Dr. Mercola April 20 2007 43,699 views
A study has provided evidence that older people who take Ginkgo biloba may extend their lives by doing so, although they are not also reducing their risk of dementia.
The study, which began in 1988, looked at the effects of several different dementia prevention treatments on more than 3,500 seniors. It showed that those who used the herb were 24 percent less likely to die over a 13-year period.
Over the course of the study, about 46 percent of those taking Gingko biloba died, compared with about 62 percent of those taking another type of memory-boosting drug.
However, roughly 21 percent of those taking Ginkgo biloba developed dementia, compared with about 22 percent of those on other memory treatments and about 15 percent of those who were taking no memory enhancers at all.
The researchers noted that the data needs to be interpreted carefully, because people who took memory enhancers may have been those who were at greater risk of dementia.
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
It's interesting how the reputation of Ginkgo biloba has grown over time as a natural, effective alternative to Alzheimer's drugs like Aricept. But this latest French study may show that ginkgo does more to extend the lives of seniors than to treat dementia.
However, as the researcher's note, this study may say less about the effects of Ginkgo biloba on dementia than it would seem, especially since these effects have been demonstrated many times before. In 1997, the very first year of my newsletter, I posted a study from JAMA that showed clear evidence that ginkgo is helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Also, I certainly wouldn't be surprised if those patients taking Ginkgo biloba for dementia lived longer in part because they were also relying on many other safer, natural treatments to help prevent the mental decline sometimes associated with old age.
Remember, the real key and "miracle" are natural lifestyle changes like eating a healthier diet and exercising. These are powerful methods of preventing and treating diseases and helping you Take Control of Your Health without the need for drugs or surgery.
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@cheftoddMy comment about prayer was not directed towards you(but towards DR.Mercola/Spitz to the observation made by ehaus10). I do not mind the common person stating his opinion "that belief in prayer will help my health". But this advice coming from a doctor in just about every article is a bit annoying as it has no solid scientific backing, and is being dispensed by a true M.D. I have been a LONG time reader of Mercola ,since 2000 when this site was still in its infancy stages. What I liked about Mercola is his scientific logical based writing style, and a well designed site(for a health site, In fact this whole system right here is courtesy of Digg.com API). I believe your 2nd msg was not directed towards me. I live on reading, power is knowledge, that is why I agree that the claims Mercola makes are not outlandish.
But the layout of his articles, especially emails are done is such a tactical fashion where he really makes it seem a much larger issue than it is, so that he can plug the product he is selling. He claims he does this to make it convenient to you, the reader and not for profit. Which is not the case. Most of the products that are not exclusive to his site can be had at sites like Vitamin Shoppe which regularly have promotions if you google around. For 20-30%less with free shipping to boot. When a site you visit for your health news from an M.D, starts pushing products on you it no longer becomes an independent free source, conflicts of interest arise, you tend not to emphasize cheaper alternatives until you the seller can find a way to make it worth your while.I am a starving college student and eat organic, there is some things which are ok if they are not 5x pure virgin etc, and they can definitely be had cheaper elsewhere.
Compare Mercolas site in the internet archive and see how it was pre heavy product selling and now http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://mercola.com (hopefully mercola is not an advocate of censorship)
As a clinical herbalist for over 20 years I can say, “Standardizing can be good and bad!”(But usually bad)
Some products are simply concentrated whole herbs containing at least (Key Word, “At Least”) a stated amount of particular ingredients such as “AT LEAST 24% ginkolosides in our Ginko Extract- THIS IS GOOD!
Others state EXACT AMOUNTS of constituents by molecular weight. To arrive at an isolated constituents molecular weight means that dangerous chemicals like methyl alcohol, hexane, acetone, mercury and others were possable used along with a centrifuge to alter the whole plant – THIS IS VERY VERY BAD!
If we are not careful Big Pharma companies like “BAYER” are going to pull off exactly what they did in 1906 with the “Food and Drug Act” and apply it to herbs and get away with this crime WITH OUR APPROVIL!
WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP THIS IN MIND: “NOTHING UN-NATURAL SHOULD EVER GO INTO OUR BODIES!"
All the Chinese herbs I use in the manufacture of Plant Cures Products ARE laboratory tested for heavy metals (both in China and then in the United States at an in-house lab and also certified by GMP. I would not consider anything else. The Chinese system of medicine itself is a lot more concerned then you think and I know my importer sure is!