GINKGO BILOBA

Ginkgo Biloba (usually referred to as “Ginkgo”) sounds like a character out of a Star Wars movie. In reality, it is a powerful herb extracted from the leaves of the Ginkgo Biloba tree. This tree was originally found in western China but it is now grown in many moderate climates around the world. Ginkgo trees, also known as maidenhair trees, are very resistant to insects, bacteria and pollution. In fact, a small Ginkgo tree was the only plant to survive the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Some individual trees live to be 1,000 years old.

The fruits and seeds of the Gingko tree have been used medicinally in China for nearly 5,000 years. In the early 18th century, the Ginkgo tree was introduced into Europe but only for ornamental purposes. Its study in Western medicine did not begin until the 1950’s. Now Ginkgo is the most studied herb in the world with over 300 published studies.

Unlike many herbal preparations, Ginkgo is rarely used in its crude form. Instead, a concentrated Ginkgo Biloba extract (GBE) is commonly used. Fifty pounds of Ginkgo leaves are required to make one pound of this extract. The extraction process involves 27 steps and may take up to two weeks to complete.

In Europe, Ginkgo is one of the most widely physician-prescribed medicines (either natural or chemical). It accounts for over 10 million prescriptions each year and over 500 million dollars in sales. It is used primarily for the treatment of cerebral and peripheral vascular disorders. Ginkgo helps symptoms such as vertigo, tinnitus, (ringing in the ears) headaches, short-term memory loss, intermittent claudication and other problems associated with decreased blood flow. It is also a potent antioxidant.