Red Root

Anyone used it with Babesia as part of an extensive protocol? Buhners opinion seems to vary depending on the source about how dangerous the coagulant effect is. At a wildcrafting class this week and was told NOT to use it with anticoagulants. Anyways turns out it grows all around me. I have babesia though my titers are very low and the only specific symptom I have is mild-moderate air hunger. I'd like to use it as general organ support but I don't know if buhner is just being overly cautious, referring mainly to severe/acute babesiosis, or if this is something I really have to be careful with. Any experiences/knowledge with this?

Be aware of some contraindications with the use of Gingko Biloba.

Major Interaction Do not take this combination
Ibuprofen interacts with GINKGO
Ginkgo can slow blood clotting. Ibuprofen can also slow blood clotting. Taking ginkgo with ibuprofen can slow blood clotting too much and increase the chance of bruising and bleeding.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with GINKGO
Ginkgo can slow blood clotting. Taking ginkgo along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with GINKGO
Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Ginkgo might also slow blood clotting. Taking ginkgo along with warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.


Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination
Alprazolam (Xanax) interacts with GINKGO
Taking Ginkgo along with alprazolam might decrease the effects of alprazolam.

Buspirone (BuSpar) interacts with GINKGO
Ginkgo seems to affect the brain. Buspirone (BuSpar) also affects the brain. One person felt hyper and overexcited when taking ginkgo, buspirone (BuSpar), and other medications. It is unclear if this interaction was caused by ginkgo or the other medications.

Efavirenz (Sustiva) interacts with GINKGO
Efavirenz is used to treat HIV infection. Taking efavirenz along with ginkgo extract might decrease the effects of efavirenz. Before taking ginkgo, talk to your healthcare provider if you take medications for HIV.

Fluoxetine (Prozac) interacts with GINKGO
Taking ginkgo along with St. John's wort, other herbs and fluoxetine (Prozac) might cause you to feel irritated, nervous, jittery, and excited. This is called hypomania. It's not known if this is a concern when just ginkgo is taken with fluoxetine (Prozac).

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with GINKGO
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginkgo might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking ginkgo along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking ginkgo talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.

Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) substrates) interacts with GINKGO
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginkgo might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking ginkgo with these medications might decrease how well the medication works. Before taking ginkgo, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.

Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), carisoprodol (Soma), citalopram (Celexa), diazepam (Valium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), phenytoin (Dilantin), warfarin (Coumadin), and many others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with GINKGO
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginkgo might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking ginkgo along with these medications that are change by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of your medication. Before taking ginkgo talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.

Some medications that are changed by this liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), diazepam (Valium), zileuton (Zyflo), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates) interacts with GINKGO
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginkgo might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking ginkgo along with some medications that are change by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of your medication. Before taking ginkgo talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.

Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), trazodone (Desyrel), and others.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with GINKGO
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginkgo might affect how quickly the liver breaks down some medications, and lead to a variety of effects and side effects. Before taking ginkgo talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.

Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), diltiazem (Cardizem), estrogens, indinavir (Crixivan), triazolam (Halcion), and others.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with GINKGO
Diabetes medications are used to lower blood sugar. Ginkgo might increase or decrease insulin and blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Taking ginkgo along with diabetes medications might decrease how well your medication works. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Medications that increase the chance of having a seizure (Seizure threshold lowering drugs) interacts with GINKGO
Some medications increase the chance of having a seizure. Taking ginkgo might cause seizures in some people. Taking medications that increase the chance of having a seizure along with ginkgo might greatly increase the risk of having a seizure. Do not take ginkgo with medications that increase the chance of having a seizure.

Some medications that increase the chance of having a seizure include anesthesia (propofol, others), antiarrhythmics (mexiletine), antibiotics (amphotericin, penicillin, cephalosporins, imipenem), antidepressants (bupropion, others), antihistamines (cyproheptadine, others), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine), narcotics (fentanyl, others), stimulants (methylphenidate), theophylline, and others.

Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with GINKGO
Medications used to prevent seizures affect chemicals in the brain. Ginkgo can also affect chemicals in the brain. By affecting chemicals in the brain, ginkgo might decrease the effectiveness of medications used to prevent seizures.
Some medications used to prevent seizures include phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), valproic acid (Depakene), gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others.

Trazodone (Desyrel) interacts with GINKGO
Trazodone (Desyrel) affects chemicals in the brain. Ginkgo can also affect chemicals in the brain. Taking trazodone (Desyrel) along with ginkgo might cause serious side effects in the brain. One person taking trazodone and ginkgo went into a coma. Do not take ginkgo if you are taking trazodone (Desyrel).


Minor Interaction Be watchful with this combination
Hydrochlorothiazide interacts with GINKGO
Hydrochlorothiazide is used to help decrease swelling and control blood pressure. Taking hydrochlorothiazide along with ginkgo might increase blood pressure. Before taking ginkgo talk to your healthcare professional if you take medications for high blood pressure.

Omeprazole (Prilosec) interacts with GINKGO
Omeprazole (Prilosec) is changed and broken down by the liver. Ginkgo might increase how fast the liver breaks down omeprazole (Prilosec). Taking ginkgo with omeprazole (Prilosec) might decrease how well omeprazole (Prilosec) works.

Thanks for the info on Gingko Biloba, Krimpet! Hope you don't mind me saving it because it's worthy of mention when also discussing Gingko Biloba (and I should have done so from the get-go).

As with any supplement I choose to take, I fully research before starting it. I don't take any of the meds listed but my husband does. Therefore, we opted out of Gingko supplementation for him (his meds cause memory issues and we researched Gingko in the thought it might help)

Psilociraptor -

I take a TON of stuff...herbs and supplements. I'm still following Buhner's full Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella protocols. I also take Stephania to help with the mild Bell's Palsy I've had and I recently started Solomon's Seal as well as Mullein Root - both of which hit Bell's Palsy (I've had occasional numbness in the left side of my mouth that resurfaced after I started Buhner's protocols).

Please let me know if you'd like specifics.

In fact, I'm taking so much stuff and have such mild symptoms that, on Friday, I'll be having my first consultation with Tim Scott (herbalist/fellow Lymie/owner of Green Dragon Botanicals and recommended by Buhner). He agrees that I can most likely whittle down some of what I'm taking.

I did Red Root and loved it for getting my lymph nodes calmed down. I also take Gingko. And on occasion my knees would hurt from osteoarthritis and I would take 2 Advil. I never had a problem. But I did not take Advil on any schedule, just when I needed it.