Ginkgo Leaf

Western Bulk Herbs – Ginkgo Leaf

The German E Commission has approved ginkgo for the treatment of memory loss in conditions such as Alzheimer’s, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and poor circulation in the lower legs resulting in pain during walking. Ginkgo is more used for lung conditions than mental conditions.

The leaves have a tonic effect on the brain; it stimulates blood circulation, reduces lethargy, and improves memory. It gives a person a sense of well-being.

This herbal tree has a history of use in Asian countries which revere it for both its beauty and its medicinal properties. Ginkgo leaves have a very distinct fan-like shape reminiscent of a whale’s tail. It doesn’t impart strong flavor, but it pairs well with more flavorful tisanes and teas.

Latin Name:
Ginkgo biloba

Common Names:
Maidenhair Tree

Parts Used:
Leaves and nuts.

Properties:
Anticoagulant, Anti-inflammatory, Memory Enhancer

Traditional Uses:
Teas, capsules, and extracts.

Topical Uses / Applications:

Culinary Uses:
Not used in cooking but can be added to stew, soups, and culinary dishes.

Chemical Properties:
Gibberellin, cytokinin-like substances, ginkgolic acid, bilobol, ginnol, aspartine, calcium.

Cautions:
Avoid using Ginkgo products if you are already taking pharmaceutical MAO-inhibitors or warfarin and other blood-thinning medications. Do not use if you have bleeding disorders or before surgery. There are rare cases of allergic hypersensitivity of the skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Folk Lore:
Ginkgo, the oldest living species of plant on earth, is more than 225 million years old. In the U.S. it’s one of the ten best selling herbs for more and a standardized extract of ginkgo leaf is presently one of the most frequently used plant-based medicines in Europe. Ginkgo has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries.

Research in 1960 showed ginkgo worked on blood circulation in the brain indirectly improving the memory. It has also been shown to thin the blood.

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resources:
PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2000. Medical Economics Company, Montvale, New Jersey.

The New Holistic Herbal. David Hoffmann, 1990. Barnes and Noble Books, New York.

A Modern Herbal, Mrs. M. Grieve, (Dover Publications, New York, 1971)

Major Herbs of Ayurvedic.Compiled by Dahur Research Foundation and Dahur Ayurvet Limited, Ghaziabad, India., 2002. Churchill Livingstone, London, England.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition, Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, 1986. Eastland Press, Seattle, WA.