In rock layers some
270 million years old, scientists have unearthed fossils of ancient
trees with delicately veined, fan-shaped leaves that are deeply notched
to form two halves, or lobes. Some of these fossils are essentially
identical to the leaves of a living tree known as Ginkgo biloba. It is the only surviving member of the Ginkgo
genus, a sort of living fossil that survived into modern times in a
remote corner of southeastern China. Buddhist monks began cultivating
ginkgo there in the 11th century, when ginkgo was revered as a sacred
plant and grown for its peculiar fleshy seeds.
The Chinese called these seeds yinxing, meaning “silver apricot.” In Japan, where ginkgo was introduced, yin-hsing is thought to have become corrupted into gingkyo.
Ginkgo leaves and seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine
since the 15th century and probably were used much earlier in folk
medicine.
Therapeutic Uses
Antioxidant
Mental health
Circulation
Perhaps our oldest known tree, ginkgo and its leaves
have been an herbal remedy for many centuries. Ginkgo contains potent
antioxidants called glycosides, which protect nerve cells, and terpene
lactones, which reduce inflammation. Ginkgo is used for poor circulation
and for reducing the pain of peripheral vascular disease. However,
studies investigating these effects show only modest benefit over
placebo.
Ginkgo is widely used in Europe,
Canada, Australia, and the United States for the prevention and
treatment of dementia. A number of studies have shown that Ginkgo biloba
extract (GBE) improves symptoms and stabilizes or slows progression of
dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Studies also show that these
extracts modestly improve age-related memory impairment (which is much
less serious than dementia).
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