What is garlic?

Garlic is an herb also known as Ail, Ajo, Allii Sativi Bulbus, Allium, Allium sativum, Camphor of the Poor, Da Suan, Lasun, Lasuna, Nectar of the Gods, Poor Man’s Treacle, Rason, Rust Treacle, or Stinking Rose.

Garlic is a commonly used food and flavoring agent. When used as a food product, garlic is not likely to produce health benefits or side effects. When used as a medicinal product, garlic may produce both desired and unwanted effects on the body.

Garlic products sold as health supplements may vary widely in amount of allicin, the active ingredient in garlic. Allicin is unstable and can be reduced in garlic products that are aged to reduce odor. Odorless garlic may contain little to no allicin. The lower the amount of allicin, the less effective a garlic product might be.

Garlic taken orally (by mouth) has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating high blood pressure, coronary artery disease (hardened arteries), stomach cancer, colon cancer or rectal cancer, and in preventing tick bites. Garlic applied to the skin may also be possibly effective in treating fungal skin infections such as ringworm, jock itch, or athlete’s foot.

Garlic has also been used to treat high cholesterol, stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori, cancer, or circulation problems in the legs. However, research has shown that garlic may not be effective in treating these conditions.

Other uses not proven with research have included preventing the common cold, and improving urination problems caused by an enlarged prostate.

It is not certain whether garlic is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Garlic should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Garlic is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Garlic may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Garlic side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although not all side effects are known, garlic is thought to be possibly safe when taken for a short period of time.

Stop using garlic and call your healthcare provider at once if you have:

• redness, swelling, or blistering (when applied to the skin); or
• easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums).

Common side effects (especially when eating raw garlic) may include:

• unpleasant breath or body odor;
• heartburn, burning in your mouth or throat;
• nausea, vomiting, gas or
• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA .

Warnings

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use garlic if you are allergic to it.

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have:

• a stomach ulcer;
• problems with digestion; or
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia.

Ask a doctor before using garlic if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The use of garlic as a flavoring agent in foods is considered safe during pregnancy.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice. Garlic taken by mouth in large doses may be harmful to children.

How should I take garlic?

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to use garlic, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

Do not use different forms (cloves, tablets, oil, etc) of garlic at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose.

Do not crush, chew, or break an enteric coated pill. Swallow it whole. The pill has a special coating to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill will damage this coating.

Call your doctor if the condition you are treating with garlic does not improve, or if it gets worse while using this product.

Garlic can affect blood-clotting and may increase your risk of bleeding. If you need surgery, dental work, or a medical procedure, stop taking garlic at least 2 weeks ahead of time.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light, or as directed on the package.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and take the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line .

What should I avoid while taking garlic?

Avoid taking fish oil or vitamin E while you are taking garlic.

Also avoid using garlic together with other herbal/health supplements that can also affect blood-clotting. This includes angelica (dong quai), capsicum, clove, danshen, ginger, ginkgo, horse chestnut, panax ginseng, poplar, red clover, turmeric, and willow.

What other drugs will affect garlic?

Do not take garlic without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol);
• birth control pills;
• chlorzoxazone;
• cyclosporine;
• theophylline;
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
• HIV or AIDS medicines–delavirdine, efavirenz, nevirapine, saquinavir;
• medicine used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine, and urokinase; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)–aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

Do not take garlic without medical advice if you are using a medication to treat any of the following conditions:

• any type of infection (including HIV, malaria, or tuberculosis);
• anxiety or depression;
• asthma or allergies;
• cancer;
• erectile dysfunction;
• heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a heart condition;
• migraine headaches;
• psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders;
• a psychiatric disorder; or
• seizures.

What is  Ginkgo Biloba?

Ginkgo Biloba is a plant also known as Maidenhair tree, Ginkgo Biloba  biloba, Abricot Argente Japonais, Adiantifolia, Arbre aux Ecus, Arbre du Ciel, Arbre Fossile, Bai Guo Ye, Baiguo,  Extrait de Ginkgo Biloba, Fossil Tree, Graine de Ginkgo Biloba, Herba Ginkgo Biloba Biloba, Japanese Silver Apricot, Kew Tree, Noyer du Japon, Pei Go Su Ye, Salisburia Adiantifolia, Yen Xing, Yinhsing, Arbe aux Quarante Ecus, Extrait de Feuille de Ginkgo Biloba, Ginkgo Biloba Folium and other names.

