What is Ginkgo? Many scientists believe that Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest living species of tree. These amazing trees can live up to 1,000 years. Ginkgo grows most predominantly in the southern and eastern United States, southern France, China, and Korea. The leaves of the tree are used for their medicinal effects. Benefits Among its medicinal uses, ginkgo Biloba shows the most promise as a circulatory aid, helping to increase blood flow to the brain which may be useful for memory loss, vertigo, tinnitus, disorientation, headaches, and depression, especially in the elderly and the elderly not responding to antidepressant drugs. Increasing amounts of evidence show that ginkgo may indeed help to relieve cerebral insufficiency, which is defined as a decrease in blood supply to the brain.
Many individuals suffering from other circulation-related conditions such as leg cramps have also reported having experienced favorable results from using Ginkgo Biloba. Ginkgo offers antioxidant effects as well, which may protect both the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system from the negative effects of aging, specifically age-related mental deterioration. Some study results offer additional evidence that the antioxidants in ginkgo may also help to inhibit high blood pressure. However, no studies have provided conclusive evidence supporting many of the claimed benefits of Ginkgo Biloba.
More recent studies have provided promising evidence that ginkgo may provide beneficial effects in connection with the following conditions:
Age-related cognitive decline (ARCD)
Alzheimer's disease (early-stage)
Glaucoma (normal-tension glaucoma)
Intermittent claudication
Researchers attribute the medical effects of Ginkgo biloba extract primarily to two categories of active constituents: flavone glycosides and terpene lactones. Ginkgo flavone glycosides are primarily responsible for ginkgos antioxidant effects while the terpene lactones, also known as ginkgolides and bilobalide, are believed to be responsible for ginkgo's ability to increase blood circulation to the brain and other parts of the body.
Ginkgo's antioxidant effects may also inhibit platelet stickiness which can decrease the risk of circulatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis.
Ginkgo may also enhance cognitive performance in healthy older adults and in people suffering from age-related cognitive decline.
