Leaves, seeds.
Excessive phlegm is often reduced by taking preparations made from the seeds of the gingko; these remedies are also used in gaining relief from wheezing. The gingko seed remedies are also used in the treatment of problematic vaginal discharge in women, in the treatment of a weakened bladder, and in the treatment of urinary incontinence affecting patients. The gingko leaves were also used in the treatment of asthma in many traditional medical systems. The ability of the gingko herb to promote the circulatory system was the main reason for the rise in interest of the Western medical with respect to the ginkgo. Indeed, the remarkable property of the leaves of the gingko to bring about improvement in the circulation, particularly of improving impaired circulation to the brain is an area of focus in the west. At the same time, the gingko's anti-allergenic and potent anti-inflammatory actions are also consistently studied, as this property of the herbal remedy is of special value to the treatment of asthma in patients. These days, among all herbal formulas, preparations of the ginkgo remain the best selling herbal medications in countries like France and Germany among European nations, in fact, there are millions of people, middle age onward who use gingko medications to maintain and improve the cerebral circulation, gingko is also used to boost lagging memory and as a herbal preventative to lessen the possibility of a stroke in old age. As a single cure herb for the treatment of senile dementia, the ginkgo herb is considered to be one of the most useful and effective herbs by many herbalist.
At this time gingko is grown as a plantation crop in many parts of China, France and South Carolina. The gingko herb is native to China and perhaps also grows in the wild in the Japanese islands. Full grown and mature gingko plants tend to be characterized by the green to yellow fan-shaped leaves which these bear, these leaves are marked by prominent radiating veins, the gingko herb also produces round fruits each of which are an inch - three cm across in width and contain a single seed in the middle. Wherever it is grown, the fruit and leaves of the gingko are harvested during the autumn and subjected to further processing or storage.
The importance and effectiveness of the gingko herb in improving and promoting the impaired cerebral circulation in affected patients has been established thorough very thorough and extensive clinical research since the 1960s. These tests have also confirmed the ability of the herb in aiding the functioning of the memory and in promoting concentration, at the same time; the herb is also known to be effective in curing cases of dementia affecting different patients. There is promising scientific speculation that conditions such as autoimmune problems, diseases like multiple sclerosis, and organ transplants will be treatable using the gingko herb in the future as the anti-inflammatory properties of the herb are furthered investigated. Indeed, a new branch in the study of human physiology has been opened due to the results from research into the ginkgo herb. For example, a chemical called the platelet activating factor (PAF), which is a proteinaceous substance released by a wide range of blood cells is often inhibited by the gingko herb. The chances of blood clots in the body is increased by the PAF as it makes blood stickier when released in excess, the PAF is also needed for various inflammatory and allergenic reactions to occur in the bloodstream - gingko can greatly inhibit the action of this chemical and thereby inhibit unnecessary and potentially damaging blood clots.
Ginkgo contains lignans; the ginkgolides (A, B and C), flavonoids, terpenes, essential oil, tannins.
The normal dosage of 120-160 mg of GBE, which has been standardized to have 6% terpene lactones and about 24% flavone glycosides, is taken by the vast majority of patients; this dose is usually taken two to three times a day. For the treatment of problems such as cerebrovascular insufficiency, mental confusion and memory loss, as well as resistant depression, this dosage can be increased to 240 mg per day. Before the first desirable and beneficial effects are noticed in the patient, at least six to eight weeks may have passed. Daily doses of the ginkgo in tincture form at doses of 0.5 ml thrice daily is also used by some patients.
The benefits of the ginkgo biloba extract lies in the absence of any severe side effects aside from its other properties. While some minor side effects are induced by GBE, these are only in the nature of very mild headaches that may last for a day or two on initial dosage, some people also complain of a mild stomach ache - both these effects affect a very minute percentage of patients on GBE at any one time, and the vast majority do not feel any side effects at all. The benefit of using GBE is further shown by the absence of contra indications for its potential use along with pregnant and lactating women patients. While GBE can be used in the treatment of most circulatory problems, one must bear in mind that a serious disease may be the cause of circulatory conditions in the elderly - such patients need to be thoroughly examined by competent physicians. In all cases self-prescribing GBE should only be done following careful medical check up to rule out any serious disease in the body.
The main chemical role of the ginkgolides present in the herb, particularly the B form, is as an antagonist to the platelet activating factor (PAF) in the blood stream. Both inflammatory reactions as well as allergic reactions involve the presence of PAF; this is true particularly in the case of asthma. Circulation to the brain is promoted by the flavonoid portion present in the herb.