ginkgo biloba
ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo is the oldest species of tree still living on Earth, going back 300 million years! Tree grows to 120 feet (40m) with fan-shaped leaves, and is said to be able to live a thousand years. Male and female plants required for fruit, which is round, hard and really bad smelling. It’s the seeds/nuts inside the fruit you want, not the toxic nasty flesh. The leaves are famous for helping brain function and memory. Ginkgo increases the body's production of the universal energy molecule adenosine triphosphate, commonly called ATP. This activity has been shown to boost the brains energy metabolism of glucose and increase electrical activity. The nuts are reminiscent of cheddar cheese. You can steam or boil the nut in water for 10 minutes and enjoy like a pistachio nut. Tree grows really well in many conditions. Cooked seeds are used for lung problems. Ginkgo leaves are popular for their extracts not only to boost the brain, but also to improve oxygen and circulation flow inside the body. Improves mood, memory, focus ability, senility, dementia, depression, emotional disorders, anxiety attacks, alzheimer’s, increases memory capability, ringing of ears, dizziness eyesight, stroke prevention and damage recovery. 100X more effective when mixed with cayenne. Be careful when handling fruit while getting to seeds, may have poison ivy-type reaction. Ginkgo leaf extract protects from free-radicals and is used for anti-aging, reduces blood cell clumping which can lead to congestive heart disease. Helps return elasticity to cholesterol-hardened blood vessels and joints. Improves athletic performance. Reduces lung inflammation, asthma attacks. Increases vascular strength and helps reverse impotence caused by penile atherosclerosis. Studies showed Ginkgo was 30% more effective than drug injections. Vit A, B1, B2, B3, C, calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, zinc, bioflavonoids, and pycnogenols. Sometimes takes 12 weeks for effects to become noticeable. The seeds are delicious once they are prepared. First you have to clean them outdoors (they smell), then de-shell and steam them for 5 min. They taste like cheddar cheese.
Edible Plant Guide © 2012 Markus Rothkranz