Ingredient 7 of 9
Ginkgo Biloba in NervoMax: What the Big Trials Found and Who Should Skip It
NervoMax lists "Gingko Biloba Powder" with no amount. In the largest trial, 3,069 older adults took a standardized extract for about 6 years and it did not prevent dementia (DeKosky et al., 2008). Cochrane found no meaningful benefit for leg circulation pain (Cochrane, Ginkgo 2013). Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
Written by the NervoMax editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is ginkgo, and why is it in NervoMax?
Ginkgo biloba is a tree whose leaves are sold for memory and circulation. NervoMax lists it seventh of nine, spelled "Gingko Biloba Powder" on the label. Brand art talks about memory, which may explain why it is there. The label does not say.
| Label name | Gingko Biloba Powder |
|---|---|
| What it is | Ginkgo biloba · Tree leaf |
| Position on the label | 7 of 9 (labels list blend ingredients from most to least by weight) |
| Amount on the label | Undisclosed share of the 600 mg blend |
| What research has used | 240 mg a day of extract for about 6 years (GEM trial) |
| Strength of evidence | Did not prevent dementia; no clear nerve benefit |
| What it is sold for | Sold for memory and circulation |
| Main caution | May raise bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin. |
Label wording
Is ginkgo powder the same as ginkgo extract?
No. A leaf powder is dried, ground leaf. A standardized extract is concentrated and made to hit set levels of marker compounds. The big trials used a standardized leaf extract (DeKosky et al., 2008), so their results do not carry straight over to plain powder.
Label order adds one clue. Six ingredients sit above ginkgo in a 600 mg blend, so it cannot be more than one-seventh of the total: about 86 mg per 2 capsules. The real share is not published.
Evidence ladder
How strong is the evidence behind the blend?
Each rung shows how directly a line of research answers one question: will this help my nerves?
- B12 if lowB12 deficiency causes numbness
Fixing a real deficiency helps. Most people are not deficient. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
- B vitaminsCochrane review: 13 trials
Evidence is insufficient to say B vitamins help nerve pain or tingling. (Cochrane, B vitamins)
- Bacopa9 memory trials
Small gains in attention speed after 12 weeks. Memory, not nerves. (Kongkeaw et al., 2014)
- GinkgoWalking pain trials
No meaningful benefit for leg circulation pain. (Cochrane, Ginkgo 2013)
- NervoMaxNo study of the product
No trial of NervoMax for numbness, tingling or nerve health. (FTC, Health claims)
Bar length shows how directly each line of evidence answers the question: will this blend help my nerves? It is our editorial summary of the linked sources, not a score from any study.
Memory
Does ginkgo prevent memory loss or dementia?
The best evidence says no. The GEM trial gave 3,069 adults aged 75 and older 120 mg of extract twice a day, or a placebo, for a median of 6.1 years. Dementia rates did not differ (DeKosky et al., 2008).
A Cochrane review of 36 trials called the evidence of benefit inconsistent and unreliable (Cochrane, Ginkgo 2009). U.S. federal experts agree that large studies did not show ginkgo lowers dementia risk (NCCIH, Ginkgo) (NCCIH, Cognition digest), and they advise against delaying a visit about memory problems (NCCIH, 7 things). More on this in our post on bacopa and ginkgo memory research.
Circulation
Does ginkgo help circulation or tingling legs?
Not in a way people would notice. A Cochrane review of 14 trials with 739 people with leg pain from poor circulation found no clinically significant benefit (Cochrane, Ginkgo 2013).
No study listed by these sources tested ginkgo for numbness or tingling from nerve damage. If your feet tingle, a doctor should look for the cause, such as diabetes, low B12 or too much vitamin B6.
Side by side
How does NervoMax's ginkgo compare with the trials?
| Source | Form | Amount a day | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEM trial (3,069 adults) | Standardized extract | 240 mg | No drop in dementia over about 6 years |
| Cochrane, dementia (36 trials) | Mostly extracts | Varied | Inconsistent, unreliable benefit |
| Cochrane, leg pain (14 trials) | Extracts | Varied | No clinically significant benefit |
| NervoMax, 2 capsules | Leaf powder | Not published (at most about 86 mg) | No study of the product |
Safety
Is ginkgo safe with blood thinners?
Ask first. Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk, especially with blood thinners such as warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo). The small, unknown amount in NervoMax does not remove that question.
If you take warfarin or another blood thinner, or bruise or bleed easily, talk to your doctor before starting NervoMax. Tell your surgeon or dentist about every supplement before a procedure.
- Bring the bottle so your pharmacist can see every ingredient.
- Report unusual bruising, nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
- Check the full list on NervoMax side effects.
Tolerance
What are the side effects of ginkgo?
Most people tolerate ginkgo leaf products. Reported side effects include headache, stomach upset and allergic skin reactions (NCCIH, Ginkgo). Raw or roasted ginkgo seeds are a different matter: they can be poisonous, and they are not what supplements use.
Think of a 68-year-old who takes a daily low-dose aspirin and wants help with tingling toes. Ginkgo adds a bleeding question, and it does not answer the tingling. Her first step is a checkup, with the NervoMax bottle in her bag.
Next steps
What should you ask before taking ginkgo?
Ask whether any of your medicines raise bleeding risk, and whether memory or tingling needs a workup first. In fairness, the label names ginkgo openly. Next on the label is vitamin B12.
FAQ
Ginkgo in NervoMax: common questions
Does ginkgo biloba help nerve pain or neuropathy?
No good evidence shows that. The sources we cite tested ginkgo for memory and leg circulation, not nerve damage, and found no meaningful benefit for either. Numbness and tingling need a cause found by a doctor, such as diabetes or low B12.
How much ginkgo is in NervoMax?
The label does not print it. Ginkgo is the seventh of nine ingredients in a 600 mg blend, so it cannot exceed about 86 mg per 2 capsules. The GEM trial used 240 mg a day of a standardized extract.
Can I take ginkgo with warfarin or aspirin?
Ask your doctor first. Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk, especially with blood thinners such as warfarin. That applies to NervoMax too, since it contains ginkgo. Your doctor or pharmacist can weigh your full medicine list.
Does ginkgo improve memory?
Large trials say no. In the GEM trial, 3,069 adults aged 75 and older took ginkgo extract for about 6 years with no drop in dementia. A Cochrane review of 36 trials found benefit inconsistent and unreliable.
What is the difference between ginkgo powder and extract?
Powder is dried, ground leaf. An extract is concentrated and standardized to set levels of marker compounds. The major trials used a standardized extract, while NervoMax lists ginkgo powder with no ratio, marker level or amount.
Should I stop ginkgo before surgery or dental work?
Ask your surgeon or dentist, and tell them about every supplement you take, including NervoMax. Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk, so your care team may ask you to pause it before a procedure. Follow their timing rather than guessing on your own.
Does ginkgo help poor circulation in the legs?
Not meaningfully. A Cochrane review of 14 trials and 739 people with leg pain from poor circulation found no clinically significant benefit. If your legs ache when you walk, see a doctor to check your circulation.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and Cochrane.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Nervomax, a USA authorized NervoMax retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about NervoMax
Bacopa and ginkgo for memory
Bacopa showed small gains in attention speed; ginkgo did not prevent dementia. How that compares with NervoMax brand art.
Read more
Side Effects
Side effects by ingredient, the vitamin B6 nerve problem, drug interactions and when to get help fast.
Read more
Ingredients
All nine NervoMax ingredients in label order, what each one is, and what the 600 mg blend leaves out.
Read moreUSA Authorized NervoMax Retailer
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