The Holistic Pet, featured column by Dr. Shawn P. Messonnier,
in association with Amazon.com

Q: Dear Dr. Shawn: ”I read in one of your past columns about using ginkgo for cognitive disorder. However, I also recently heard that a new study showed that ginkgo was not effective when tested in people. Could you address this issue in your column and tell me what’s the current status of this herb?”

A: ”Ginkgo is one therapy that has been proven to be of benefit in people with mild cognitive disorder, and is one of the supplements I recommend for dogs and cats with this problem as well. Currently, my favorite treatment of cognitive disorder is choline supplementation plus B vitamins and antioxidants; ginkgo is another option I occasionally recommend. The study you mention was done by the NIH (National Institute of Health) in 2001. In the study, 230 people over age 60 were given memory tests and their scores recorded. Then, half of the people were given a placebo and half were given a ginkgo biloba supplement for 6 weeks. Following the 6 weeks, all participants were then retested on the memory tests and their scores recorded. The scores following ginkgo supplement were no better than those folks on placebo or the scores given at the start of the 6 week trial period. The NIH concluded that ginkgo did not improve scores on memory tests, and this is what the media reported. Unfortunately, there is more to this story than this simple conclusion. Holistic doctors like me were not at all surprised at the conclusion, because ginkgo does not work in normal people to make them smarter (just like Viagra does not help normal men.) Ginkgo has a long history of helping people with early cognitive disorder however, and it is for this purpose that it is most commonly prescribed. So while the study confirmed that ginkgo does not help normal people improve their memory, the study did not address the fact that ginkgo is not needed by normal, healthy people but does help those with impaired mental ability. While the NIH did not test ginkgo in pets in this study, many holistic veterinarians and herbalists do believe that ginkgo can be helpful for pets with cognitive disorder. This NIH study reminds me of a study I reported on last year that showed that St. John’s wort did not help people with severe depression. As I reported in that column, it was not widely reported that the study also showed that Prozac was not more effective than placebo either. The media reports also failed to mention that neither St. John’s wort nor Prozac are indicated for severe depression, but rather are prescribed for patients with mild or moderate depression, for which both work quite well. It is wise to always question any medical reporting and try and get all of the facts.”

Dr. Shawn Messonnier is the author of the award-winning The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. Please address questions to him at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park Blvd., Plano, Tx, 75075, call him at 972-867-8800, or email him at:
Dr. Shawn Messonier

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