Herbs and medicines
Ginkgo and Blood Thinners: What the Bleeding Risk Means for You
Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk when taken with blood thinners such as warfarin, and bleeding has been reported with antiplatelet drugs too, according to NCCIH and LiverTox. Ask your doctor before using any product with ginkgo. Nerve Savior lists ginkgo leaf powder with no amount; label math caps it at 75 mg.
Written by the Nerve Savior editorial teamUpdated · 8 min read
The concern
Is it safe to take ginkgo with blood thinners?
Not without your doctor's okay. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says ginkgo may raise bleeding risk in people who take anticoagulants such as warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
LiverTox, an NIH reference, adds that excess bleeding has been reported when ginkgo was used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs (LiverTox, Ginkgo). These are case reports, not proof that every person will bleed. Still, a bleed can be serious, so the safe path is to ask first.
Ginkgo appears in many memory and circulation products. Nerve Savior includes it as "Gingko Biloba Powder," spelled that way on the label.
Medicines
Which blood thinners matter with ginkgo?
Two groups of drugs matter most: anticoagulants such as warfarin, and antiplatelet drugs. Both slow clotting in different ways, and both are named in NIH sources on ginkgo (NCCIH, Ginkgo) (LiverTox, Ginkgo).
| Drug group | Common examples | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Warfarin | Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk (NCCIH, Ginkgo) |
| Antiplatelet drugs | Aspirin taken daily, clopidogrel | Excess bleeding reported with ginkgo (LiverTox, Ginkgo) |
| Any medicine | Everything you take | Tell every provider about every supplement (ODS, What You Need to Know) |
If you are not sure which group your pill is in, ask your pharmacist. Take the bottle or a label photo with you.
Know the signs
What bleeding signs should you watch for?
Watch for bruising that comes easily, bleeding gums, nosebleeds that do not stop, or blood in urine or stool. Call your doctor if you notice any of these while taking ginkgo with a blood thinner.
- Large or unexplained bruises
- Bleeding gums when brushing
- Nosebleeds that last longer than usual
- Pink or dark urine, or black stool
- Cuts that keep bleeding
A sudden bad headache, vomiting blood, or weakness on one side of the body needs emergency care. Call 911.
Procedures
Should you stop ginkgo before surgery?
Tell your surgeon and dentist about ginkgo before any procedure, and ask when to stop it. NCCIH notes that some supplements can raise bleeding risk around surgery (NCCIH, Using Supplements Wisely).
Your care team will set the timing. It may depend on the procedure and on any blood thinner you also take. Do not wait until the day of surgery to mention it. Put every supplement on your pre-op form, including combination products like Nerve Savior, where ginkgo is easy to miss.
The research
Does ginkgo work for memory or circulation?
The best evidence says ginkgo does little for memory or circulation. In the GEM study, more than 3,000 adults aged 75 and older took ginkgo or a placebo for about 6 years, and ginkgo did not prevent or slow dementia (NCCIH, Ginkgo).
Dementia
No better than placebo in the GEM study. LiverTox also reports no or only modest effects (NCCIH, Ginkgo) (LiverTox, Ginkgo).
Leg pain on walking
Trials in claudication, a circulation problem in the legs, showed no or modest effects (LiverTox, Ginkgo).
Common side effects include dizziness, stomach upset and headache (NCCIH, Ginkgo). LiverTox rates ginkgo as an unlikely cause of liver injury (LiverTox, Ginkgo). No study of ginkgo for nerve symptoms in the feet is cited by these sources.
Label math
How much ginkgo is in Nerve Savior?
The label does not say. Ginkgo is eighth in a 600 mg blend, so it can weigh at most 75 mg per two capsules (600 divided by 8). Labels list blend ingredients from most to least by weight (FDA, Labeling Guide Ch. IV).
Two points stand out. First, 75 mg is a ceiling, and the real amount may be lower. Second, the label says "powder," not extract. Studies usually used 120 to 240 mg of extract a day, split into two or three doses (LiverTox, Ginkgo). Powdered leaf and a concentrated extract are not the same material.
A small amount does not equal no risk. NIH sources do not give a safe ginkgo dose for people on blood thinners. If you take warfarin or an antiplatelet drug, ask before you start any ginkgo product, including this one.
More detail is on the ginkgo ingredient page and the Supplement Facts guide.
Quick check
Is Nerve Savior a fit if you take medicines?
Run through these five questions before you order. A "yes" to the blood thinner question means talk to your doctor first.
Green tea extract in the blend also lowers levels of nadolol and atorvastatin (NCCIH, Green Tea). Read the full side effects overview.
Bottom line
What should you do before trying a ginkgo product?
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take any blood thinner. Keep taking your prescribed medicines. If you have numbness or tingling in your feet, get it checked, since diabetes, low B12 and other causes need their own care. Nerve Savior is a supplement, not a treatment for any disease.
FAQ
Ginkgo and blood thinners: common questions
Can I take ginkgo biloba with warfarin?
Only if your doctor agrees. NCCIH says ginkgo may raise bleeding risk in people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin. Your doctor may advise against it or watch you more closely. Never start or stop a supplement around warfarin without telling the person who manages your dose.
Can I take ginkgo with aspirin or clopidogrel?
Ask your doctor first. LiverTox reports excess bleeding when ginkgo was used with antiplatelet drugs, the group that includes daily aspirin and clopidogrel. The reports do not prove every user will bleed, but the risk is serious enough to check.
Can I take Nerve Savior with blood thinners?
Talk to your doctor before you do. Nerve Savior contains ginkgo leaf powder, up to 75 mg by label math, and ginkgo may raise bleeding risk with blood thinners. The exact amount is not printed, so your doctor cannot judge the dose from the label.
How long before surgery should I stop ginkgo?
Ask your surgeon, because the timing depends on the procedure and your other medicines. NCCIH notes some supplements can raise bleeding risk around surgery. List ginkgo and any product containing it, such as Nerve Savior, on your pre-op form.
Does ginkgo thin your blood?
Ginkgo is not a prescribed blood thinner, but NIH sources link it to bleeding, mainly in people who also take anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. That is why doctors ask about it before surgery and when prescribing blood thinners.
What did the GEM study find about ginkgo?
The GEM study followed more than 3,000 adults aged 75 and older for about 6 years. Ginkgo did no better than placebo at preventing or slowing dementia, according to NCCIH.
What are the side effects of ginkgo?
NCCIH lists dizziness, stomach upset and headache as common side effects, plus possible bleeding risk with blood thinners. LiverTox rates liver injury from ginkgo as unlikely. Stop and call your doctor if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the order page and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and CDC.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and the way we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. retailer for Nerve Savior, not by the manufacturer. We get paid when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Nerve Savior
Ginkgo biloba
At most 75 mg of leaf powder, below studied doses, with a bleeding caution for anyone on blood thinners.
Read more
Side effects
Side effects and drug interactions for each Nerve Savior ingredient, plus who should skip it and when to call a doctor.
Read moreWho it's for
Who the label allows, who should ask a doctor first, and what people with diabetes should check.
Read moreUSA Authorized Nerve Savior Retailer
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