Native to China, Ginkgo biloba is considered the oldest living tree species in the world. These unique plants have no close relatives. They have earned their reputation as “living fossils”, having survived unchanged from when the last known dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Fossilised samples of its ancestors show the tree itself has remained unchanged for tens of millions of years.
Originally, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners used the Ginkgo nut for their medicinal preparations, which they used to aid in skin infections, and as a food. However, modern Ginkgo preparations have evolved to now use the distinct, fan shaped leaves. These leaves, with their central notch, or ‘bi-lobed’ appearance (hence the name bi-loba), yields the highly prized constituents ginkgo flavone glycosides. Since the discovery of these ginkgo flavone glycosides, the use of the herb has broadened to include cardiovascular, metabolic and cognitive conditions which may be characterised by poor blood circulation. Ginkgo is widely used for conditions which may require promoting blood flow to the brain and the periphery.
