Special edition: Botanicals
Ginkgo biloba
One of the oldest living tree species (native to China), ginkgo biloba’s leaves have long been studied for their potential medicinal benefits. Ginkgo has historically been used as a memory and concentration enhancer, and an anti-vertigo agent. A 2005 study linked regular ginkgo supplement intake to a lower risk for ovarian cancer. The science behind ginkgo as a memory aid is mixed. A 2007 meta-analysis of 15 randomized clinical studies on ginkgo supplementation found no evidence to support cognitive benefits in healthy young people. Furthermore, an NIH-backed study in 2008 found ginkgo wasn’t effective in reducing incidences of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in healthy older people. But a 2012 study published in Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggested ginkgo may have benefits on working memory in healthy adults.