Name
  Ginkgo Biloba, Maidenhair-Tree

Latin Name
Ginkgo Biloba

Origin
The world's oldest living tree species, believed to have survived 200 million years. Ginkgo Biloba trees can be traced to the fossils of the Permian period and for this reason it is often referred to as the "living fossil.'' Ginkgo Biloba trees can live for 1000 years and may grow to a height of 120 feet.

Cultivated/Parts Used
Leaves and seeds.

History of Use
Medicinal use of Ginkgo can be traced back almost 5,000 years in Chinese herbal medicine. Ginkgo leaf tea was used to enhance a clear mind and improve the power of concentration. This ancient remedy has been recommended for coughs, asthma and inflammations due to allergies.

In the late seventeenth century, Engelbert Kaempfer, a German physician and botanist, became the first European to discover and catalogue the ginkgo tree. In 1784 a ginkgo tree was brought to America and planted, in the garden of William Hamilton, near Philadelphia. The Ginkgo tree is the most resistant of tree species to insects, disease, and pollution, and because of this it is frequently planted along streets in cities. The seeds can be eaten after roasting. Ginkgo was often taken as a 'pick me up' for a bad hangover.

Properties
Circulatory stimulant, energizer, tuberculostatic (aids treatment of tuberculosis), vaso-dilator (increases blood supply through temporarily widening arteries, veins and capillaries), anti-aging, cognition-enhancing, stress-alleviating

How it works
Ginkgo increases circulation by opening out blood vessels and boosting oxygen levels to the brain improving short and long term memory, increased reaction time and improved mental clarity.  Impotence can be cured / lessened through use of Ginkgo due to its enhancing effect on the circulatory system enabling greater blood flow to vital areas.  Ginkgo has been shown to support an enhanced vitality level and its high antioxidant activity is valuable for fighting age related conditions including mental fatigue and erosion of energy. It is also used as a treatment for vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and a variety of neurological disorders and circulation problems.

The unique terpene lactone components found in ginkgo are known as ginkgolides and Bilobalide. Ginkgolides may improve circulation and inhibit platelet-activating factor. Bilobalide protects the cells of the nervous system. Recent animal studies indicate that Bilobalide may help regenerate damaged nerve cells.

Ginkgo’s antioxidant activity in the brain and central nervous system may help prevent age-related declines in brain function. The brain and central nervous system are particularly susceptible to free radical attack. Free radical damage in the brain is widely accepted as being a contributing factor in many disorders associated with aging, including Alzheimer’s disease. Recent research is revealing that this herb could be effective in easing strokes.

Contraindications/Interactions
Excess use may cause dermatitis, headaches, diarrhoea and vomiting.  There may be an additive effect between Gingko and blood thinning agents.  Do not use when pregnant or breastfeeding.

Instructions For Use/Dosages
Use 1 teaspoon per person / per cup, add boiling water, cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).  Strain tea before drinking or make in a Cafetiere.

Use with Hawthorn or lime-blossom for circulation and with Coltsfoot for asthma and coughs.  Ginkgo tea does not taste amazing on its own; you may want to mix it with another flavoured tea, lemon or honey to make it more palatable.

Supporting Research
Modern research has confirmed that the ginkgo flavone glycosides and the terpene lactones do indeed produce the results of enhancing a clear mind and improving the powers of concentration by increasing circulation to the brain and other parts of the body as well as exerting a protective action on nerve cells.

One double blind study found that ginkgo could help people with macular degeneration, an oxidation-related disorder causing decreased or lost vision.