Ginkgo and Bruising
posted in - CAM watch, - Palmdoc |
A bruise in the medial aspect of the knee in a young woman who presents with easy bruising.
Purpura simplex is a condition sometimes seen in young women especially – easy bruising with normal platelet counts and normal PT and APTT. I have come across a few patients whereby the symptoms appeared after ingesting Ginkgo.
NCCAM lists some possible adverse effects of Ginkgo:
Side Effects and Cautions
* Side effects of ginkgo may include headache, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, dizziness, or allergic skin reactions. More severe allergic reactions have occasionally been reported.
* There are some data to suggest that ginkgo can increase bleeding risk, so people who take anticoagulant drugs, have bleeding disorders, or have scheduled surgery or dental procedures should use caution and talk to a health care provider if using ginkgo.
* Uncooked ginkgo seeds contain a chemical known as ginkgotoxin, which can cause seizures. Consuming large quantities of seeds over time can cause death. Ginkgo leaf and ginkgo leaf extracts appear to contain little ginkgotoxin.
So if you see “purpura simplex” in young people with otherwise normal blood counts and clotting times, do ask about Ginkgo ingestion. That may be the cause!
Related MMR posts:
Ginkgo may not aid memory in healthy older adults
On warfarin? Be careful of what else you ingest
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July 20th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Wowww.. thanks for the alert. *mental note to ask whether patient going for op is taking ginkgo*
July 20th, 2007 at 9:42 am
We actually had a normal donor who went for stem cell harvest by apheresis and she bled +++ after the cvc insertion. Mum had fed her with Ginseng, Ginkgo to “boost” her health. I think the unusual bleeding is due to all that stuff fed to the donor.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:56 am
The other “harmless” herb is spirulina.. see more bleeding intra-op for pts taking them.