(Popular Herb Series 3/9) Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo is an ancient tree, with fossils dating back as far as 200 million years. It is such a hardy tree in fact, it was once written that “Eyewitness reports from post-war Hiroshima and Nagasaki relate that it was particularly gingkos and cockroaches which thrived again soon in areas most affected by atomic bomb radiation.” With fan-like leaves, it is easy to identify where it grows throughout the world. Religions in China, Korea, and Japan viewed ginkgo as a sacred tree, and a symbol of resilience, health, and longevity. It is also associated with hope and fertility.
“… many contemporary products… incorporate the ginkgo leaf motif. Its elegance and clean curves connect easily to an aesthetic that began as a reaction against the machine. Ginkgo was also taken up in Art Nouveau; there are spectacular renderings of ginkgo twigs and leaves in the Art Nouveau architecture of Nancy and Prague.” — [GINKGO: THE TREE THAT TIME FORGOT, BY PETER CRANE (2013).]
Medicinally speaking, the leaf and seed have been traditionally used in many applications as well as for food. Ginkgo is mildly anticoagulant and can improve circulation to the brain and throughout the body. It has strong antioxidant properties as well as neuroprotective abilities.
Ginkgo has been shown to act potently on the circulatory system and on vascular tissue in many other ways. It has been shown to lower blood pressure by increasing the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and prostacyclin, causing vasodilation and improving the tone of blood vessels, making them more flexible and increasing capillary circulation. Its use improves membrane properties of red blood cells and inhibits platelet aggregation, making it a useful prophylactic against atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
Because of its ability to increase blood flow to the head, ginkgo plays a valuable role in treating imbalances of the inner ear, including tinnitus, vertigo, and acute cochlear deafness caused by ischemia. Ginkgo also has a positive effect on ocular blood flow by increasing velocity in the opthalmic artery without increasing arterial blood pressure or intraocular pressure. Its circulatory and antioxidant qualities may make it an effective treatment for early macular degeneration and glaucoma.
It generally aids those whose cognitive abilities may be impaired by imbalances ranging from ADD/ADHD to chronic stress and trauma. Ginkgo sharpens mental focus and has also been shown to be an effective adjunct therapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Because ginkgo acts as an anticoagulant, there could be potential interaction with blood thinning pharmaceuticals. Another concern is that ginkgo affects the pharmacokinetics of digoxin, speeding up its metabolism, and that it may potentiate MAO inhibitors and papaverine
To use ginkgo, it is generally advised to take it for at least six weeks before reevaluating its effects on the body. A tincture taken at 30-60 drops twice daily or a standardized extract with a 50:1 ratio taken at 120mg per day is the recommended dose.
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