If there is one thing that scares me more than losing the function and appearance of my healthy body… it is losing the function of my most treasured organ, my mind. I have learned that food and nutrition choices, stress management, blood sugar regulation and sleep are essential for good brain function but it can sure be helpful to have some herbs in your back pocket. Let’s talk about 5 important benefits of Ginkgo!

1. Stress – Ginkgo can help ease the effects of stress by helping our bodies to make more ATP (energy) on a cellular level. This means more in-the-moment energy and clarity. Ginkgo can also help with our bodies’ abilities to turn the amino acids that we are taking in into proteins and utilize those aminos for building things like neurotransmitters for us, helping not only with our brains but any sort of tissue repair and enzyme production in the body.

2. Circulation – Through improving circulation Ginkgo delivers many powerful benefits. Ginkgo has been shown to tone veins and dilate arteries and has been used as a circulatory tonic in asia for thousands of years. Ginkgo can also work to prevent the clumping of red blood cells which can contribute to heart problems. Consider Ginkgo in Reynaud’s phenomenon or other circulatory struggles that would benefit from a vasodilator.

3. Tinnitus and Hearing Loss – Ginkgo has been found to be effective in the treatment of tinnitus due to decreased circulation (basically compromised blood flow to the ears…) and has even been used in situations with more acute hearing loss with success. My feeling is that this would really depend on how much of the herb you decided to take and your ability to address the root cause of the tinnitus (like WHY is there a lack of circulation in the first place) but Ginkgo yay!

4. Colds and Respiratory Bacteria – In one study by Dr. Volkner published in a German report he encouraged participants to breathe in the essence of the ginkgo biloba plant and this was done with dramatic effect. The herb seemed to restore moisture to the cells in the mucous membranes resulting in the unwanted bacteria in these areas being destroyed and the inflammation in these areas being significantly reduced. I think more studies need to be done but this is hopeful… for those of us with a history of sinus infections, allergic rhinitis and more.  I believe the “essence” would be the essential oil or CO2 extraction although at time of writing I am not sure where this can be purchased.

Our digestive systems also have mucosa that keep our microbiomes balanced, protect our skin and our digestive immunity, help us absorb nutrients and so much more.  Properly prepared Ginkgo tea ingested between meals can contain some of the volatile oils found effective in the study above and along with Ginkgo’s other digestive benefits, can benefit the mucosa in the digestive system.

5. Cholesterol and Triglycerides – This is a two-in-one benefit but it’s worth it! Ginkgo has been found to reduce cholesterol levels and also triglycerides, two important measurements for insulin resistance and muffin top!

Ginkgo is often found in teas, capsules and tinctures so your use depends on your lifestyle and what is easier for you.

So how does Ginkgo Biloba do this? It interferes with something called the Platelet Activating Factor in the blood which contributes to inflammation. Interestingly cancer cells have a large amount of receptors for Platelet Activating Factor and several studies that I have read strongly point to the possibility that when these receptors or the Platelet Activating Factor are reduced the cancers stop growing.

One of the hidden dangers (other than being allergic) to Ginkgo Biloba is that the user may be dealing with the inflammation itself rather than the root causes of inflammation which are important to discover and transcend.  Many herbs and nutrients are still being used allopathically (this is really an allopathic article).  Make sure that while you are using herbs and nutrients to feel better that you keep on digging to the root cause, including especially digestion.