Review of Lamberts Webinar Nutrient Focus: Ginkgo with Lorraine Nicolle

  Published to Latest News on Jun 21, 2021

Review of Lamberts Webinar Nutrient Focus: Ginkgo with Lorraine Nicolle

This was a very interesting 1.5 hour webinar. The host Lorraine, who is always very clear and concise in her presentations, offered an in-depth look into this herb. 

I am sure we are all aware of the anecdote that ginkgo was the only plant that survived the Hiroshima atom bomb, this wonderful hardy herb also boasts many applications which the webinar explained in detail.

Lorraine began by explaining the active components such as quercetin, proanthocyanins and glycosides which are responsible for its beneficial effects. Helpful tips were given to apply in clinic such as looking for a standardised extract GBE 50:1. For all its wonderful glycoside benefits, ginkgo also contains carboxylic acid which can be toxic to human kidney and liver cells. 

The mechanisms of actions were then covered, how the herb supports cardiovascular health by inhibiting platelet activating factor, thus reducing clotting; the antioxidant benefits for mitochondria when there is an increase in oxidative stress; the support it offers neurotransmitters such as increasing dopamine and acetylcholine in the pre-frontal cortex, protecting neural health in regulating glutamate to GABA and supporting the HPA axis by reducing spikes in cortisol. 

To explain in more depth, Lorraine then split up a host of disease processes in which Gingko can help. She covered: Neurological effects and mental health – in particular depression anxiety, and anxiety in dementia, memory loss, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and intermittent claudication. She covered the diseases processes which have the most studies backing the use of gingko and encompassed a lot. 

Very helpful information was given under each disease process, for example: One way in which atherosclerosis is benefitted is by the mechanism of action upon Nrf2 antioxidant response, which when triggered increases the body’s cellular production of superoxide dismutase, glutathione catalase and peroxidase. 

The effects on blood pressure go beyond decreasing iNOS and increasing eNOS, but also decrease ACE, which decreases vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation from lipopolysaccharides. 

Anxiety is aided by numerous pathways including the inhibition of neuronal and adrenal hyperactivity, which can be beneficial for a wide variety of clients.

She also covered limitations on the usage of the herb to enable practitioner to evaluate how effective it would be for their clients. The effects on blood pressure were spoken about in depth but it was also explained that the efficacy declines with advancing age as vascular stiffness cannot be overcome with gingko. 

The webinar finished with safety and dosage profiles allowing practitioners to feel comfortable utilising it in a clinical setting, before questions were answered.

The information was helpful and practical, studies were cited which demonstrated the various effects of ginkgo. Lorriane, as always, was confident and fluid in her delivery. She was easy to follow and gave a good amount of support during the Q & A section. It delivered a great overview of mechanisms of actions, usages, and practical information to implement in clinic.

Kiowa Reynolds