Ginkgo

Figure 1. Ginkgo tree with mature fruits and Ginkgo leaves.

The Ginkgo tree or Ginkgo biloba is a species of tree native to China. It is also known as Gingko or the maidenhair tree. Ginkgo is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. The tree was cultivated early in human history and remains commonly planted today. It is native to China, Japan, and Korea, but is also now grown in Europe and the United States.

Ginkgo is a large tree with fan-shaped leaves. Ginkgo seeds, leaves, and nuts were often used in Chinese traditional medicine. Historically, Ginkgo was taken for asthma, dementia, bronchitis, and kidney and bladder disorders.

Today, Ginkgo extract which is obtained from Ginkgo leaves are used primarily in dietary supplements. Ginkgo supplements are typically sold in capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, or dried leaves/tea. Ginkgo contains high levels of flavonoids and terpenoids, which are strong Antioxidant compounds. In addition, Ginkgo extract may reduce inflammation and help with conditions such as:

• Arthritis
• Irritable Bowel Disease
• Heart Disease
• Stroke

Ginkgo extract may improve blood circulation within the body. This was attributed to an increase in nitric oxide circulation, a compound responsible for dilating blood vessels.

Ginkgo is commonly taken today to help with a myriad of conditions including heart health, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, bran functioning, improved memory, focus, and attention span, anxiety reduction, depression, vision and eye health, headaches and migraines, asthma, PMS symptoms, and more, but its purported health benefits are all attributed to Ginkgo's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or blood vessel dilation effects in one way or another. Presently, there is insufficient scientific evidence to conclusively ascertain Ginkgo's health benefits in these applications.

Potential side effects of Gingko include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Stomach pain
• Rash/allergic reaction

Do not eat raw Ginkgo seeds as they are poisonous.