银杏

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 ^{(Blumenthal 1998)}. 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)}

Since the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breastmilk.

It has been classified as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. ^{(Sarecka 2022, IARC 2016)}

Due to the lack of published data on this plant in relation to breastfeeding (Sachs 2013) and as it may cause side effects ^{(Sarecka 2022, Mei 2017, Roland 2012, Leistner 2010, 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 ^{(Anderson 2017, Powers 2015, Posadzki 2013, Efferth 2011, Kopec 1999, Hsu 1995)}:

• Make sure they are from a reliable source: poisonings have occurred due to confusion of one plant with another with toxic properties ^{(Hsu 1995)}, poisonings due to containing heavy metals extracted from the soil, and food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi. ^{(Anderson 2017)}
• Do not take in excess; follow the recommendations of expert phytotherapy professionals. “Natural” products are not good in any quantity: plants contain active substances from which much of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause poisoning or act as endocrine disruptors if consumed in quantity or for an exaggerated time because they contain phytoestrogens. ^{(Powers 2015, Zava 1998)}