Ginkgo biloba is a magnificent tree that has survived since the Carboniferous era. The plant has numerous properties that make it an excellent natural supplement.
Ginkgo biloba is a plant native to China, Japan and Korea that has spread to Europe and America as an ornamental plant. It is considered an important survivor of a large group of plants, now extinct, that reached their peak during the Carboniferous period, approximately two hundred million years ago. This appears to be due to its great resistance to cold and water scarcity, its immunity to fungi and parasites, and its tolerance of toxic fumes.
A famous ginkgo in Hiroshima put out buds in the spring following the catastrophe, while the city was still in ruins, eventually growing into a flourishing tree that can still be seen today in the centre of the rebuilt city.
It is effective in cases of insufficient cerebral blood circulation, manifested by symptoms such as dizziness, headaches and ringing in the ears. It reduces memory and concentration disorders, particularly in the elderly.
It tones the walls of the veins, reducing the pooling of blood and facilitating venous return. Ginkgo improves capillary permeability, reducing the accumulation of fluid in the tissues.
It is the most widely used plant for limiting the ageing process: circulatory deficiencies, particularly cerebral, but also in the lower limbs, whose recovery and mobility it accelerates. Those who use ginkgo say it "clears the mind": this is why it is often found, in combination with ginseng or eleutherococcus, in preparations designed to improve cerebral activity, making it useful for students and managers alike. It is also an ingredient in many anti-cellulite creams, owing to its draining action and its beneficial effect on the microcirculation, whose poor functioning is a primary cause of the unsightly orange-peel effect.
An infusion can be prepared using the leaves, with 30–40 g per litre of water, and drunk as one cup three times a day. A more concentrated infusion, using 100 g per litre, can be used for warm or hot hand and foot baths, which are highly effective against chilblains.
It should never be given to people with clotting disorders or those undergoing anticoagulant therapy.