Ginkgo :: a beautiful herb you may recognize because it is so often planted along sidewalks in suburban neighborhoods. This tree said to be a “living fossil” because it hasn't changed much in millions of years. In modern herbalism the leaves are a tonic for the mind & help improve memory, mood, and recall when drunk as tea in the long term. It isn’t the tastiest of herbs but, it isn’t foul either and worth trying for all of us who struggle to pay attention.
The other day I grabbed my basket and went to pick the bright green leaves of the ginkgo tree outside my house. This is not a common herb here in Argentina. I have only seen it in a park in downtown Rosario, Santa Fe.
The owners of this house were into really unique herbs and planted one outside the kitchen. This is really convenient because ginkgo is an extremely useful herb, let me tell you all about it.
Ginkgo in Herbal Medicine
While ginkgo leaves have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries, it has only been since the 80's that the leaves were added into the rotation of Western Herbalism.
I was introduced to ginkgo while on a walk with a friend, back when I lived in my university town of Eugene, Oregon. He pointed out the ginkgo trees that lined the sidewalk of our neighborhood. He reached up and grabbed a few leaves to make a tincture with, alongside rosemary, for memory support.
That is something that I really admired about this friend. That he didn't feel the need to buy herbs or forage them from a pristine source. He found medicine everywhere, even alongside the roads and highways.
According to my herbalism books; there are female and male ginkgo trees. And leaves are indeed very often recommended for any issues with the memory. Ginkgo leaves help improve blood circulation in the entire body, particularly the brain. That is why it is so often included in formulas for people with wandering minds, ADHD, and other learning challenges.
Though the tea is far from delicious I do enjoy the effects. Sometimes when I am craving caffeine in the afternoon I go for a ginkgo leaf tea instead. Overtime I would really love to be a person that sits down and completes my work without procrastination or day dreaming. I am hoping that the brain boosting medicine of ginkgo can help me with that.