Ginkgo & Brahmi

Please note the following referenced scientific research is for informational use only. The results reported below may not necessarily occur in all our customers. The information should not replace advice from your health care practitioner. This information should not be read to recommend or endorse any specific product.

The Ginkgo leaf has been used medicinally for thousands of years and is one of the world’s oldest living tree species. Ginkgo has been used traditionally in Chinese medicine for memory loss and now is very popular in the west. Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), a common herb used in traditional Ayurvedic (India) medicine is renowned as a powerful brain tonic to restore intellect, memory and mental clarity.

Stress & Mild Anxiety

  • A study has demonstrated the stress reducing and anxiety reducing activity of ginkgo (Woelk et al. 2007) 

  • Gingko shows a similar effect to anti-anxiety drugs to relieve anxiety (Faustino et al. 2010). 

  • Brahmi shows adaptogenic effects via the normalisation of stress induced changes in regions of the brain (Sheikh et al. 2007). 

  • Brahmi exerts anxiety reducing effects compared to a placebo (Stough et al, 2001).

Attention & Focus

  • Evidence suggests chronic administration of ginkgo improves selective attention (Kaschel 2009).

Cognition & Learning

  • A systematic review involving individuals with dementia reported significant improvements in cognitive function with the use of gingko (Zhang et al. 2016). Note current research indicated long term use of ginkgo does not protect individuals against the development of dementia.

  • Gingko can modestly improve memory and speed of cognitive processing including memory performance (Natural Medicines 2015).

  • A study suggests an intake of Brahmi over a 12 week period in healthy adults found an increase in information processing, learning rate and memory paired with a stress reducing effect (Stough et al, 2001).

Memory

  • Evidence suggests an oral intake of ginkgo improves cognitive function in individuals with mild to moderate cognitive impairment when used long term (Braun & Cohen 2015, 420).

  • A benefit of ginkgo was found in 188 healthy middle aged individuals give ginkgo compared to a placebo with a result indicating a significant improvement on mental recall (Kaschel 2011). 

  • Evidence suggests chronic administration of ginkgo improves long term memory for verbal and non-verbal material (Kaschel 2009). 

  • Brahmi demonstrates antioxidant activity in areas of the brain that are key in memory including the hippocampus and frontal cortex (Bhattacharya et al. 2000).

Traditional Use

  • In traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, Brahmi is used to improve cognition (Braun & Cohen 2015, 116).  

  • Brahmi has been traditionally used as a brain tonic to improve memory and heighten learning capacity (Braun & Cohen 2015, 117).

References

  • Braun, L., and Cohen, M. 2015. Herbs & Natural Supplements An Evidence-based guide Volume 2. 4th ed. Australia: Elsevier.

  • Natural Medicines. 2015. “Ginkgo”. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/media/25766873/Natural-Medicines-Sample-Monograph.pdf 

  • Alternative Medicine Review. 2004. “Monograph Bacopa monniera”. http://www.altmedrev.com/archive/publications/9/1/79.pdf 

  • Kaschel, R. 2011. “Specific memory effects of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in middle-aged healthy volunteers.” Phytomedicine, 15. 18(Nov): 1202-7. 10.1016/j.phymed.2011.06.021 

  • Kaschel, R. 2009. “Ginkgo biloba: specificity of neuropsychological improvement -- a selective review in search of differential effects.” Human Psychopharmacology, 24. 5(Jul): 345-70. 10.1002/hup.1037

  • Zhang, HF., Huang, LB., Zhong, YB., Zhou, QF., Wang, HL., Zheng, GQ., Lin, Y. 2016. “An overview of Systematic Reviews of Ginkgo biloba Extracts for Mild cognitive Impairment and Dementia.” Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 8. 276. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2016.00276

  • Woelk, H., Arnoldt, KH., Kieser, M., Hoerr, R. “Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in generalised anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder with anxious mood: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” Journal of Psychiatric Research, 41. 6(Sep): 472-80. 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.05.004 

  • Faustino, TT., Almeida, RB., Andreatini, R. “[MEdicinal plants for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder: a review of controlled clinical studies].” Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry,  32. 4(Dec): 429-36. 10.1590/s1516-44462010005000026 

  • Bhattacharya, SK., Bhattacharya, A., Kumar, A., Ghosal, S. 2000. “Antioxidant activity of Bacopa monniera in rat frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus.” Phytotherapy Research, 14. 3(May): 174-9. 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(200005)14:3<174::aid-ptr624>3.0.co;2-o 

  • Russo, A., Borelli, F. 2005. “Bacopa monniera; a reputed nootropic plant: an overview.” Phytomedicine, 12. 4(Apr): 305-17. 10.1016/j.phymed.2003.12.008 

  • Sheikh, N., Ahmad, A., Siripurapu, KB., Kuchibhotla, VK., Singh, S., Palit, G. 2007. “Effect of Bacopa monniera on stress induced changes in plasma corticosterone and brain monoamines in rats.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 22. 111(May): 671-6. 10.1016/j.jep.2007.01.025 

  • Stough, C., Lloyd, J., Clarke, J., Downey, LA., Hutchison, CW., Rodgers, T.. Nathan, PJ. 2001. “The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects.” Psychopharmacology, 156. 4(Aug): 481-4. 10.1007/s002130100815