Last update: Feb. 20, 2018
Moderately safe. Probably compatible.
Mild risk possible. Follow up recommended.
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Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM´s pediatricians and pharmacists, and are based on updated scientific publications.
It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it.
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Fossil Tree is also known as Ginkgo. Here it is a list of alternative known names::
Fossil Tree in other languages or writings:
Fossil Tree belongs to these groups or families:
Main tradenames from several countries containing Fossil Tree in its composition:
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e-lactancia is a resource recommended by Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine from United States of America
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The leaves of the tree are used. It contains flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol...), tannins, terpene lactones (ginkgolides), steroids…
Properties attributed to it in traditional medicine without solid scientific evidence: venotonic agent, capillary protector, cerebral vasodilator (neuroprotective) and platelet antiaggregant (McKenna 2001, WHO 1999).
Indications from Commission E of the German Ministry of Health: cerebral insufficiency, intermittent claudication and vertigo.
The Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepts its use in cognitive impairment associated with age and in adult patients with mild dementia and in mild peripheral circulatory problems: leg heaviness, coldness of hands or feet (EMA 2015).
Due to the lack of published data on this plant in relation to breastfeeding (Sachs 2013) and as it may cause side effects (Roland 2012, Etheridge 2009, Tesch 2003), most medical associations and experts discourage it during breastfeeding (the Royal Women's Hospital 2013, Amir 2011, Dugoua 2006, Wong 1998).
Precautions when taking plant preparations:
1. Make sure they are from a reliable source: poisoning has occurred due to confusion of one plant with another with toxic properties, poisonings due to heavy metals that are extracted from the soil and food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi.
2. Do not take in excess; follow recommendations from experts in phytotherapy. “Natural” products are not always good in any quantity: the plants contain active substances from which a large part of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause poisoning or act as endocrine disruptors (they contain phytoestrogens: Powers 2015) if they are consumed in large quantities or over very extended time periods.
Do not take solutions or tinctures with alcohol content.