How to be healthy, happy, inspired and strong...

what are the health benefits of Ginkgo?

The ginkgo is the oldest living tree species. It was prevalent during the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. And some scientists think of it as a living fossil meaning that it is a plant that evolved into its present stage early, and persists today much as it was eons ago. Its resistance to parasites, insects, and pollution ensure it an astonishing natural life span of as long as a thousand years.

For thousands of years, the Chinese have used gingko seeds as a treatment for conditions such as asthma and tuberculosis. They also used them as an aid to digestion and to expel intestinal worms. They created a tincture or extract as an aid to circulation and mental performance. As early as 2800 B.C., they used ginkgo leaves to restore memory and ease breathing problems.

Research has proved that the ginkgo tree contains a disinfectant called 2-hexenal, which kills microbes. In addition, the acid on the leaves is poisonous to insects, to the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, and to the mosaic viruses that affect tobacco and beans.

The key to ginkgo's benefits is its ability to improve circulation to every area of the body, including the brain. Today we know that Ginkgo biloba helps to keep the blood vessels supple and elastic, which helps prevent heart and circulatory problems. Research indicates that it is effective in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and strokes. By improving blood flow, ginkgo enhances the body's ability to bring nourishment to every part of the body. The improved blood flow also helps heal disorders with a circulatory basis, ranging from ringing in the ears to numbness in the toes.

In research studies comparing Gingko biloba to seventeen drugs used in the treatment of vascular disorders, gingko was the only one that was found to be effective against all of the following problems associated with aging:

• Damage to blood vessels.

• Problems with metabolism.

• “Thick blood” (an abnormal tendency to form clots).

• Interaction of free radicals with neurotransmitters.

• Inadequate irrigation of tissues that had been deprived of oxygen.

• Impaired functioning of arteries.

• Clogging of arteries.

Reasons For Taking Ginkgo Biloba

Mental Alertness: Ginkgo keeps the brain healthy and the blood vessels that serve it strong and supple, and has been shown to improve short-term memory.

Blood Vessel Health: It prevents or repairs microscopic damage to the cells and vessels.

Skin Health: It keeps the skin healthy and youthful. The skin ages when it is starved of nutrients and oxygen, which happens when the blood vessels are constricted.

Cerebral Insufficiency: It has been used for the treatment of cerebral insufficiency, which encompasses a variety of problems such as impaired memory, dizziness, ringing in the ears, headaches, nervousness and anxiety.

Balance or Equilibrium: If you start treatment with Ginkgo biloba early and take it for three months, you may experience improvement.

Effects of Radiation: Ginkgo biloba is an antioxidant that scavenges damaged molecules. It has been shown to decrease -or even eliminate- clastogenic activity of the plasma in people who were exposed to high levels of radiation.

Failing Eyesight: Without proper flow of blood to the retina, the layer of nerve tissue lining the inside of the back of the eye, one loses vision and eventually becomes blind.

Ginkgo biloba extract has been proved to help memory, improve general brain function, and counteract problems with blood and circulation. Ginkgo biloba has various important medical uses because it benefits the blood vessels, and for that reason benefits the performance of various organs, most notably the brain. Its many healing properties are also attributed to the complex structure of its molecules and to the flavone glycosides and terpene lactones it contains.