|
|
 Ginkgo |
 Biloba |
| Common
Names: Maiden hair tree, ginkgo, 40
crowns tree, icho (Japanese). |
| Growth
Rate: Slow |
| Height:
15m
|
| Spread:
5m
|
| Position:
Sun
to partial shade.
|
| Hardiness:
Fully Hardy |
| Soil:
Fertile, well-drained soil.
|
| Origin:
Eastern China, a very old genus of
trees, at least 200 million years old.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Description:
Unusual
leaf and tree shape. Thick, leathery bright
green leaves are fan- shaped and often turn
bright gold when a warm autumn follows a
warm summer. The trees usually start off
shaped like a flagpole but gradually become
wide spreading. It can cope with many city
conditions but is rarely planted because of
the highly unpleasant smelling fruit it
produces. A good tree for a large garden.
Health
Benefits: Unlike many
other medicinal herbs, ginkgo leaves are not
frequently used in their crude state, but
rather, in the form of a concentrated,
standardized ginkgo biloba extract (GBE). In
Europe, GBE is among the best-selling herbal
medications and it ranks within the top five
of all prescriptions written in France and
Germany.
Ginkgo
has been used in traditional medicine to
treat circulatory disorders and enhance
memory. Scientific studies throughout the
years lend support to these traditional
uses. Emerging evidence suggests that GBE
may be particularly effective in treating
ailments associated with decreased blood
flow to the brain, particularly in elderly
individuals. Laboratory studies have shown
that GBE improves blood circulation by
dilating blood vessels and reducing the
stickiness of blood platelets.
|
