Ginkgo biloba, or simply ginkgo, is a tree native to China, but it’s also cultivated in other countries. The seeds of the tree are used in Chinese food, but the leaves are much more valued because they are believed to have numerous health benefits.
Ginkgo leaves and leaf extracts are among the most popular herbal medicines used in traditional medicine around the world. In Germany and other European countries, ginkgo is one of the top five most commonly prescribed medications used for a variety of health problems, such as tinnitus and Alzheimer’s disease. [1][2]
One of the many suggested benefits of this herbal remedy is its ability to combat hair loss and promote healthier, stronger hair.
My Personal Experience with Ginkgo Biloba
After reading a lot about its health benefits, I decided to give this supplement a try myself. For a couple of months now, I have been taking ginkgo tablets (80mg of 50:1 extract) and I did notice some positive changes.
Ironically, I initially wanted to try ginkgo for its memory and cognition-enhancing benefits, and while I can’t say I noticed any significant change in this regard (I don’t have any memory or cognitive issues anyway), it did end up much more useful for another problem I was having: my thinning and falling hair!
Before I started taking ginkgo, I’d wake up with a bunch of hair on my pillow! Not just on my pillow, also on the shower floor, sink and all over the place… I was losing hair faster than ever and it was freaking me out!
I tried some anti-hair loss shampoos and oils, but my hair kept falling. Interestingly, one of the shampoos I used contained ginkgo biloba as one of the ingredients, and while I think it did help, it wasn’t so much of an effective solution.
So, a few weeks after I started taking ginkgo tablets orally, my hair seems to have gotten stronger because I’m noticing much less fallen hair on my pillow, shower floor, sink, etc.
I should mention that I’m also taking other supplements, but I strongly believe the improvement in my hair strength is due to ginkgo biloba as it happened shortly after I started taking this herb orally for the first time.
I should also mention that I am a youngish man. I don’t have hereditary-pattern baldness and I think my weak hair problem has more to do with poor lifestyle and poor circulation.
Promising Scientific Studies
A 2019 study found that two components isolated from this herb; ginkgolide B and bilobalide, can promote the growth of hair follicles. [3]
Ginkgo has also been found to improve blood flow to different parts of the body by acting as a vasodilator. [4][5]
While studies show some promising results, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the claim that ginkgo biloba supplements are effective at treating hair loss or inducing hair regrowth.
Speaking from my own personal experience, I believe ginkgo biloba leaf extract does help strengthen the hair and reduce hair loss. Does it make your hair regrow? I can’t say so, but I’ve only been taking it for a couple of months, so I’ll keep taking it and see what happens.
You should keep in mind that there are different causes of hair loss, which may require different treatments. I tend to believe that my thinning hair is largely due to poor circulation, and since ginkgo is a circulation booster, this might be the reason it helped in my case.
Dosage
There is no established standard dosage for ginkgo biloba, however, the leaf extract is commonly taken in the dosage range from 50mg up to 240mg.
Personally, I took tablets containing 80mg standardized extract. Normally, I take one tablet a day about four to five times a week. Some days I take two tablets at once.
Safety
My body seems to tolerate this herb very well and I haven’t noticed any remarkable side effects. Tolerance may vary from one person to another though.
There are some potential side effects reported by some users, including headache, dizziness, nausea, and others. If you experience any uncomfortable adverse effects, you should lower your dosage.
Ginkgo acts as a blood thinner and may interact with other medications, most significantly anticoagulants (blood thinners), ibuprofen, and others.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC26593/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279357/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31520488/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18258419/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18446847/