The beautiful Ginkgo

Our Ginkgo biloba has had a few moves and she is going strong. Such a beautiful tree with distinctive fan-shaped leaves and is right at home in our hen's patch. The grass green leaves put on a glorious golden display in autumn. This is a tree that has extisted in its current form for the last 270 million years and has had a history of medicinal use for thousands of years. It has also been considered sacred in Japan and China.

Ginkgo is one of few herbs that has had a heap of studies done on it. So if you are on any medications, please consult a herbalist to ensure there is no risk of interactions with the meds you are taking and also with some medical conditions. Herbs are powderful!

Many of us would have heard about Ginkgo's affinity with the brain as a cognitive supporting and neuroprotective herb, in the case of dementia and Alzheimer's. I myself have taken it for ms related brain support. UK herbalist Lucy Jones does urge caution about long term use and using it with certain circumstances of this herb so it depends on the individual and make sure you check in with your naturopath or herbalist to see if it's a good fit for you.

One reason Ginkgo may be connected to cognitive support is due to its action as a peripherial circulatory stimulant. This property may also account for reports of it modulating circulatory issues like Raynaud's.

It has an anticoagulant action so may be indicated for strokes. It also has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.

In Western herbal tradition the leaf is primarily used while in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) the seeds are also used for the lungs and kidneys.