--- title: Ginkgo Biloba for PMS: Benefits, Dosage and Side Effects description: Ginkgo biloba for PMS eased symptoms in two small trials, but reviews call the evidence preliminary. Here's the dosing, timing and side effects. url: https://niyora.com/treatments/ginkgo-for-pms/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Treatments](https://niyora.com/treatments/) - Ginkgo biloba for PMS: does it work? Treatment # Ginkgo biloba for PMS: does it work? Two small placebo-controlled trials found ginkgo biloba eased PMS symptoms, especially breast tenderness and swelling, when taken from day 16 of the cycle to day 5 of the next. Systematic reviews call that evidence preliminary, not strong enough to recommend ginkgo on its own, and it carries a bleeding risk worth knowing about before you try it. Updated 14 October 2026 Niyora editorial Limited evidence Strength of evidence Limited Only small or early studies so far. - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong ## At a glance - Two small placebo-controlled trials (n=90 and n=165) found ginkgo eased PMS symptoms, especially breast tenderness and swelling, more than placebo. - Systematic reviews of PMS supplements call the evidence preliminary, not strong enough to recommend ginkgo on its own. - The trials that showed benefit used ginkgo from day 16 of the cycle to day 5 of the next; the 1993 trial dosed this way for two full cycles, and the 2009 trial's abstract doesn't specify how long treatment ran. - Ginkgo can increase bleeding risk, which matters if you take blood thinners or have surgery planned. - Calcium and vitamin B6 have stronger research support for PMS than ginkgo does. ## Strength of evidence Limited evidence - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong Two small randomized trials (n=90 and n=165) found ginkgo eased PMS symptoms, especially breast tenderness, more than placebo. Systematic reviews of PMS supplements rate that data as preliminary and insufficient to recommend ginkgo on its own, placing it well below calcium or vitamin B6 in evidence strength. ## Does ginkgo biloba help with PMS? Two small trials found that ginkgo eased PMS symptoms more than a placebo did, especially breast tenderness and swelling. But the trials were small, and the bigger reviews that pooled herbal remedies for PMS call the evidence too thin to recommend ginkgo on its own. In a 2009 trial of 90 women with PMS, those taking ginkgo saw their overall symptom severity drop by 23.68 percent, compared with 8.74 percent on placebo ( [1]). An earlier 1993 trial of 165 women found that a standardized ginkgo extract eased congestive symptoms like breast pain more than placebo did, with the difference reaching statistical significance ( [2]). Both results are encouraging for a herbal option with relatively few known side effects. **Ginkgo might help, but it hasn't been studied enough to call it proven.** If you're still working out whether what you feel each month fits PMS at all, [what is PMS, explained](https://niyora.com/premenstrual-syndrome/) is a good place to start. ## What does the research say? Only a handful of trials have tested ginkgo for PMS, and the systematic reviews that pooled this evidence are more cautious than the individual trials sound on their own. | Study | Design | What it found | | --- | --- | --- | | 2009 trial, 90 women | Randomized, placebo-controlled | Ginkgo group's symptoms dropped more than the placebo group's ( [1]) | | 1993 trial, 165 women | Randomized, placebo-controlled | Standardized extract eased breast tenderness and swelling ( [2]) | | 2009 systematic review | Review of PMS herbs and supplements | Rated ginkgo's evidence as preliminary, not conclusive ( [4]) | | 2006 systematic review | Review of PMS supplements | Called the data on ginkgo insufficient to recommend it ( [6]) | | 2016 systematic review | Review across herbal remedies | Found ginkgo's track record in other conditions mixed too ( [3]) | The pattern repeats across reviews: individual trials look promising, but reviewers keep landing on the same word for ginkgo, preliminary. ## How do you take ginkgo for PMS? The two positive trials used ginkgo in a specific way, starting partway through the cycle rather than every single day. - 40 mg of ginkgo leaf extract, three times a day, from day 16 of the cycle until day 5 of the next one ( [1]) - A standardized extract called EGb 761, taken on the same day 16 to day 5 schedule ( [2]) - The 1993 trial ran this pattern for two full menstrual cycles before measuring results; the 2009 trial's abstract doesn't say how many cycles of treatment followed There's no official PMS dose for ginkgo, since no major guideline has set one. Product strength varies a lot between brands, so match the extract and dose to what the trials used before you buy, especially if you take other medication. ## How long does it take to work? Neither trial measured relief before the end of a full