Homoeopathic Pathogenetic Trial of Ginkgo biloba: A Multicentric, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Medicinal plants play a significant role in traditional and modern medicine. Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba), an ancient plant used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5000 years, has diverse pharmacological actions, including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects. Despite its extensive usage, systematic homoeopathic trials to understand its pathogenetic effects are limited. To elicit the pathogenetic effects of G. biloba on healthy human volunteers. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled homoeopathic pathogenetic trial was conducted across three centers in India to assess the effects of G. biloba on apparently healthy volunteers and identify its symptomatology. This study included 48 healthy volunteers (15 males and 33 females), randomized into a verum group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 17). The trial was conducted using four potencies of G. biloba (6C, 12C, 30C, and 200C) administered in a controlled, blinded manner. Data was recorded using a standardized format. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed, comparing baseline and post-trial observations, including laboratory and radiological findings. The verum group (31 provers) had a pathogenetic incidence rate of 32.25%, with an average of two symptoms per prover. The drug has shown its effects on almost all the organ systems, including the mind. Symptoms included anxiety, restlessness, headache, and skin complaints which were already present in old literature and a few new symptoms were reported. The overall pathogenetic effects seem to be deficient in contrast to its extensive use in scientific literature. Future studies using lower, non-toxic potencies may be conducted in diverse geographic regions to explore additional therapeutic applications and enhance the clinical relevance of G. biloba.