Botanical Name: Ginkgo Biloba

Other Common Names for Ginkgo Biloba: Ginkgo, gingko, maidenhair, yinxing (Chinese), icho (Japanese), eunhaeng (Korean).

Habitat: Ginkgo biloba is found growing wild around Zhejiang in Eastern China and in the Tian Mu Shan Reserve. It is also cultivated in full sun and average soil in many moderate climate countries around the world.

Description:Ginkgo biloba has no close relative in the plant world. It is a tree with recognizable fossils dating as far back as 270 million years. It is classified in its own division Ginkgophyta, class Ginkgoopsida, order Ginkgoales, family Ginkgoacae, genus Ginkgo and only the one species (G. biloba.)

The Ginkgo is a deciduous tree with an average height of 20-35 meters tall. The tree has also been called maidenhair tree because of the resemblance between its leaves and the pinnae of the maidenhair fern. It is a very long-living tree with some specimens over 2000 years old. The trees are deep rooted and wind and snow resistant. It is also resistant to infection and pollution. A testament to the hardiness of the Ginkgo tree can be seen in Hiroshima, Japan where four trees located within 2 kilometers of the atomic blast, though charred in the blast, are living and healthy to this day.

The Ginkgo has separate male and female trees. The male tree produces small pollen cones that contain the sperm cells. The female tree produces a seed that is yellow-brown, soft and attractive but the coating smells similar to rancid butter when it falls to the ground.

Plant Parts Used: Leaves- extract supplement or dried leaf. It was first noted in medical use as early as 2800 B.C. by Emperor Shen Nung. Europeans were first introduced to the herb in the late 17th century.

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Ginkgo Biloba

* Ginkgo is most commonly used to improve memory, reduce vertigo, and stop tinnitus (ear-ringing) through its effects on the vascular system.
* It increases blood flow to the brain, and other organs of the body.
* Ginkgo reduces the platelet activity factor (PAF) in the blood, similar to the action of aspirin on blood thinning. Excessive PAF has been linked to cardiovascular disease, brain damage, hearing disorders and other immune and inflammatory diseases.
* It may also increase metabolism, regulate neurotransmitters, and boost oxygen transport to the brain.
* Ginkgo has potential antioxidant properties reducing oxidative cell damage and slowing the aging effects.
* Clinical trials are underway to test the effectiveness of ginkgo biloba in treating Alzheimer's disease.
* It was originally used in ancient Chinese medicine as a treatment for asthma.
* Ginkgo has been reported to improve short- and long-term memory and mental clarity and focus.
* It may also relax constricted blood vessels and inhibit the transformation of cholesterol to plaque in the arteries.
* Ginkgo has also been used to fight the gradual loss of energy brought on by aging.

Potential Side Effects of Ginkgo Biloba

Individuals taking anti-coagulant medication such as aspirin or warfarin should not use ginkgo biloba without consulting their physician. Those on monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or who might be pregnant should also consult their physician before use. Side effects associated with ginkgo biloba use include: increased risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, and restlessness. If any side effects are experienced use of ginkgo biloba should be discontinued.