What is ginkgo and where does it happen?
Ginkgo is a tree originally from China (Ginkgo biloba), and is revered in Asia as a temple tree. This tree has long since found its place in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
For some years now the extract of the ginkgo leaf has also been used in phytomedicine. It is used to treat cerebral dysfunction, a minimal dysfunction of the central nervous system that can occur in infants and children. This is mainly due to disorders of the fine motor system, partial performance weaknesses, which can be seen, for example, in the development of speech or as arithmetic weakness, and as an attention deficit disorder.
It is also used to treat circulatory disorders (disorders of the blood circulation). Special extracts are also approved by the WHO (World Health Organization) for the treatment of dementia. Ginkgo is also known to the Japanese and Chinese as a foodstuff. In Japan and China, the seeds of the seeds are cooked and served as a side dish. Also in roasted form as a snack they are highly appreciated.
Why do you need ginkgo?
The active ingredients contained in the ginkgo leaf are used successfully in the treatment of various diseases and disorders. Their main effects are the reduction of circulatory disorders and occlusive diseases. It can therefore be used preventively and therapeutically to accompany cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the Ginkgo biloba has pronounced antioxidant effects, thus reducing the occurrence of harmful free radicals in the body.
Ginkgo improved the short-term memory already after 4 hours.
Who needs additional Ginkgo?
Ginkgo with insufficient blood circulation
The positive effect of ginkgo in the treatment of performance disorders affecting our brain has long been scientifically proven. The effects of ginkgo considerably increase blood circulation. It has also been shown to improve blood flow in brain tissue, increasing cognitive performance and treating brain disorders.
In a placebo-controlled study by scientists from King’s College in London, it was proven that taking 120 mg Ginkgo biloba after 4 hours can greatly improve the visual short-term memory and concentration ability of healthy people.
Ginkgo in Alzheimer’s disease
A positive effect was also observed in Alzheimer’s patients. Various studies have shown an improvement in symptoms, especially in older people. Thus the quality of life of the patient as well as that of the relatives and the nursing staff is increased. Furthermore, a slight reduction in the nursing costs per patient in the ginkgo group compared to the comparison group treated with placebo was found.
Ginkgo in cardiovascular diseases
Science is also intensively concerned with the effective preventive use of Ginkgo biloba for cardiovascular diseases. Ginkgo is characterized above all by its antioxidative and antithrombotic properties and can therefore be used for targeted use, especially in thrombosis, venous insufficiency, and arterial disorders.
Ginkgo for retinal diseases
Good results with an intake of ginkgo biloba extract have also been achieved in the prevention and accompanying therapy of age-related retinal diseases. In a clinical study, German researchers from Karlsruhe found a significant improvement in vision after only four weeks. It is assumed that a long-term improvement in the blood circulation of the retina is responsible for the increased visual acuity. In addition they could show that the portion of the patients with positive results doubled by the use of high-dose preparations. The most effective treatment was a daily supply of 240 mg of ginkgo extract.
Ginkgo for dizziness and tinnitus
Ginkgo also has a positive effect on depressive moods, headaches, dizziness and ringing in the ears. After a 3-month therapy with Ginkgo biloba extract, over half of the patients were able to eliminate the symptoms of dizziness. The same results were achieved with chronic tinnitus. The duration until the disappearance of the noises in the ear as well as the intensity were clearly lower compared with Placebo.
These results could be confirmed recently by a Swiss research team of the university hospitals Bern, Basel and Lausanne to a large extent. According to their recommendations, a daily intake of 240 mg of ginkgo is an effective way of reducing these unpleasant neurological symptoms, especially in older people.
