Ginkgo Leaf … Safety & Interactions

Bai Guo Ye · Folium Ginkgo

Contraindications

  • Bleeding disorders
  • Perioperative use
  • Seizure disorders in the setting of unverified ginkgo products

Cautions

  • MSK notes potential interactions with anticoagulants, NSAIDs, certain anticonvulsants, and some diabetes medications, so standardized ginkgo extract should not be treated like a benign tea.
  • Commercial extract quality matters because ginkgolic-acid content and standardization strongly affect safety.
  • Most modern evidence concerns standardized leaf extract rather than crude leaf decoction.

Drug Interactions

Drug Class / Substrate Mechanism Severity Source
Anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs - possible increased bleeding risk.
NSAIDs - possible additive bleeding risk.
Anticonvulsants - seizure-threshold concerns with poor-quality products or inappropriate use.
Diabetes medications - possible additive glucose-lowering effect.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.