Gingko Biloba: Boosting Brain Power!

Gingko biloba knows a little something about being elderly; at some 200 million years old, it's considered the oldest living tree species and single specimens can live as long as 1,000 years. How fitting then that the wizened gingko is often used in medicine to help treat ailments associated with decreased blood flow to the brain, particularly in elderly individuals.

The importance of gingko

The Chinese have used gingko leaves and seeds for centuries, but modern usage focuses on the standardized gingko biloba extract (GBE), which is prepared from the dried green leaves. This extract is extremely concentrated and much more effective than the leaf alone in helping to treating circulatory disorders and enhancing memory. In Europe, where it is widely used to treat dementia, GBE is one of the best-selling herbal medicines and ranks within the top five prescriptions written in France and Germany alone. Here in the U.S., it's increasing in popularity for its much touted memory enhancing benefits. These benefits are believed to be the result of only two of the more than 40 gingko compounds: flavonoids and terpenoids. Flavonoids have potent antioxidant effects and studies have shown that they protect the nerves, heart muscle and retina from damage from free radicals. Terpenoids improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of the platelets. It's this stickiness that can lead to circulatory problems and decreased blood flow to the brain, all of which is associated with brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and dementia.

In addition to treating brain disorders, gingko is also used to help treat other health problems such as:

Eye Problems: Flavonoids found in gingko may help to lessen some problems with the retina, like those which are caused by diabetes or macular degeneration. Studies have shown that gingko may help preserve vision, particularly in those with age-related macular degeneration.

Intermittent Claudication: Numerous studies have found that gingko helped people with intermittent claudication (pain caused by inadequate blood flow to the legs) to walk farther and in significantly less pain than those who were taking a placebo.

Memory Impairment: Known as the "brain herb," gingko has been found to be highly effective in enhancing memory and cognitive function in people with mild memory impairment, i.e., people not suffering from Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.

Tinnitus: A very difficult problem to treat, tinnitus is the perception of ringing, hissing or some other sound in the ears when no actual sound is present. It is often the result of nerve damage and certain blood vessel disorders and studies have been conducted to determine gingko's effectiveness in relieving symptoms of this disorder. Results have found that gingko shows some success in helping to treat the problem.

If you're interested in taking a powerful antioxidant that can improve blood flow and enhance memory, give gingko a try. EnergyFirst offers 60mg capsules of gingko biloba, which are vegetarian and free of all common allergens. Typical dosages range from 40-120 mgs and there are few known side effects, but many great benefits.