test subjects, whereby they treated them with Ginkgo Biloba shampoo. The results of the experiment showed a reduction in the rate of hair loss rate for those participants. The researchers recommended a shampoo with a Ginkgo concentration of 0.1% to 1% in order to achieve the best results.