Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba
Origin - China, Japan, now grown worldwide
Part of the plant used - Leaves
Description - Ginkgo biloba is one of the world’s oldest living tree species, believed to have survived for 200 million years. Individual trees have lived 1,000 years. Ginkgo trees are tall and hardy, highly resistant to pollutants and pests, with distinctive fan-shaped leaves. Ginkgo is considered a sacred tree by the Chinese and has been used ancient times for respiratory ailments and for brain function. Hundreds of studies have been performed with Ginkgo biloba extracts confirming many of the ancient uses as well as finding new applications.
Gingko biloba extract has been shown in clinical studies to increase the rate at which information is transmitted at the nerve cell level. In a double blind clinical study, Ginkgo biloba extract was shown to produce restoration of vigilance to approximately normal levels together with improved mental performance, in elderly patients. The conclusion of the study also indicated regular Ginkgo biloba medication has a positive effect in geriatric subjects with deterioration of mental performance.
Ginkgo biloba extract may be of great benefit in many cases of senility, including Alzheimer’s disease. GBE has receptors in the hippocampus of aged animals and to increase cholinergic transmission.
Pharmacology - The main active compounds in Ginkgo leaves are the flavoglycosides: kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and proanthocyanidins. These compounds have antioxidant and free-radical properties. Also important are the terpenes: ginkgolides and bilobalides. One way these agents decrease inflammation is by inhibiting Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) and reducing the stickiness of platelets which can result in decreased circulatory flow. PAF has been implicated in a wide variety of diseases including asthma, heart arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis.
Historical Uses
The primary causes of mental deficiencies is poor blood flow to the brain or "cerebral vascular insufficiencies." An answer to this problem may come from a plant which has been used for medicinal purposes since 2800 B.C. It is found in the oldest Chinese books on herbal medicine, known as materia medicas.
Medicinal Uses - Numerous studies have detailed the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) for a wide variety of conditions. GBE has been reported to increase circulation to the brain and thus help with cases of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, concentration problems, vertigo, tinnitus, and dizziness. Peripheral vascular diseases such as Raynaud’s syndrome, intermittent claudication, numbness, tingling have been helped by GBE. Studies have also reported that GBE was helpful in cases of head injuries, macular degeneration, asthma, and impotence. Ginkgo works in a number of important ways to assist the brain. The effect of the plant on cerebral vascular insufficiency has been widely studied. An analysis of forty of the scientific articles reporting on this subject noted ginkgo's clear value in treating the "symptoms of aging" in the elderly. The studies looked at an extract of ginkgo which was standardized for the level of Ginkgo flavonglycosides. The active principles of Ginkgo extract are believed to have a regulating effect on the entire vascular system of veins, arteries and capillaries. Ginkgo extract may inhibit "Platelet activating factor" (PAF) and promote the metabolism of cerebral and neurosensorial cells.
The most common usage of Gingko Biloba is for its widely accepted effects in:
Ginkgo not only assists the brain by increasing its supply of blood and oxygen, but also this plant has been shown to increase ability of brain cells to make use of glucose. Energy production is improved. Nerve signal transmissions are improved. Brain wave tracings are improved. Diverse population grouping have been shown to benefit from administration of ginkgo. The memory of college students as well as the elderly have shown improvement. Ginkgo facilitates short-term memory by increasing the speed of nerve impulses.
Toxicity, Cautions & Contra-indications - No reported toxicity. Rare cases of gastric upset or headaches.
