Ginkgo biloba, also known as the Maidenhair Tree, is an ancient Chinese tree. Its leaves have been used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory, such as treating dementia and intermittent claudication. It also shows promise for enhancing memory in older adults. Scientific studies have found that ginkgo biloba can improve blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of blood platelets.
Ginkgo biloba leaves contain two types of chemicals: flavonoids and terpenoids. These two chemicals are believed to have potent antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge free radicals, which contributes to health problems including heart disease and cancer etc. Antioxidants such as those found in ginkgo can help neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
In Europe and the United States, ginkgo supplements are among the best-selling herbal medications.
