Remedies which have the ginkgo tree extract as one of the main ingredients are now thought to be the number one best selling remedies in the UK and is in the top 5 of all prescriptions written in France and Germany.

How is the ginkgo tree used?

The seeds from the tree have been used for thousands of years in ancient Chinese remedies, the Chinese are known also to cook the seeds and eat them to maintain health and vigour. More recently, the extract from the leaves have been used to help alleviate and treat a wide variety of ailments including asthma, bronchitis, chronic fatigue and tinnitus.

Studies have also shown that the extract from the leaves can help with improving the memory and has been used to help with conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia along with improving the circulation of the blood.

In Alzheimer’s, studies showed that people suffering from the disease showed improvement in thinking and learning as well as improved memory, social behaviour and problems relating from depression also improved. More and more studies are now being conducted into a wider range of problems and illnesses and the beneficial effects the ginkgo extract has on these problems.

How is ginkgo used?

Extracts are taken from the ginkgo leaf and are then used in a wide variety of ways including tablet, capsule or tea forms, the seeds can also be crushed and used or as the Chinese did they can be cooked whole and used in salads. Some care should be taken however and ginkgo should only be used when prescribed by a Chinese herbal practitioner or Doctor and not eaten freely as part of the diet.

Are there any side effects to taking ginkgo?

Even though ginkgo extract is used widely in Chinese medicine and is available for many different ailments and conditions there can still be a few side effects from herbal remedies. Some common side effects that may occur with ginkgo are headache, nausea and vomiting or the onset of a rash.

People who are on medication such as anticoagulant drugs and have bleeding disorders or who are scheduled to have surgery should use ginkgo with caution and it is in your best interest to talk with a herbal practitioner or health care provider if you fall into these categories to be on the safe side.

Our Qi can become affected by our daily lives and when there is a disruption to this vital energy then illness and problems occur. The ultimate goal to Chinese medicine is to achieve total harmony and balance within the body and mind and this is achieved by balancing the Qi.

When did Chinese medicine begin?

The first evidence of traditional Chinese medicine dates back to 200 B.C.E where herbal medicine and the practice of acupuncture were recorded, theory, practice, diagnosis and treatment using forms of traditional Chinese medicine have all been recorded and have been refined over centuries to the traditional Chinese medicine which we know today.

Chinese immigrants to the United States began practicing Chinese medicine in the mid 19th century but it wasn’t widely used and recognised until 1971. It was during this year that a reporter for a New York newspaper was visiting China and fell ill, it was found that he had to have an emergency operation to remove his appendix.

After the operation he had acupuncture as a way to help him deal with the pain, he was so took up by the experience that he promoted the use of it widely. Since this time, traditional Chinese medicine has become known throughout the world and has increased in popularity over the years as a form of alternative form of medicine.

What does traditional Chinese medicine involve?

There are many therapeutic modules to traditional Chinese medicine with many of them relying on the bodies own healing mechanism. Some of the practices of traditional Chinese medicine are:

• Acupuncture and acupressure.
• Moxibustion, which require herbs being burnt on the skin.
• Herbal remedies.
• Nutritional balance.
• Tui na which is Chinese massage.
• Tai-chi and Qi-gong.
• Meditation.

Some of the forms listed above are often used in conjunction with each for example you can have acupuncture alongside taking herbal remedies for a problem. Most aspects of traditional Chinese medicine can be safely used on people of all ages as the herbal remedies are made from plants or herbs and as such have very little side effects when compared with traditional drugs.