Ginkgo benefits, dosage, preparation, medicinal actions, indications

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) also known as Maiden Hair, Fossil Tree, Ginkgo Folium, Japanese Silver Apricot, Noyer du Japon, Pei Go Su Ye, Salisburia Adiantifolia, Yen Xing, Yinhsing, Bai Gou Ye.

 

 

Ginkgo biloba is the only living species in the division Ginkgophyta; all others are extinct. The Ginkgo tree can grow up to 100 or more feet tall. It is deep-rooted with an angular crown that grows broader as the tree matures. The leaves are unique among seed plants for being fan-shaped with veins that radiate out into the leaf blades, never forming a network. Ginkgo is dioecious, with separate sexes; some trees are female and some are male.

 

Ginkgo is native to China, where it is now also cultivated. The trees grow best in well-watered and well-drained soils. It shows a distinct preference for disturbed sites along stream banks, rocky slopes, and cliff edges. Ginkgo is one of the best examples of a living fossil. The plant originated over 270 million years ago and has been cultivated in China since at least 2600 BC. Ginkgo is famous for helping with conditions that result in poor memory or dementia due to poor blood circulation.

 

Part Used: Leaf, Nut

 

Constituents: Flavonoids up to 24% (incl. isorhamnetin, catechins, heteroside quercetin, isorhamnetin, coumarin ester, proanthocyanidins, kaempferol), Terpenoids (incl. ginkgolides, bilobalide, ginkgetin, sciadopitysin, bilbobetin), organic acids (incl. vanillic and ascorbic acids) sesquiterpenes, sterols, rutin, bitter diterpenes, carotenoids (incl. zeaxanthin, lutein), SOD, polysaccharides.

 

Flavour/Temps: Neutral, Dry, Sweet, Bitter, Astringent

Relaxing, Restoring, Astringing, Diluting, Decongesting, Raising

 

Tropism: Nervous, Cardiovascular, Urogenital system, Respiratory, Brain

 

Meridians: Lung, Kidney, Hearth, DU Meridians; Air and Fluid bodies

 

Key actions in Western Medicine: Antidepressant, Antistress, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Anti-platelet activity, Antioxidant, Nootropic, Stimulant, Tissue perfusion enhancer, vasoactive, Antiapoptotic, Fibrinolytic

 

Indication in Western Medicine: Coronary deficiency with Angina Pectoris, stroke; Hyperlipidemia, Thrombosis; Cerebral insufficiency with acute depression, Asthma, chronic bronchitis, spasmodic cough; Peripheral arterial deficiency  with pain, paraesthesia; Cerebral Ischemia, diabetic vasoconstriction, vascular headaches (incl. migraine); Neurasthenia, Insomnia;  Varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, varicocele, pelvic congestion; Toxicosis, Vision impairment; Macular/retinal degeneration, glaucoma; Leucorrhea; Senility, Parkinson, Alzheimer`s diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, dementia; Wounds with bleeding, bruising; Vomiting; Acute cochlear deafness; Congestive dysmenorrhea; effects of high attitude or hypoxia.

 

Key Actions in Eastern Medicine: (leaf) Strengthen Blood Vessels, Reduces Clothing and Dissolves Fatty Deposits; Vitalises Hearth Blood, Restores Capillary and Coronary Circulation, and Relieves Precordial Oppression; Restores Nerves and Brain, Promotes clear Thinking and Relieves Depression; Reduces Free Radical, Descends Lung Qi and Open The Chest; Stops Vomiting; Vitalises the Blood; Strengthens the Capillaries and Veins, and Reduces Congestion.

(Nut) Expels Phlegm, Stops Wheezing, Eliminates Dampness, Stops Discharges.

 

Indication in Eastern Medicine: (leaf) Venous Blood Stagnation: heavy or aching legs, varicosities, dull abdominal aches, leg cramps at night; Heart Blood Stagnation: Chest pain radiating down left inner arm, cyanosed lips face and nails, precordial oppression, shortness of breath; Lung Qi Constraint: spasmodic coughing, tight chest, wheezing; Nerve and Brain (Kidney essence) deficiency with mind weakness: depression, ringing in ears, dizziness, absent-mindedness, sleeping problems, memory loss.

(Nut) Cough with copious mucous, vaginal discharge and turbid urine, urinary frequency, incontinence, and spermatorrhoea, aphrodisiac, leukorrhea.

 

Constitutions: Sanguine and Choleric krases

 

Preparations: Tincture, Short Decoction (15-20min)

 

Dosage 3 times a day unless otherwise instructed by herbalist:

Decoction 2-4 gram of good quality leaves

Tincture 2-5 ml; 1:2 45-50% alcohol made from good quality leaves

 

Note: Tincture is best option for general purposes.

Note: Like Lilly of the Valley and Hawthorn, prolonged use is required for chronic and especially organic, neurological and cardiovascular conditions. For a person who have been losing mental faculties from deteriorating blood flow to the brain, it may need to be taken indefinitely.

Note: There is good science on Ginkgo and it's very impressive on paper. Whilst it is not a medicine that is going to make you super-smart or going to give you a better memory than you used to have, if you are aging badly in terms of mental health then you simply must take it; it can make a significant difference.

 

Synergy Examples: Ginkgo combines perfectly with Hawthorn leaf and berry for many people who need a medicine that is going to help them where they need it the most - their heart and circulation. It can also be very beneficial to use with Horse chestnut, Lime flowers and Yarrow to strengthen blood vessels and can be used with Cayenne to make a more rapid difference to improving the circulation.

