Ginkgo Biloba Extract
Species Name: Ginkgo Biloba L.
Also Known As: Gingko Biloba, Ginko, Maidenhair Tree, Japanese Silver Apricot, Kew Tree, and Yinhsing.
The Ginkgo tree is believed to be the oldest tree on earth. This medium to large tree is in a class by itself as it has no living relatives.
It is termed a living fossil as the tree dates back to several million years.
These trees are very deep rooted and resistant to damage from the elements. The leaves of the tree are called Biloba, which stands for two-lobed.
What is Ginkgo Biloba Extract? In North America all Ginkgo extracts are made from the Biloba leaves of the Ginkgo tree, thus Ginkgo Biloba.
Traditional Chinese medicine also used the inner fruit seeds from the tree, but the seeds are toxic and are not used in the US.
Home Remedies Using Ginkgo Biloba Extract:
Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba Extract:
Ginkgo Biloba extract is believed to increase the blood flow to the brain which supplies more oxygen and amplifies mental function and clarity.
It is often used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and age-related memory loss.
Believed to act as a blood thinner, this extract might also improve the blood vessel muscled tone and enhance over all blood flow.
Ginkgo Biloba has also been used to treat sexual dysfunction and macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration is damage to the retina in the eye that results in loss of vision.
Other noted benefits for this extract include a positive effect on motion sickness, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or PMS, leg cramps, and a reduction in chemotherapy-induced end-organ vascular damage.
Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract can be taken internally in liquid or capsule form. There are also tea bags available.
Ginkgo seeds or any extract made from these seeds are potentially toxic and should be avoided.
As one of the top selling herbs in the United States, Ginkgo Biloba has had numerous scientific tests performed on its effectiveness and there are still more ongoing.
For instance, The Mayo Clinic states: “Numerous studies suggest that Ginkgo biloba extract taken by mouth causes small improvements in claudication symptoms (leg pain with exercise or at rest due to clogged arteries).”
Side Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract:
Because of its blood-thinning abilities, side effects of Ginkgo Biloba extract include excessive bleeding.
Seizures have rarely been reported but other side effects can include digestive problems, headaches, allergic skin reactions, or muscle weakness.
Possible drug interactions with Ginkgo Biloba include its ability to increase the effect of blood-thinners like aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), and warfarin (Coumadin). This interaction may result in uncontrolled bleeding.
Because of the lack of pertinent scientific study, the use of Gingko is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
