Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba leaf has been used as food and medicine for over 4,000 years. The ancient Chinese and Japanese also ate roasted ginkgo seeds as a digestive aid and to prevent drunkenness. Ginkgo was associated with long life by the Indian ayurvedic healers who reportedly used it as an ingredient in soma, a longevity elixir.

The Ginkgo tree from which ginkgo biloba is derived is considered the oldest living tree species known to mankind, dating back over 200 million years. As the last survivor of its botanical family, it has been described as a "living fossil".

Today, Chinese physicians view Ginkgo as being good for the heart and lungs. Chinese herbalists still use it for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and brain disorders. Physicians in Germany consider ginkgo biloba to be as effective as any drug therapy for Alzheimer's disease and other severe forms of mental function decline including dementia and senility.

Ginkgo biloba is one of the world's best studied herbs with hundreds of scientific studies published documenting its varied effects. The active ingredients in Ginkgo biloba extract have potent antioxidant effects and inhibit platelets from sticking together. Platelets are involved in blood clotting. Clinical trials have shown ginkgo biloba to improve circulation and blood flow to the brain.

Ginkgo is said to be helpful in a number of conditions including:

• Decline of memory and mental function as found in Alzheimer's disease, non-Alzheimer's dementia and age-related memory loss.
• Intermittent claudication: impaired circulation in the legs
• Impotence
• Vertigo
• Tinnitus
• Macular degeneration
• Fluid retention related to menstrual changes

Preliminary reports suggest ginkgo may help prevent rejection of transplanted organs. It may also be effective against high blood pressure, kidney problems, and allergies.

Ginkgo has not yet been shown to improve memory in healthy people without dementia, nor have studies been conducted to show whether long term use can prevent dementia.

Ginkgo products are standardized to contain 24 percent of the bioflavonoids which occur in the leaf, as well as ginkgolides and bilobilides, a complex group of compounds found only in the ginkgo tree. Common forms of ginkgo include:

• Capsules and Tablets
• Ginkgo biloba extract
• Seeds, which are available at Asian markets. (Need to be boiled before consumption to remove toxic components)
• Sublingual sprays
• Concentrated alcoholic extract
• Nutrition bars

Ginkgo is well tolerated by the vast majority of persons taking it. However, some individuals may experience adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, diarrhea and flatulence.

There have also been cases of spontaneous bleeding into both the brain and eye reported as well as brain hemorrhage in several patients taking blood thinning medications who started taking Ginkgo.

Ginkgo should not be taken by children, women who are pregnant or nursing, or those with clotting disorders. Ginkgo seeds should be kept out of the reach of children due to the risk of seizures from ingestion.

Make sure to purchase ginkgo and other herbs from a reputable source as quality can vary greatly among manufacturers.

Always inform your health care provider of any herbal preparations you are using. And if you are taking Ginkgo products, notify your doctor immediately if you notice:

• New-onset headaches or vision changes
• Unusual bleeding or bruising

Sourse: http://www.healthnews.com/