Ginkgo Beauty
I love walking down Main Street in Hendersonville, NC. The street has such a wonderful energy and lots of great shops and restaurants. On my latest stroll down Main St. I stopped and glanced up at one of the beautiful ginkgo trees. One of my friends told me that they had planted them on Main street several years ago. No wonder the street has such great energy.
Ginkgo, a native plant of China, is a very ancient plant; it has been found in fossils dating back 200 million years ago. One of the reasons small towns like to line their streets with Ginkgo trees is that they are very resistant to pollution and toxins in the environment and help clean the air. Likewise, in the body, ginkgo helps protect the brain from free radicals and oxidation which is caused by toxins and stress. Ginkgo is known to help improve blood flow in the body, particularly to the smallest of blood vessels and brain.
Because ginkgo improves circulation to the smallest of capillaries, it is very helpful in supporting eye health, hair loss and hearing loss. In addition to improving circulation, ginkgo also helps to strengthen capillaries. Over the past 25 years I have had many clients who used ginkgo and hawthorn in combination to help improve their hearing and stop ringing in the ears. Hawthorn like ginkgo, supports a healthy circulatory system and heart health. Ginkgo does have some blood thinning properties. If you are on blood thinners and want to add ginkgo to your health maintenance routine, talk to your doctor as this may change the dose of your medication.
One of the most researched areas for uses of ginkgo has to do with improving cognitive health. Studies have shown positive results with ginkgo for enhancing brain function, memory and mental performance. In addition, ginkgo seems to help increase your sense of well-being (just walking by ginkgo trees does this, lol), lift depression and lessen anxiety.
What an amazing herb! My 3 favorite Nature’s Sunshine formulas that contain gingko are: Brain Protex, Focus Attention powder, and Ginkgo/Hawthorn combination. Ginkgo is also available by itself in a Time released formula. I am always using one or more of these formulas as they really help me keep mentally focused on my work, and also help to prevent “brain fog” when under stress.
From an energetic perspective ginkgo helps to awaken your inner sight (intuition). Because ginkgo is such an ancient tree, it is thought to help people to connect back to their Soul purpose, or spiritual quest. I personally feel ginkgo helps me to expand my vision beyond the physical realm to gain new perspective, clarity and vision. I love this herb.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations. The information is provided for educational purposes only. Nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another.
Copyright Restoring Light, 2019, all rights reserved. Photo by Valerie Greguire
