Ginkgo biloba is one of the most popular and most used herbs in the United States. It has been used for thousands of years. Ginkgo biloba has many uses and can be used to treat many ailments. Ginkgo is mostly used to for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s and dementia, memory problems, circulatory ailments, for the treatment of people who have had a stroke, and for the treatment of PMS symptoms in women.
Where Ginkgo Comes From and What it is Made of
The herb ginkgo comes from the tree ginkgo biloba, which is one of the oldest living tree species. A single ginkgo biloba tree can live as long a 1,000 years. Modern ginkgo supplements are prepared from the dried leaves of the ginkgo tree and are very concentrated.
The two parts of the ginkgo plant that give it its curative properties are flavonoids and terpenoids. Flavonoids are plant based antioxidants that protect the nerves, heart muscle, and blood vessels from damage. Terpenoids are responsible for improving blood flow by dilating blood vessels and making platelets less sticky.
Ginkgo is Used to Treat Alzheimer's, Dementia, poor circulation and Memory Loss
The most popular use of ginkgo biloba is to improve memory. In healthy adults, ginkgo has been shown to improve memory and learning in people who took it and has been shown to increase feelings of well being and to decrease feelings of depression.
Alzheimer’s and dementia is thought to be caused by free radicals. The antioxidants (flavonoids) in ginkgo neutralize free radicals and this help in alleviating and preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia. The increased blood flow caused by taking ginkgo helps alleviate memory loss by increasing blood flow to the brain.
Side Effects of Ginkgo
Contrary to popular belief, certain studies have found that ginkgo biloba does no decrease the risk of dementia in elderly adults. More research needs to be done in order to determine how helpful ginkgo really is for older people. There has been evidence that ginkgo does not help people suffering from tinnitus (ringing of the ears).
There have been some reports of bleeding caused by taking ginkgo biloba due to its anticoagulation properties. People who are undergoing surgery, who have hemophilia, or who plan on having oral surgery should not take ginkgo. This herb should not be taken for longer them three months
Ginkgo biloba is an herb that has been in use for thousands of years. It is used to treat mental problems such as Alzheimer's, dementia, and memory loss. It increases blood flow to certain parts of the body and in some cases has caused bleeding and should not be used by people who have had or will have surgery.
Sources:
MedicineNet, *"Generic Name: Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) - Oral" (accessed May 10, 2010).
University of Maryland Medical Center, *"Ginkgo Biloba" (accessed May 10, 2010).
Percila Jackson - Percila Jackson is a freelance writer who has written for Suite 101, Helium, Bright Hub, Demand Studios, and eHow. She has been writing ...
Join the Conversation