Ginkgo Biloba leaves have many healing properties, including the ability to "reverse the aging process of the human brain." Also the leaves of the plant improve circulatory ills, immunity, allergic inflammations, kidney disorders, and blood pressure as we ll as mental energy and alertness.Inhabiting the earth for over 200 million years, the ginkgo was given the name biloba because its fan-shaped leaves resemble two lobes. In the U.S. ginkgo is not classified as a drug, however when medical literature began reporting studies that showed a uni que ability to improve circulation to the brain, the medical community in the U.S. began to take notice. European investigations have identified the effectiveness of ginkgo in treating the symptoms of chronic cerebral arterial insufficiency, including vert igo, headache, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), short-term memory loss, inability to concentrate and depression.
Commenting on this study in their Textbook of Natural Medicine, authors Pizzorno and Murray state, "It appears that ginkgo biloba extract, by incrasing cerebral blood flow and thus oxygen and glucose utilization, offers relief of these presumed side effects of aging. It also offers protection against trasient ischemic attack (TIA)...[and] stroke." Research conducted in France suggest the possibility of of using ginkgo to great Alzheimer's disease. (La Presses Medicale, 15, 1985)Becuse of ginkgo 's stablizing action on the blood vessels, Charbrier and Roubert speculate that it has a nomralinz action on the blood brain barrier.
Nutrition News© 1990 VOL XIII. No. 7 Siri Khalsa, Riverside, CA 93507 ISSN 8756-5919