Ginkgo biloba is an ancient tree of eastern China and is considered as one of the oldest living tree species with fan-shaped leaves that are among the most studied plants in recent times. It is known in such other names as Maiden Hair tree, Kew tree and Silver Apricot, which can be grown in most parts of the world. If fully grown it can measure up 120 feet tall, is deep-rooted and resistant to wind, snow, diseases and pests. Traditionally the plant is used to treat circulatory disorders, dementia or even Alzheimer’s disease, or to enhance memory. In the United States and Europe, ginkgo supplements are best sellers as herbal medications while in Germany and France, it is prescribed as a medicine for various illnesses.
The leaves of the tree are said to contain two types of chemicals known as flavonoids and terpenoids. These substances have potent anti-oxidant properties that help neutralize free radicals that damage cell membranes in the body. Widely touted as “brain herb,” ginkgo is said to have the ability to improve memory in people afflicted with dementis and Alzheimer’s disease. It is also medically useful for people with glaucoma and macular degeneration, both eye diseases, by improving their vision and reducing their retinal problems. For those with intermittent claudication, a pain caused by reduced blood flow to the legs, ginkgo leaf extract is a medication that improves not only blood flow but also their walking distance without pain. It can also improve coordination, strength, energy level, mental performance, sensation, and mood in some people with multiple sclerosis or hardening of the tissues. It can reduce the sound in the ears of people with tinnitus or ringing, hissing or other sound in the ears even when there is no external resonance present. In some cases, it can help short-term hearing loss due to unknown causes, and cure sexual dysfunction.
The other benefits derived from the use of ginkgo leaf extracts include (a) improvement of thinking in young to middle-aged people and symptoms of dizziness and balance disorders, (b) relief in breast tenderness and other symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome in women, (c) decrease in the number of painful attacks in people with Reynaud’s Syndrome, and (d) improvement of color vision in people whose retina has been damaged by diabetes.
As a medicinal supplement, ginkgo is available as standardized extracts, capsules, tablets, liquid extracts and dried leaf for teas. But authorities have issued precautions and warnings on the use of ginkgo biloba for their safety, such as the following: (a) ginkgo leaf extracts should not be used by people afflicted with epilepsy or with a history of seizures to prevent frequency of seizures, or those with bleeding disorders, (b) ginkgo leaves may affect blood clotting and blood sugar levels, and should be used by people with diabetes under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider, (c) it should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, (d) fresh ginkgo seeds should not be consumed as roasted ginkgo seeds, and (e) use should not be combined with certain herbs to avoid possible risk of bleeding.
