Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest plants in existence, as it is believed to have been unchanged for the past 270 million years. This living fossil, which has no close living relatives, is a resilient plant, having survived several mass extinctions and was apparently the only living tree found near the epicenter of the Hiroshima nuclear blast. It has been reported that a single ginkgo biloba tree can live more than 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet.
Although you might not know much about this plant’s healing properties, Chinese herbal medicine has used both the ginkgo leaf and seed in traditional healing therapies for thousands of years. As well, ginkgo supplements are currently some of the best-selling herbal medications in North America and Europe.
So, why is this ancient plant becoming so popular now, in the 21st century? Well, for starters, we, in the western world, are seeing a shift in our medical practices, adopting more and more traditional herbal remedies. As this shift occurs, we are able to use our western scientific practices to isolate and describe the chemical properties of these plants and how they can improve health and cure disease. We now know that gingko contains two types of chemicals, flavonoids and terpenoids. Flavonoids are potent antioxidants that can protect nerves, heart muscle, blood vessels, and the retina from damage; terpenoids improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of platelets. Recently, research has identified over 100 conditions that can be improved with ginkgo consumption. Some of those conditions are as follows:
Boosting cognitive function/fighting Alzheimers & Dementia:
Although not all studies are in agreeance, there is some evidence to support the claims that ginkgo supplementation improves memory and helps support brain health. Ginkgo is often promoted as a brain boo
