Family: Ginkogoaceae; there are no other members
Genus and species: Ginkgo biloba
Also known as: Maidenhair tree
Parts used: Leaves
Ginkgo is the oldest surviving tree on earth. As a healing herb, it can help the oldest surviving people. Ginkgo may prevent and help treat many conditions associated with aging: stroke, heart disease, impotence, deafness, blindness, and memory loss.
HEALING with Ginkgo
Medical excitement over ginkgo comes principally from the herb’s ability to interfere with the action of a substance the body produces called platelet activation factor (PAF). It is involved in an enormous number of biological processes: asthma attacks, organ graft rejection, arterial blood flow, and the internal blood clots involved in heart attacks and some strokes. By inhibiting PAF, ginkgo has been shown to have enormous healing potential, particularly in conditions associated with aging.
1. Stroke. As people grow older, blood flow to the brain can decrease. That means less food and oxygen for brain cells. If blood flow becomes blocked, the result is a stroke.
2. Memory and Reaction Time. As blood flow to the brain improves, so do memory and mental functioning.
3. Heart Attack. It also improves blood flow to the heart muscle itself. And it may help prevent heart attacks by reducing the risk of internal blood clots that trigger them.
4. Intermittent Claudication. When cholesterol deposits narrow the arteries in the legs, the result is intermittent claudication – pain, cramping, and weakness, particularly in the calves. Ginkgo may improve blood flow through the legs.
5. Impotence. Ginkgo helps relieve impotence caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply to the penis.
6. Macular Degeneration. This is deterioration of the retina, the nerve-rich area in the eye necessary for sight. It is a leading cause of adult blindness. It can show significant improvement in the vision of people suffering from this disease. 7. Cochlear Deafness. This form of hearing disorder results from decreased blood flow to the nerves involved in hearing. It can show significant recovery, distinct improvement by using ginkgo.
8. Chronic Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus). This is conclusively effective and improvement will be manifested in patients using this herb.
9. Chronic Dizziness (Vertigo). Vertigo will no longer be felt if ginkgo is taken.
10. Asthma. PAF causes the kind of bronchial constriction typical in asthma. Ginkgo interferes with PAF and helps prevent bronchial constriction, lending credence to the traditional Chinese use of ginkgo treating asthma and other respiratory complaints.
11. Intriguing Possibilities. Preliminary reports suggest ginkgo may help prevent the rejection of transplanted organs. It may also be effective against allergies,, high blood pressure, kidney problems and Alzheimer’s disease.
Rx for Ginkgo
Ginkgo is not generally available as a bulk herb, however many herb companies offer commercial preparations. Follow package instructions. Taste is not an issue because most preparations are pills.
Even if you have your own ginkgo tree, you can’t just brew up some tea and expect to take advantage of the herb’s healing benefits. It takes a lot of ginkgo leaves to make medicine. This is one instance in which commercial preparations are preferable.
SAFETY FACTOR
Platelet activation factor plays a key role in blood clotting. Ginkgo’s PAF-inhibiting action may cause problems for those with clotting disorders.
Some people who take extremely large amounts of the herb have reported irritability, restlessness, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Recommended amounts are considered non-toxic.
For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who do not have clotting disorders, ginkgo is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.
Ginkgo should not be given to children under age 2, and except for prevention of asthma, there is no reason to give it to older children.
Ginkgo should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If ginkgo causes minor discomforts, such as nausea or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant symptoms or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve in two weeks.
Ref.: Healing Herbs, by Michael Castleman, 1991
