The Benefits of Using Ginkgo Biloba

The Ginkgo Biloba tree, often called a living fossil due to the fact it can live for over 1,000 years, is the last survivor of its botanical family.

The first reliable records suggest that the Ginkgo Biloba tree was used as a supplement by the Sung dynasty, in the Xuangcheng province of Anhui region (Eastern China), in the early 1000’s. Over the next few centuries, as the tree had time to not only be cultivated, but to bear seeds, it became more widely used and was mentioned in a book that was published in the year 1313. Some speculation exists as to whether the tree had been cultivated in remote areas of China for years prior to there being any written records relating to it.

In 1691, a German named Engelbert Kaempfer, discovered the Ginkgo tree in Japan. He then took seeds to Europe in the early 1700’s and then to America later in that century.
Ginkgo Biloba trees are deciduous and grow to be heights of 66 to 115 feet.

Today, the Ginkgo Biloba tree grows in two areas of Eastern China (some there are as high as 164 feet) and the Ginkgo is also planted as an ornamental tree in many American cities.

For many centuries, Ginkgo Biloba has been used both medicinally and as a food. Traditional Chinese herbalists use the plant for the treatment of maladies such as brain disorders, bronchitis and asthma. There are more than 40 different components that make up the Ginkgo Biloba tree, but two are reported to be beneficial to humans. Those two components are flavonoids and terpenoids. Studies conducted with animals have shown that, together, these components of Ginkgo protect the nerves, heart muscle, retina, and blood vessels from damage, and blood flow is markedly improved.

Ginkgo Biloba is said to have many other health benefits:

• It offers powerful antioxidant effects.

• Ginkgo contains compounds that actually absorb toxic chemicals. In turn, cell damage is prevented and this can slow the aging process.

• It enhances circulation to the ears, eyes, heart, and appendages, which reduces symptoms such as numbness, coldness, and cramping.

• It has been used in treating Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral insufficiency, and senile dementia. Ginkgo is said to improve brain functions such as memory, problem-solving and concentration.

• It may also be helpful in treating certain eye disorders, such as macular degeneration (also called age-related macular degeneration or ARMD). This aggressive disease is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. Some studies have shown that vision for those with ARMD could be preserved for a longer period of time by using Ginkgo Biloba.

• Ginkgo is used to treat ear disorders and peripheral arterial disease.

• It is said to increase sexual endurance.

• Ginkgo Biloba is said to aid in preventing free radical damage which in turn improves blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

• One clinical study reported that Ginkgo, administered in extract form, may reduce some side effects of menopause. It’s possible that it may also reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease in women.

Ginkgo Biloba is available in a variety of formats - as a standardized extract, capsules, tablets and a liquid extract, as well as dried leaves to use in tea. As with any natural supplement, it is suggested that you consult with your health advisor prior to taking Ginkgo Biloba.

Colin Albert works with the Euphoria for Women website. The web site provides information on female sexual enhancement and features a natural product which contains Ginkgo Biloba. The product is a female sexual enhancement cream, designed for women of all ages.