Botanical Name
- Family Ginkgoaceae
- Ginkgo biloba
Common Names
- Ginkgo, Maidenhair-Tree, Bai Guo, Kew Tree
Cautions
- Do not exceed the dosage of the seeds since it can lead to skin disorders and headaches.
- Cases of contact dermatitis from the fruit have been reported.
- Because of its antithrombotic activity, ginkgo should not be taken with blood thinners and should be discontinued two weeks before any surgery. In the event of emergency surgery, it is well advised that the physician be notified in order to avoid any bleeding problems during the procedure.
- Ginkgo should also be avoided by those with such bleeding disorders as hemophilia, or those at risk for hemorrhagic stroke, especially those who smoke or use amphetamines or cocaine.
- Those who are pregnant or lactating should also avoid this herb.
Description
Native to China, and possibly Japan, the trees are now grown on large plantations in France and South Carolina, as well as China. Ginkgo is a very slow-growing, hardy tree whose fossil records date back some 200 million years. Growing to a height of 50 to 120 feet, the trunk of the Ginkgo is light green to light brown with corky fissures. In the male trees, the grooves in the bark are broad, while in the females, they are pointed. Both have green, leathery fan-shaped leaves that turn yellow to golden in the fall.
The tree flowers for the first time when it is between twenty and thirty years old. The male flowers are small, green catkins, while the female flowers are small, green, and globular-shaped, which form into small, plum-shaped, foul-smelling fruits. The tree grows in fertile, well-drained soil in sun or light shade. The leaves are harvested either mechanically or by hand from plantations or in the wild. The leaves are then dried and pressed into balls. A dry extract is manufactured from the dried leaves, using acetone and water and subsequent purification steps without the addition of concentrates or isolated ingredients.
Key Actions
(a) Leaves
- antiasthmatic
- antispasmodic
- antiallergenic
- Anti-inflammatory
- circulatory stimulant and tonic
(b) Seeds
Key Components
(a) Leaves
- flavonoids
- ginkgolides
- bilobalides
- bioflavons
- sitosterol
- lactones
- anthocyanin
- minerals (especially chromium, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc)
(b) Seeds
- fatty acids
- minerals
- bioflavones
Medicinal Parts
Leaves, seeds
- Since the 1960s, extensive research has been done on ginkgo which established its importance in improving poor cerebral circulation, aiding memory and concentration, and helping in cases of dementia.
- Research has shown that ginkgolide can be as effective as standard pharmaceuticals in treating severely irregular heartbeats. It also seems to have the ability to reduce inflammation, and may prove useful in treating such varied conditions as autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, and organ transplants.
- Research into its platelet activating factor (PAF), a substance released by a range of blood cells, has led to the understanding of a new branch of human physiology. PAF causes blood to become stickier and more likely to produce blood clots, but Ginkgo seems to inhibit this from happening. In addition, it also makes various inflammatory and allergenic changes.
- Plantations in the US process the dried leaves, creating a concentrated extract standardized to a potency of 24% flavone glycosides (primarily quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) and 6% terpene lactones (about equal parts of bilobalide and ginkgolides A, B, and C). This extract, called GBE (ginkgo biloba extract) is the form now used medicinally and under study for active ingredients and effects.
Remedies
Seeds are roasted and used in China for coughs and asthma, and for urinary problems. They are pleasant tasting to eat, although the husk must first be removed from the seeds.
Leaves, fresh or dried, are used to improve circulation, especially to the brain, and to maintain a plentiful blood flow to the central nervous system. They are the base to make tinctures, tablets, and fluid extracts.
Tablets are taken for poor circulation and memory loss.
Decoctions of the seeds are used to treat wheezing or, when combined with ma huang, elecampane, or mulberry leaves, to treat asthma or severe and persistent coughs.
Fluid extractions from the fresh leaves are used for asthma and in Europe, and is marketed for treating cerebral arteriosclerosis and peripheral circulatory diseases.
Tinctures from the leaves are used with such other cardiovascular herbs as greater periwinkle and limeflower for circulatory problems or with kings clover for venous disorders.
Infusions are taken to treat arteriosclerosis and varicose conditions.
Washes are used on varicose ulcers or hemorrhoids.
Traditional Uses
Ginkgo is commonly used to preserve memory, treat mild depression, and reduce symptoms of early Alzheimer’s Disease and other cognitive disorders, improve circulation and treat leg pains due to reduced blood flow, reduce the risk of blood clots, treat such inner ear disorders as tinnitus and vertigo, and treat allergies, asthma, and inflammatory disorders. Benefits usually begin about three weeks after initiating the herb, but six weeks is not uncommon; and improvement may not be noticed for several months, with benefits increasing over time.
The primary benefits of ginkgo seem to derive from its ability to promote the dilation of blood vessels, which improves blood flow throughout the body. This prevents the buildup of fluid (edema), reducing a wide range of disorders affecting the legs, brain, eyes, ears, and other organs.
In addition, it seems to inhibit the formation of blood clots and functions as an antioxidant, reducing the cellular damage caused by free radicals. It may also affect such brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) as norepinephrine, serotonin, monoamine oxidase, acetylcholine, and nitric oxide, as well as inhibiting the synthesis of corticosteroids.
In China, the seeds are used to relieve wheezing and to lessen phlegm, as well as treating vaginal discharge, a weak bladder, and incontinence. The leaves are also used for treating asthma.
Ginkgo has been shown to enhance energy and reduce depression.
Today, Ginkgo is the best selling herbal medicine in France and Germany, where it is taken on a daily basis by millions of people, and likely the most useful herb for the treatment of senile dementia.
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