 

Cautions: Ginkgo is really a very safe herb that can be used by all ages and for extended periods, however there are concerns about its potential interaction with such blood thinning drugs as warfarin, aspirin or other anti-coagulant or antiplatelet medications. It should be noted that these concerns are theoretical and are based on the observable effects of Ginkgo in clinical studies rather than in actual patients however the first rule of medicine remains 'firstly do no harm' so it may be better to avoid Ginkgo if using such medications or reduce doses of those medications what most of Herbalists would advise.

 

Contraindications: None known

 

Effects of ability to drive and use machines: Possible improvements in those functions, especially in older subject.

Interactions with drugs:  Caution should be taken using ginkgo alongside of antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs like warfarin and aspirin.

 

Side effects: Very rare mild side effects after prolonged use like dizziness, headache, gastric or chest discomfort, constipation or diarrhoea, loss of appetite, fatigue.

 

History and Folklore:

There is not much history about traditional use of ginkgo leaf, however there is lots of scientific proof on Ginkgo actions.

The seeds contain substances that appear to be antibacterial and antifungal, though they also contain toxins that could cause seizures or loss of consciousness; more study is needed to confirm actual benefits and how to minimize toxic side effects. The seed coats also show antibacterial properties against some intestinal bacterial pathogens. The chemical sarcotesta, found in the outer, fleshy coating of the seeds, can cause rashes or allergic reactions in some people, so wearing gloves while preparing the seeds is recommended.

The trees are so tenacious that a few trees living in Hiroshima, Japan, not only survived the dropping of the atomic bomb at the end of WWII but quickly regained their health and continue to grow there to this day. The tree is known as the “bearer of hope.”

Ginkgo nuts are used in rice soups, called conges, in Japan and China, and are very popular for weddings and celebrating Chinese New Year as part of a dish called Buddha’s Delight. They are eaten in small amounts as they contain toxic and allergenic alkylphenols. As a medicine, they are used in TCM to reduce coughs, stop diarrhea, and heal skin diseases and gonorrhea.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), green ginkgo leaves treat brain disorders, circulatory disorders, and respiratory diseases. The fallen leaves are used as fertilizer and insecticides. Ginkgo leaf extract is used in cosmetics. The leaf extracts are the most widely sold phytomedicine for treating early-stage Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Some studies indicate that ginkgo extract may support the male sex drive, but more results are needed to confirm these initial findings.

Good quality is white, full, and round. The fleshy coating of the seed has a putrid smell, similar to rancid butter. The inner seeds or nuts have a fishy taste.

Ginkgo trees symbolize peace, hope, duality, and love. The trees have two parts to their leaves and are either male or female. This suggests the notion of duality and love. It is also why the trees are associated with Yin and Yang. As a symbol of peace, strength, resilience, and hope, the surviving gingko trees in Hiroshima are an excellent example.

In Buddhism, the tree is called “Buddha’s fingernail” because its fan-shaped leaves suggest a closed hand in prayer to Buddha. In Buddhism, Taoism, and the teachings of Confucius, its twin-lobed leaves symbolize Yin and Yang and its long life, suggests immortality.

 

Some of the main indications for using Ginkgo, based on the evidence, are for:
- stroke of recent onset
- as a tonic for older adults
- for early stages of senile dementia or Alzheimer’s
- for poor blood flow to the head and its related symptoms such as memory or cognitive impairment, dizziness, tinnitus, headaches and mental fatigue.
- for dizziness or vertigo related to poor circulation
- for altitude sickness or hypoxia (low oxygen levels)
- enhancing cognitive function, including working and long-term memory, abstract reasoning, and processing speed in healthy individuals and particularly in older adults.

- Ginkgo biloba is one of the most frequently prescribed herbal medicines in the world today. A large German plant medicine company was the first to develop the standardised concentrate of Ginkgo, involving 27 different steps and requiring 50kgs of herb to produce 1 kg of extract and taking up to two weeks to complete!

·         - For Alzheimer's disease a meta-analysis of four randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials found a small but significant effect after 3-6 months treatment with 120-240 mg/day of standardised Ginkgo extract on objective measures of cognitive function. A subsequent randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial in patients with mild to severe Alzheimer's disease or multi-infarct dementia found that, compared with baseline values, treatment with standardised Gingko extract (120 mg/day for 26 weeks) improved daily living and social behaviour and cognitive assessment. The placebo group showed a statistically significant worsening in all domains of assessment. Regarding safety, no differences between Ginkgo and placebo were observed.

·         - A review of 40 clinical trials conducted from 1975 to 1991 on the clinical use of standardised Ginkgo extracts in patients with cerebral insufficiency and related conditions (primary degenerative dementia, dizziness associated with inner ear disorders, acute cochlear deafness, senile cognitive dementia, and tinnitus) found that all but one of the 40 trials showed positive results - the one inconclusive result was for senile dementia of vascular origin.

·         - The 50:1 concentrated extract used in the studies was standardised to contain 22.5% to 25% flavonoid glycosides (ginkgo flavone glycosides) and 6% -8% terpenoids (ginkgolides and bilobalide). Those ginkolides are potent and specific blockers of platelet activating factor (PAF) and their effects are long lived and rapidly established after oral doses.

·         - Taking a standardised Ginkgo extract (120mg/day for 4 months) improved mood, sleep, and coping ability for daily activities in a randomised, placebo-controlled study involving 5028 free-living elderly volunteers

·         - A meta-analysis found no major difference between standardised Ginkgo extract and four cholinesterase inhibitors (tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and metrifonate) for delaying symptom progression in Alzheimer's disease or response rate compared with placebo. The authors suggested that all treatments compared were equally helpful in treating mild to moderate Alzheimer dementia.

·        - Improvements in cerebral blood flow, motor recovery, intellectual performance, memory, mood, and behaviour were observed in recent stroke victims after treatment with standardised Ginkgo extract in both uncontrolled as well as randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and comparative trials.

·         And hundreds more

 

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