cycle, so there's no good data on how fast ginkgo starts working. The two trials measured it differently. - The 1993 extract trial dosed women on the day 16 to day 5 schedule across two consecutive cycles before measuring results ( [2]) - The 2009 trial used two cycles of symptom diaries to confirm each woman's PMS diagnosis before she started treatment; its published abstract doesn't say how many cycles of ginkgo followed ( [1]) Either way, two cycles is a reasonable timeline to judge ginkgo by, not two days or even one. If you decide to try it, give it that long before deciding whether it's doing anything for you. A daily symptom chart, like a [DRSP chart](https://niyora.com/tools/drsp-chart/), makes the pattern easier to see than trying to remember how last month compared with this one. ## What are the side effects? Ginkgo is generally well tolerated in the research available, but it isn't risk-free. - The clearest documented concern is bleeding risk: a review of herbs commonly used by women found that ginkgo increases the risk of bleeding ( [5]) - A broader review of herbal remedies warned that herb-drug interactions are a real possibility, even when a herb is otherwise mild ( [3]) - The PMS trials themselves described ginkgo as well tolerated overall, but neither published a detailed breakdown of side effects ( [1], [2]) **The bleeding risk is the one worth taking seriously**, especially if you're already on medication that affects clotting, or if you bruise easily. It's also the main reason doctors ask about ginkgo before any kind of surgery. ## Who should avoid ginkgo for PMS? Because ginkgo can affect how your blood clots, it isn't a good match for everyone, even though it's sold without a prescription. - You take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder - You have surgery or a dental procedure coming up - You're pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding, since there isn't good safety data for any of these situations - You already take another supplement or medication that affects bleeding, like fish oil or high-dose vitamin E **If any of this applies to you, see a doctor before starting ginkgo**, rather than assuming over the counter means risk-free. A doctor can also tell you whether ginkgo makes sense alongside anything else you're already taking. ## What else helps alongside it? Ginkgo is one option among many, and it isn't the best-studied one. Reviews of PMS supplements rate calcium and vitamin B6 as having stronger evidence, with chasteberry close behind ( [4], [6]). For a fuller picture of what's backed by research, see [PMS treatment: what actually helps](https://niyora.com/treatments/pms-treatment/). If your symptoms sound more like PMDD than PMS, the picture changes: see [ginkgo for PMDD](https://niyora.com/treatments/ginkgo-for-pmdd/) and consider [finding a PMDD specialist](https://niyora.com/care/pmdd-specialist/). While you wait to see whether ginkgo, or anything else, is actually helping, the emotional side of PMS doesn't pause for research timelines. Niyora is a PMS and PMDD support app. Its Moon feature lets you write down what happened in a hard moment, see it from another angle, and calm down before you decide what to say. From the research library ## Research on ginkgo 11 studies in the library look at ginkgo in PMS and PMDD. They were published from 1993 to 2025, and each one has a short summary of what was tested and found. 11 studies, 1993 to 2025 How strong the studies are Strong study design 1 Moderate study design 6 Early or limited evidence 4 - [Systematic review, 2009Which herbs, vitamins and minerals help treat PMS?Only calcium has good evidence to work for PMS. Chasteberry and vitamin B6 may help, but most of the 62 products people try lack proper research.Strong study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/herbs-vitamins-and-minerals-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-a-2009/) - [Review, 2023Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms?Herbs like chaste berry and supplements like calcium and magnesium may help with PMS. Evidence is strongest when combined with lifestyle changes and therapy, though more research is needed.Moderate study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-an-overview-of-the-review-analysis-and-potential-role-of-2023/) - [Survey study, 2012What treatments help menstrual migraine and PMS symptoms?Several treatments have evidence including triptans, NSAIDs, magnesium, phytoestrogens, and certain birth control pills. More research is needed to compare treatments.Moderate study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-migraine-2012/) - [Randomised trial, 2009Does Ginkgo biloba reduce PMS symptoms?Yes. Ginkgo biloba reduced symptoms by 23.68% compared to 8.74% with placebo, a significant difference. However, both groups improved, suggesting a substantial placebo effect.Moderate