Herb. No. 053 · Ginkgoaceae
Relict of China; a street tree in cities worldwide.
Native · East Asia
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
OpenCautionplant
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
The living-fossil tree whose leaf is taken for circulation and memory — slowly, and with bleeding in mind.
Standardized ginkgo leaf (24/6 extracts) has a large, mixed evidence base for claudication and some cognitive complaints. It is a blood-flow herb with a real bleeding signal. The fleshy seed coat is a contact irritant and smells of rancid butter. Plant a male tree if you can.
Flavor
Dried leaf tea is green-tea astringent and faintly nutty. Extracts are nearly tasteless.
Parts used
Leaf (standardized or dried)
In favor
- A beautiful street tree
- Well-studied leaf extracts
Against
- Bleeding risk
- Fruit mess and dermatitis
- Not a dementia cure