Ginkgo Biloba has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating anxiety, certain types of dementia, premenstrual symptoms, vertigo (dizziness), stroke, schizophrenia, or a movement disorder (tardive dyskinesia) caused by taking certain antipsychotic drugs.

Ginkgo Biloba has also been used to treat memory problems, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and sexual problems caused by taking antidepressants. However, research has shown that Ginkgo Biloba may not be effective in treating these conditions.

Other uses not proven with research have included altitude sickness, macular degeneration (age-related vision loss), attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, vitiligo (discolored skin), migraine, lung disease, high cholesterol, Raynaud’s syndrome, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, blood clots, seasonal allergy, leg pain caused by blood circulation problems, cough, depression, sexual dysfunction in females, asthma, autism spectrum disorder, chronic kidney disease, cocaine dependence, vision problems, hemorrhoids, intestinal parasite infection, wound healing, and certain type of cancers.

It is not certain whether Ginkgo Biloba is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Ginkgo Biloba should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Ginkgo Biloba is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Ginkgo Biloba may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Ginkgo Biloba side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Stop using Ginkgo Biloba and call your healthcare provider at once if you have:

• fast, slow, or uneven heart rate, a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• stroke;
• ringing in your ears;
• a seizure (convulsions);
• headache, dizziness or drowsiness, sleep problems (insomnia);
• weak pulse, weak or shallow breathing, loss of consciousness; or
• unusual bleeding–nosebleeds, bleeding gums, abnormal vaginal bleeding, any bleeding that will not stop.

Common side effects of Ginkgo Biloba may include:

• stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth;
• diarrhea, constipation; or
• headache, dizziness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA .

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Warnings

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Before taking this medicine

Before using Ginkgo Biloba, talk to your healthcare provider. You may not be able to use this product if you have certain medical conditions.

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have ever had:

• diabetes;
• seizures or epilepsy;
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
• an allergy to plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac;
• food allergies; or
• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

 Ginkgo Biloba may affect fertility in men or women. Pregnancy could be harder to achieve if either parent is using this product.

Ginkgo Biloba is considered likely unsafe to use during pregnancy. Taking Ginkgo Biloba during pregnancy could cause bleeding or premature labor.

Ginkgo Biloba is considered likely unsafe to use if you are nursing a baby. Ask a doctor before using this product.

Do not give any herbal/health  supplement to a child without medical advice.

How should I take Ginkgo Biloba?

When considering the use of Ginkgo Biloba, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to use Ginkgo Biloba, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract is thought to be likely safe when taken in recommended doses. Roasted Ginkgo Biloba seeds are possibly unsafe when taken by mouth.

Fresh Ginkgo Biloba seeds in raw form are poisonous and are considered likely unsafe to eat.

Swallow the tablet or  capsule whole and do not crush, chew, open or break it.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

If you need surgery, dental work, or a medical procedure, stop taking Ginkgo Biloba at least 2 weeks ahead of time. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a planned surgery.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and take the next regularly scheduled dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line .

What should I avoid while taking Ginkgo Biloba?

Do not use different forms of Ginkgo Biloba (pills, liquids, and others) at the same time or you could have an overdose.

Avoid using Ginkgo Biloba together with other herbal/health supplements that can also affect blood-clotting. This includes angelica (dong quai), capsicum, clove, dandelion, danshen, evening primrose, garlic, ginger, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, poplar, red clover, saw palmetto, turmeric, and willow.

Avoid using Ginkgo Biloba together with other herbal/health supplements that can increase your risk of seizures. This includes EDTA, folic acid, GBL (gamma butyrolactone), GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), glutamine, hyssop oil, juniper, L-carnitine (levocarnitine), melatonin, rosemary, sage, wormwood, and others.

What other drugs will affect Ginkgo Biloba?

Do not take Ginkgo Biloba without medical advice if you are using a medication to treat any of the following conditions:

• any type of infection (including HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, or hepatitis C);
• anxiety, depression, or a mental illness;
• asthma or allergies;
• cancer;
• erectile dysfunction;
• heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a heart condition;
• migraine headaches;
• psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or
• seizures.

Do not take Ginkgo Biloba without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications:

• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• a blood thinner–warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)–aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.