study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-randomized-placebo-controlled-trial-of-ginkgo-biloba-l-in-treatment-of-2009/) - [Randomised trial, 2006Which dietary supplements and herbs work for PMS?Calcium and vitamin B6 have the best evidence for PMS. Evening primrose oil and magnesium have conflicting results. Other supplements like Vitex need more and better research.Moderate study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/dietary-supplements-and-herbal-remedies-for-premenstrual-syndrome-pms-a-2006/) - [Review, 2003Do complementary and alternative medicine treatments work for PMS and PMDD?Some treatments like exercise, mind-body approaches, and certain herbs and supplements have good evidence of working. Many other approaches lack conclusive evidence.Moderate study design](https://niyora.com/research/papers/an-integrative-medicine-approach-to-premenstrual-syndrome-2003/) [See all 11 studies on ginkgo biloba](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ginkgo/) ## Questions people ask Does ginkgo biloba help with PMS symptoms? + Ginkgo biloba eased PMS symptoms, especially breast tenderness and swelling, in two small placebo-controlled trials. Larger reviews of the research call the evidence preliminary. It's reasonable to try ginkgo alongside better-studied options for PMS, not as a stand-alone fix. How much ginkgo should I take for PMS? + The trials that found benefit used ginkgo leaf extract, 40 mg three times a day, or a standardized extract called EGb 761, both starting on day 16 of the cycle through day 5 of the next. There's no official PMS dose, and label strength varies a lot between brands, so match the extract and amount to what the trials used before buying it. Can I take ginkgo biloba with other PMS treatments? + The ginkgo trials didn't test interactions with common PMS treatments like SSRIs or hormonal birth control. Because ginkgo affects bleeding risk and herbal remedies can interact with medication, mention it to whoever manages your other prescriptions before adding it to your routine. Is ginkgo biloba safe to take every day for PMS? + In the trials that showed benefit, ginkgo wasn't taken every day. Women took it only from day 16 of the cycle to day 5 of the next, then stopped until the following cycle. That cycle-based pattern, not continuous daily use, is what the evidence covers so far. Who shouldn't take ginkgo biloba for PMS? + Ginkgo isn't a safe default if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, have surgery coming up, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can affect bleeding risk, and safety data for pregnancy and breastfeeding is limited. ## Sources - 1. [A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba L. in treatment of premenstrual syndrome](https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2008.0493), Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2009 - 2. [[Value of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) in the management of congestive symptoms of premenstrual syndrome]](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8235261/), Revue francaise de gynecologie et d'obstetrique, 1993 - 3. [A Critical Approach to Evaluating Clinical Efficacy, Adverse Events and Drug Interactions of Herbal Remedies](https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5591), Phytotherapy research : PTR, 2016 - 4. [Herbs, vitamins and minerals in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19923637/), The Canadian journal of clinical pharmacology = Journal canadien de pharmacologie clinique, 2009 - 5. [Herbs commonly used by women: an evidence-based review](https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2003.402), American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 2003 - 6. [Dietary supplements and herbal remedies for premenstrual syndrome (PMS): a systematic research review of the evidence for their efficacy](https://doi.org/10.1080/02646830600974170), Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2006 Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗ On this page - [Does ginkgo biloba help with PMS?](#does-ginkgo-biloba-help-with-pms) - [What does the research say?](#what-does-the-research-say) - [How do you take ginkgo for PMS?](#how-do-you-take-ginkgo-for-pms) - [How long does it take to work?](#how-long-does-it-take-to-work) - [What are the side effects?](#what-are-the-side-effects) - [Who should avoid ginkgo for PMS?](#who-should-avoid-ginkgo-for-pms) - [What else helps alongside it?](#what-else-helps-alongside-it) - [Research](#research) - [Questions](#faq) Niyora PMS & PMDD support For the hard moment before your period. Private, no account. [Get it on iPhone](https://apps.apple.com/app/niyora-pms-emotions/id6764561688) ## Keep reading Treatment Ginkgo for PMDD: does it work? Treatment PMS treatment: what actually helps Condition What is PMS? Premenstrual syndrome, explained Care guide Finding a PMDD specialist Guide All 26 research findings