Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Ginko Biloba, garlic & Ibuprofin

Has anyone found Ginko Biloba to be helpful with altitude sickness?
How about garlic tablets?

Also, I read on this message board years ago that Ginko and regular aspirin shouldn't be taken together. True?
(I already take ibuprofen every 8 hours above 12,000 feet.)

Why the ibuprofen?

I take ibuprofen for headaches associated with altitude, and I've found that if I wait until I *have* a headache, it hardly works. Popping a pill two or three times a day seems to do the trick.

I've taken some of it. Last hike I took Ginko, Excedrin and about 1/4 dose of Diamox. I did the same on the hike before, but added CoQ10. I really don't know if they actually work as I've never felt too bad at altitude.

Here's some stuff from a site called High Altitude Medicine Guide:

Ginko Biloba for the prevention of AMS
Ginkgo initially appeared to be a promising new drug for the prevention of altitude illness, but much more data has now been accumulated in multiple well-designed studies, and there is no demonstrable benefit to taking Ginkgo. Ginkgo is no better than placebo for prevention of AMS, and Ginkgo plus acetazolamide (Diamox) is no better than acetazolamide alone.

I would think that Ginko, CoQ10, etc, can't hurt.

Ibuprofin helps with the headache, and Diamox (prescription only - talk to your doctor) can help prevent the symptoms if taken before you reach high altitude. Diamox is also a mild diuretic, requiring more than normal fluid intake in order to remain hydrated. Diamox also make beer taste really strange...

A pseudo-health-food cure, like Ginko, might be wishful thinking.

Bigfoot, I used Ginko a couple of months ago for Whitney - I have no idea whether it helped, but I don't think it hurt. Most mountaineers that applaud the stuff suggest starting a regimen 1-2 weeks out from being at altitude. It supposedly helps the body process oxygenation better, always a good thing above 10,000 feet.

The aspirin suggestion is as a prophylatctic aid - taken shortly prior to ascending to altitude and then continued every 4-6 hours as necessary. Two physicians who are members of the WPS board (Ken and Harvey Lankford) recommend this. I followed their advice in July. They both also recommend ibuprofin versus other painkillers once an altitude headache becomes apparent - I'm sure because of it's anti-inflammatory characteristics.

Of course, acclimation is the best preventative medicine, and I slept 5 nights at 8000 feet before Whitney this year, as well as taking dayhikes to 12K'. After experiencing severe AMS on Whitney last year, I was determined that I would not repeat the experience. Using all 3 strategies, I had zero issues at altitude this last time.

You're right on with this statement.

Most are now saying ginko doesn't help. I don't think there's any negative effects to using it though. Garlic may or may not help with altitude but a steady diet of it seems to help keep the mosquitoes from bothering me quite as much (along with a vitamin B complex)

Ibuprofen won't help you acclimatize. It will help reduce the symptoms of a headache but that's about it. Keep in mind though all that's doing is masking your symptoms. The reason you get a headache at altitude is from dehydration and lack of oxygen. Taking ibuprofen doesn't help with either of these. More water, calculated pacing, acclimatization, and lots of breathing are the answers to prevent AMS. The only definitive treatment for AMS is to descend.

Hi Kurt. Agree with you. To summarize the key words:

Acclimatization is the best preventative.

Descent is the definitive treatment.

Harvey

Thank you all for your feedback. I'll blow off using the ginko & garlic.

An interesting note about Kurt's suggestion to "keep breathing": For years, it baffled me how I *never* got AMS while ascending, but within minutes after resting, setting camp, or heading downhill, it often hits me. Someone suggested that, while I'm at rest, I **keep breathing nearly as hard as I do when I'm ascending.** Just like that: no more AMS.

Since we are on the topic of AMS . . . last year, my daughter suddenly started experiencing numbness in her arms and hands while we were on the summit . . . to the point that she couldn't hold anything. I tried warming her up inside the hut (it was very cold with strong winds) to no avail. We cut our stay on top short and hustled as much as possible down the trail. By the time we reached Trail Camp, she was feeling much better and could at least drink on her own (until that point, she couldn't hold her trekking poles, zip her jacket or even hold a bottle of water to drink). I've looked up symptoms of AMS and this doesn't seem to be a classic symptom . . . does any one have any thoughts? Two years prior to that, we summited with no similar issues.

seems like 2 most likely possibilities are:

(1) hypothermia
(2) stroke-like symptoms from HACE (not simple AMS.) While AMS symptoms usually preceed the onset of HACE, that is not always true. It can be very rapid, or at least the patient is not aware that it is happening.

Descent provided for her both more oxygen pressure and warmth, so it worked for whatever. Considering the altitude and rarity of HACE on Whitney, the default Dx is likely hypothermia - it can present with weird symptoms, including neurological.

You know the familiar story? The hypothermic victim was found lying there having inappropriately removed their down coat and gloves... This is one of the reasons hypothermic (or hypoxic) patients should be escorted down.

Harvey

Does anyone recall why ginko biloba has been tried for altitude sickness? I know that in some cultures it's used as a way to forestall memory/cognitive problems, but is there any use of it by people who live at high altitude? Articles that you find via google don't indicate why ginko has been suggested, or at least none that I've found.

Thanks for your input Harvey. It certainly was scary - never thought about the cold.