Evidence supporting the use of: Ginkgo
For the health condition: Migraine
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Ginkgo biloba has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in East Asia, where it has been employed for a variety of neurological and circulatory conditions. Its application for migraine, however, is not as prominent or specifically documented in traditional texts as it is for other conditions like memory enhancement or peripheral vascular disease. Some traditional herbal systems have used Ginkgo to address headaches in general, based on its reputed effects of improving blood flow and reducing “wind” or vascular congestion, which are sometimes implicated in the etiology of headaches according to traditional Chinese medicine concepts.
Scientifically, there is limited but emerging evidence regarding Ginkgo’s potential role in migraine management. A few small clinical studies and observational reports have explored Ginkgo, often in combination with other ingredients (such as in the supplement "Migraten"), for the prevention of migraine attacks. These studies suggest possible benefits in reducing migraine frequency and severity, potentially due to Ginkgo’s vasoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, the overall quality of evidence is low, with studies often being underpowered, open-label, or lacking appropriate controls.
In summary, while Ginkgo is used for migraine primarily based on traditional practices and plausible mechanisms, robust scientific validation is currently lacking, and the strength of supporting evidence is weak (rated 2/5).
Other ingredients used for Migraine
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
ashwagandha
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
black tea
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
Chinese salvia root
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
turmeric
curcumin
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
feverfew
fish oil
ginger
ginkgo biloba
gooseberry
gotu kola
kudzu
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
lavender
luteolin
magnesium
Melatonin
Moringa
Niacin (vitamin B3)
omega-3 fatty acids
Peppermint
phytocannabinoids
pine bark
purple butterbur root
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Almond fruit
ubiquinol
Valerian root
vitamin B6
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
Zinc
atractylodes
blackboard tree
Swertia
Szechuan lovage
chrysanthemum
soursop
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
apple cider vinegar
Albizia
alpha-lipoic acid
atractylone
betony
black seed
Baikal Skullcap
beta-hydroxybutyrate
Blepharis
balsam
banyan
brahmi
butterbur
Bifidobacteria
Black Hellebore
Chinese silkvine
crocin
creatine
cannabidiol
Corydalis
Carthamus
cola nut
docosahexaenoic Acid
danshen
eicosapentaenoic acid
folic acid
flavin mononucleotide
Ficus religiosa
fish
flavanones
Ficus simplicissima
frankincense
goldthread
Gelsemium
ginkgolides
Ginkgoside
Hellebore
iridoids
ketone salts
kuding tea
lemon balm
Lesser speargrass
little ironweed
linalool
Mesua
Methylxanthine
Meadowsweet
Nardostachys
Night jessamine
Osthole
Puerarin
Petasines
Phthalides
paeoniflorin
Pycnogenol
Polygonum
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
rue
Rubus
Rauvolfia
Rubiaceae
Spikenard
Sensitive Plant
Salmon Oil
Sandalwood
Scabrous Gentian
Uncaria
Withanolides
Xanthine
Xanthophyll
Xanthone
Yuzu
Zingerone
