The Magic Pill

I remember back in high school there was a craze over ginkgo biloba. It supposedly enhances your memory and many of my classmates turned to them in an effort to boost their academic performances. This seemed very odd because I relied on hard work and preparation for my grades.

Since ginkgo is made from the leaves of a ginkgo biloba tree, not much second thought plays into the decision of taking this herbal supplement. Manufacturers of ginkgo claim that it can improve memory abilities in normal, healthy subjects in as little as four weeks. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) thought otherwise in their August 21, 2002 issue.

Paul Solomon, Ph.D., conducted a study at Williams College in which the ginkgo pill and a placebo were given to two separate groups that did not observe any memory problems. His aim was to only measure the level of improvement in a healthy individual. The study lasted for 6 weeks and both groups were given exams evaluating their memory skills before, during, and after the trial. Oddly, there was no improvement in both groups!

I believe that if a person were to take a pill believing that it will boost their memory (just as some turn to a final “good luck” prayer) to top off their hard work thus far, they will see the fruits of their own labor. Psychologically, they will want and will try to do better. But if one were to rely on such a magic pill, that reliance will lead to failure. So, hard work actually pays off!