Asthma ginkgo

Gnkgo (maiden hair tree, kew tree) Ginkgo biloba Raynauds disease, cerebral insufficiency anxiety, stress, tinnitus, dementias, circulatory problems, asthma Rare if used as directed possible effects include headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, Gl effects, rash, allergic dermatitis Do not take with antidepressant drugs, such as the MAOIs, or the antiplatelet drugs such as coumarin, unless advised to do so by the primary care provider. 

Traditional Chinese physicians used ginkgo leaves to treat asthma and chilblains. Today, G. biloba is used to improve both blood flow to the brain and peripheral circulation (see Chapter 36). 

Inhibitors) may be involved. A meta-analysis suggested that ginkgo was more effective than placebo and possibly comparable to pentoxifylline (Chapter 20 Drugs Used in Asthma) in relieving symptoms of intermittent claudication. 

Of considerable interest is the New York Times report on March 1, 1988, of E.J. Corey s group s synthesis of the diterpene, ginkgolide B. Ginkgo extracts have a long history of use in Oriental medicine and have found therapeutic use in treating circulatory problems, asthma, toxic shock, and Alzheimer s disease, and as a possible replacement for cyclosporin used to prevent rejection of organ transplants. 

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