Ginkgo Biloba is known as the Maidenhair Tree after Adiantum, a unique tree with close living relatives. It dates back over 200 million years and is one of the best known examples of a living fossil and was thought to be extinct for centuries. It is now cultivated in China in small areas of Zhejiang and in the Tian Mu Shan reserve. It belongs to the Ginkgoacea family of plants.
The oldest fossils of Ginkgo are from the early Jurassic Period in the Mesozoic, belonging to a single location on the Asiatic part of former USSR. Current forms of
Ginkgo Biloba date back to the early Cretaceous Period and are most commonly identified as Ginkgo adiantoides. The Biloba tree was once common in North America and Europe and is now the only surviving member of the Ginkgo family. It is used by the Chinese and Japanese in various traditional medicines for treating an array of ailments and diseases.
Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba:
- Increased blood flow: When used as a dietary supplement, Ginkgo Biloba enhances the circulation of blood to the brain via the body’s massive channel of blood vessels comprising of arteries, nerves, veins and capillaries, prompted by the heart. This enhances the overall oxygen supply as well as the nutrient quotient in the body. Good blood circulation is responsible for the overall well being of the individual.
- Ginkgo has two groups of active components – Flavonoids and Terpene Lactones including Ginkgolides A, B and C, bilobalide, Quercetin and kaempferol. The main function of Ginkgolides is to control allergies, inflammation and asthma.
- Ginkgo Biloba is also a powerful anti-oxidant and helps to kill free radicals such as pollutants, exhaust fumes and dietary intake of junk foods responsible for ageing.
- Ginkgo has a positive effect on the overall functioning of the brain, is a memory enhancer, promotes mental alertness, reduces fatigue and in some cases has even benefited those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
- It improves the circulatory function and protects the brain. It aids in fighting depression and relieves asthma, lung congestion and other respiratory disorders.
- It is used to increase sexual energy and drive and promote blood flow throughout the body and bring about general longevity.
- It is used in the prevention and treatment of cerebral vascular deficiencies which are known to decrease the blood flow to the brain. It aids in the treatment of disturbances which show a decrease in mental capacity, memory and budulin.
Ginkgo Biloba has a protective effect on the blood brain barrier. It facilitates metabolism, enhances immune functions of the body and prevents varicose conditions and is beneficial in post thrombotic syndrome.
Side Effects: It has a number of side effects such as:
- Gastro intestinal discomfort
- Negative Drug interaction if consumed with anti-depressant drugs.
- It should not be used in case of a clotting disorder as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
Dosage: The recommended dosage of
Ginkgo Biloba is 40mg to 200 mg on a daily basis. It is necessary for you to consult a medical practitioner before consuming any dietary supplements in order to avail maximum benefit. You must also make a note of your medical condition before consuming any of these products and not take them if you are prone to any of the side effects as this might prove fatal.
The seeds of
Ginkgo Biloba are used as astringent for the lungs to stop asthma, enuresis and excessive leucorrhea. It aids in increasing the blood flow and oxygen supply by regulating neuro transmitters and boosts the oxygen in the brain which uses 20 % of the body’s total oxygen count.
Studies have also suggested that the supplement has the capacity to control the transformation of cholesterol to plaque associated with the hardening of arteries and can relax constricted blood vessels. It enhances short term memory and helps in treating male infertility and impotence. In certain studies it is indicated that it can also help reduce skin disorders such as psoriasis and other eye and ear disorders.
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