Ginkgo: An Antioxidant You Can Drink

[Christine]

• Ginkgo, which has been popular in the East for many years, comes from the nut of the Ginkgo biloba tree, believed to be the oldest living tree species.
• Ginkgo is full of a substance called quercetin, a common and powerful antioxidant. In fact, mounting research indicates that ginkgo's anti-inflammatory and defensive properties are particularly strong. While I certainly wouldn't suggest abandoning other antioxidant mainstays entirely (the research into coenzyme Q10, green tea, and vitamin C, for example, is still much more thorough), anyone with acne, eczema, or other types of facial redness and inflammation, in particular, may benefit from products with ginkgo.
• A 2003 study also suggested that ginkgo may effectively halt de-pigmentation - that is, the patchy loss of skin's natural color - and aid in re-pigmentation. While I will need to see much more research before I can comment on ginkgo's success in this department, promising new treatments for pigmentation disorders are always welcome!
• For all its potential benefits, though, ginkgo does have one known downside: It can lead to increased bruising from dermatological injections like Botox or dermal fillers. If you take ginkgo orally, stop about a week before those procedures (and, as always, discuss any new supplements with your doctor).