Ginkgo Biloba

 

Parts used - Leaves

 

Common Uses

  • Improves memory loss
  • Improves brain function
  • Helps reduce depression
  • Lessons symptoms of early stage Alzheimer's disease
  • Improves circulation to extremities
  • Improves long term recovery from stroke
  • Reduces Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

How Ginkgo Biloba works
Ginkgo Biloba extract makes the circulation system work more efficiently. It improves blood flow to the brain and the central nervous system, and also increases circulation to the extremities (arms and legs, hands and feet)
Reduced blood flow to the brain leads to a variety of problems including depression, memory loss and disorientation. Ginkgo Biloba extract has been shown to be an effective treatment.
Ginkgo extract is also a powerful antioxidant which helps protect the cells of the brain and nervous system. These cells are particularly susceptible to free radical attack and this may help prevent age-related diseases of the central nervous system.

 

Side Effects
Side effects from Ginkgo Biloba are rare. In clinical studies about 1% of patients suffered a mild stomach upset. Some people who have poor blood flow to the brain may get a mild headache for the first couple days of use.
Safety Concerns There are no known interactions with commonly prescribed drugs.

 

History of Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba has an amazing history. It’s the worlds oldest living species of tree, and is in fact a living fossil – fossil records of the gingko tree go back over 200 million years.

 

As you might expect of something that has survived for so long, it has a remarkable ability to resist extreme temperatures, pollution and insects. The Ice Age however destroyed the tree in many parts of the world, including north America and Europe. Luckily for us it did survive in Asia, where, in China, it was later cultivated as a sacred tree.
Ginkgo has been used for medicinal purposes since the origins of Chinese herbal medicine nearly 5,000 years ago. It was recommended in about 2767 B.C. for the treatment of respiratory tract ailments and also for memory loss in the elderly.

 

Ginkgo finally made it’s return to America when, in 1784, Ginkgo trees were planted on an estate near Philadelphia belonging to William Hamilton.

 

Since then Ginkgo Biloba extract has been the subject of more than 400 published studies and reports, making it among most well researched herbal medicine in the world. It is also one of the most frequently prescribed herbal medicines.

 

Disclaimer: The information presented is for information purposes only. It is based on scientific studies or traditional usage. Consult a health care professional before using supplements or making any changes in prescribed medications. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease