by Heather Robson

Created on: October 13, 2009   Last Updated: October 16, 2009

Gingko Biloba Better Than Drugs for Alzheimer's

When it comes to treating chronic diseases, often natural remedies are effective and safer than pharmaceutical alternatives.

As you age, you're body slows down and it doesn't deal with toxins as well as it once did. Prescription drugs can be especially hard on your system. Your body isn't able to metabolize the drugs very well. Side effects and complications are common.

That's why if you or someone you love suffers with Alzheimer's disease, it's important to learn more about gingko biloba. Recent studies suggest it can be a powerful part of your treatment regimen.

Turn to Nature's Pharmacy

There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. But that doesn't mean there's no hope for Alzheimer's patients.

New research reveals that gingko biloba extract is just as effective for treating Alzheimer's as the prescription drug, donepezil. When Bulgarian doctors compared gingko to donepezil, they were surprised by the results.

Ninety-six patients with Alzheimer's disease either received gingko extract, donepezil, or a combination of the two. At the start of the study, doctors tested the patients in a variety of ways to measure the severity of their dementia.

After 22 weeks of treatment, the doctors ran the same tests and compared the results. They found that patients taking gingko biloba showed improvements in mood, in the ability to perform daily activities, and on verbal tests. Gingko was just as effective as donepezil in reducing Alzheimer's symptoms.[i]

That in itself is good news. But that's not all. The gingko biloba treatment group experienced far fewer side effects, making ginkgo the better choice for treating Alzheimer's. Doctors also noticed that combining gingko extract with donepezil helped patients improve even more, and the gingko seemed to ease some of the drug's side effects.[ii]

More Good News About Gingko

Gingko isn't just good for Alzheimer's patients. It's also good for people with other kinds of dementia.

In another recent study, doctors from the Ukraine recruited 395 with dementia. They treated the patients with gingko extract or placebo for 22 weeks, performing cognitive function tests at the beginning and end of the study.

By the end of the study, the placebo group's cognitive abilities had declined, but the patient's taking gingko had improve regardless of the type of dementia.[iii]

If you know someone struggling with dementia or if you just want to improve your mental clarity gingko biloba is a great supplement. It's safe and clinical trials prove it works.

[i] [ii]Yancheva S, et al. Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761(R), donepezil or both combined in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with neuropsychiatric features: a randomised, double-blind, exploratory trial, Aging Ment Health 2009; 13(2): 183-90.

[iii]Napryeyenko O, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761((R)) by type of dementia: Analyses of a randomised controlled trial, J Neuro Sci; 3/13/2009.

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