Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease afflicting young and middle-aged adults, resulting in problems with coordination, strength, cognition, affect, and sensation.
Researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design study to determine whether a ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) improves functional performance in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Twenty-two individuals with multiple sclerosis were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control condition. Groups did not differ with respect to age, IQ, and education.
Half of the multiple sclerosis subjects received 240 mg per day of ginkgo special extract (EGb 761), and the other half received placebo.
The main outcome measures assessed depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale [CES-D]), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]), fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale [MFIS]); symptom severity (Symptom Inventory [SI]) and functional performance (Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis [FAMS]).
The multiple sclerosis subjects in the ginkgo group had significantly more individuals showing improvement on four or more measures with improvements associated with significantly larger effect sizes on measures of fatigue, symptom severity, and functionality. The ginkgo group also exhibited less fatigue at follow-up compared with the placebo group.
This exploratory pilot study showed that no adverse events or side effects were reported and that ginkgo exerted modest beneficial effects on select functional measures among some individuals with multiple sclerosis.
1. Johnson SK, Diamond BJ, Rausch S, Kaufman M, Shiflett SC, Graves L. The effect of Ginkgo biloba on functional measures in multiple sclerosis: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Explore (NY). 2006 Jan;2(1):19-24. PMID: 16781604.
2. Image by gregR.
Hi.
I have had various symptoms for several years. Incontinence, constipation, pins and needles, clumsyness, memory loss, random pains and extreme tiredness. This morning I looked up MS as it has occurred in my family and I have found that my symptoms match those found by MS sufferers.
I started taking Ginko Bilobo for my memory. My memory has not unfortunately improved significantly BUT I have deffinitely noticed that I am not quite so incontenent, my mood swings are certainly less intense and as a bonus my libido has returned.
When I ran out I bought some more but they did not seem to have any effects. I read the lable and found out that they were a much lower dose. When I increased the dose My symptoms improved again. I have found that 60mg is enough to see results.
Because of this I typed in ginko biloba and MS for a search and was extremely intersted in the results and of course this study.
I would not however agree that ginko is completely harmless as when I tried to take it when I was younger I found that my period pains were far more pronounced. Now I have been through the menopause this is no longer an issue.
I believe this herb is well worth a try if you have MS. I still don’t know if I’ve got it and until I have any real problems I am certainly not going to take any steps to find out.