- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- China; Ginkgo biloba, a tree known as a 'living fossil'
Asia · Herb · № 37
Ginkgo biloba
Herb · Asia
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
There is no conclusive evidence that ginkgo helps any health condition. A modest effect on dementia symptoms is possible, but results are inconsistent.
Safety notes
It may increase bleeding risk and interact with medicines. Raw or roasted seeds can cause poisoning.
Cautions by tradition (4)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Long-term or excessive use can cause bleeding.
- Herbs for viral infections: Not with diabetes, epilepsy, infertility, bleeding disorders or for children.
- Chinese food therapy: Never eat ginkgo nuts raw, and even cooked only in small amounts: they contain ginkgotoxin, which can cause vomiting and convulsions, especially in children. Caution with blood thinners.
- Chinese materia medica: Slightly toxic: never raw, not in large amounts or for long periods, not for children and not with sticky phlegm.
Preparation
Today mostly as a standardized leaf extract. The seeds are eaten in Chinese cuisine but can be toxic in larger amounts.
Use in traditions
Ginkgo has a long history in Chinese medicine, including for cough and diarrhea.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Leaf vasodilating and promotes circulation; seeds astringent, antifungal, antibacterial.
Preparation and amount
Leaf extract for hardening of the brain arteries in the elderly and circulatory disorders; tincture with periwinkle and linden (circulation) or melilot (veins); seeds (max. 3–4 per decoction) with ma huang and coltsfoot for asthma and cough.
Caution: Long-term or excessive use can cause bleeding.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Improves circulation (terpenoids and flavonoids); especially against flu; further for dementia, memory, Lyme disease, dizziness, mood problems, Raynaud's, tinnitus.
Preparation and amount
Capsule or tablet; 120–240 mg a day depending on the complaint.
Caution: Not with diabetes, epilepsy, infertility, bleeding disorders or for children.
Chinese food therapy
Attributed effects
According to tradition the yellow nuts strengthen heart, lungs and skin, dissolve phlegm and are used for persistent cough. They are also mentioned as an antioxidant and for memory and circulation in the brain.
Caution: Never eat ginkgo nuts raw, and even cooked only in small amounts: they contain ginkgotoxin, which can cause vomiting and convulsions, especially in children. Caution with blood thinners.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, bitter, astringent, neutral, slightly toxic
- Meridians
- lung, kidney
Attributed effects
The nut (bai guo) supports the lung qi in cough and wheezing with much clear phlegm and curbs the loss of body fluids in discharge and frequent urination.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 6–9 g a day, usually in a decoction. The book describes the leaf extract, much used in the West for circulation in the brain; see the other tabs.
Caution: Slightly toxic: never raw, not in large amounts or for long periods, not for children and not with sticky phlegm.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionTinctureSyrup, honey and oxymelPowder and kitchen
- Formulas
- Ding chuan tang