Ginkgo Biloba Herbal Infomation

NAME
Ginkgo Biloba.


LATIN NAME
Ginkgo biloba, Salisburia adiantifolia, Salisburia macrophylla.

ALSO KNOWN AS
Bai Guo, Ginkgo Nut, Japanese Silver Apricot, Kew Tree, Maidenhair Tree, Yinhsing.

ORIGIN
China and Japan.

PARTS USED
Leaves and seeds.


TRADITIONAL HERBAL USES AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Ginkgo Biloba is well known for its Antioxidant and detoxifying properties. It has been used for many years as a remedy for various conditions. Ginkgo is the most widely used herbal remedy in Europe, and is one of the top 10 best selling alternative medicines in America. There are various conditions where Ginkgo has been used to help, showing beneficial effects in all, these are;

Arterial circulatory problems - This condition can cause blood clots and stop or restrict the blood flow to important parts of the body and organs like the heart. Ginkgo can help to stop blood clots forming and help to keep a healthy circulation system.

Cerebral atherosclerosis - This condition is when there is hardening and blockages of the arteries. Ginkgo can help to relieve these symptoms by softening the arteries and helping to unblock the blood vessels.

Cerebral edema - This condition is where the body tissue contains a high amount of fluid. This condition can affect the vessels, and Ginkgo can help to relieve this fluid tension in the blood vessels.

Cochlear deafness - This condition causes progressive deafness within younger adults, and is usually inherited. When this condition affects the blood vessels Ginkgo has been known, and suggested to help the blood vessels return to normal reliving some symptoms like tinnitus.

Diminished sight - Sometimes when sight is affected by blood vessels Ginkgo can help to relieve some blindness that is suffered. Not many studies have been done on this particular condition on whether Ginkgo is effective. Ginkgo's qualities to help blood vessels return to normal could help with particular sight problems.

Impairment to memory/ability to concentrate - Ginkgo has been noted in some clinical trials to aid memory. There has been extensive research on this factor, but many people try taking Ginkgo to try and help aid their memory. It helps to increase the blood flow to the brain which is usually the common cause for brain and memory conditions.

Arterial obstruction - Ginkgo helps to restore the natural blood flow in blocked arteries. It is used widely used to help treat conditions where this appears, and studies have shown positive effects that Ginkgo has had as a treatment.

Reynard's disease - This condition is when the hands and feet are exposed to the cold and can not warm back up again. This is because the blood vessels are not flowing properly to these extremities. Ginkgo can help to restore the proper blood flow which helps the hands and feet to recover from the cold, helping relieve the symptoms of Reynard's such as pins and needles and numbness.

Alzheimer's disease - This disease takes away the ability for the person to do every day things. People can lose their memory through this disease, and is a degenerative disease. Ginkgo has been used to help the symptoms of this condition, helping to aid alertness and memory.

Vertigo - Ginkgo has also had positive effects on helping people who suffer from vertigo, by relieving the dizziness, and nausea.


FOLKLORE AND HISTORY
Ginkgo Biloba is originally from Asia, derived from the maidenhair tree. This species of tree is known as the 'living fossil tree' as it has no living relatives, and originated from the prehistoric age.

This Chinese tree could be one of the oldest living seed plants, with its fan shaped leaf and yellowy seeds. This plant has been mostly used in Chinese medicine, and its leaves were used in western medicine. It was researched and published in a book called Chinese medicinal herbs in 1911. The seeds were used to help treat asthma, coughs, and irritable bladders.

After the 1970's botanists and other professionals began to investigate Ginkgo's qualities as a medicine with more intensity. They tried to discover other properties that the Gingko could hold, and what other conditions it could help.


CONSTITUENTS
There are two groups of chemicals that can be found in a Ginkgo Biloba leaf. These two natural components are flavonoids and terpenoids. Flavonoids aid capillary function and have powerful antioxidants. Terpenoids can control platelet-activating factor (PAF).


TYPICAL PREPARATIONS AND DOSAGE
Suggested Dosage
Ginkgo Biloba powder-
Take 3 to 5 grams, 1/2 to 1 teaspoons up to three times a day
Use mixed with juice or milk.

Ginkgo Biloba Herbal Tincture-
Exraction Ratio 1:5
Alcohol Vol. 25%
Take 5ml up three times a day
or as directed by a Herbal practitioner.


PRECAUTIONS
People on blood thinning medication such as aspirin or walfarin, should consult their doctor before taking Ginkgo as it can help to thin the blood, which could cause serious problems. Also people who are waiting for surgery or any dental operations should not take Ginkgo Biloba due to the same reasons that it helps to thin the blood, causing excessive bleeding.

You should always consult your doctor, and herbal practitioner before taking Ginkgo Biloba if you are on any medication, to assure that it is safe to take with that drug or drugs.