Ginkgo biloba is considered a unique tree that does not have close relatives. It is a living fossil, has long been cultivated and used both as medicines and as food. Gingko nuts are large trees that reach about 30 m in height. The plant has powerful roots and tolerates adverse weather conditions. Ginkgo biloba grows better on semi-wild soils and does not tolerate shade.
Stem
Gingko bilobate - deciduous tree with a crown, which is constantly growing. Short shoots are formed from the axils of the leaves in the second year of growth. The internodes are very short and regularly appear on branches. Leaves at the ends are collected in short shoots, reproductive structures form on them.
Leaves
The gingko tree has unique leaves. They are fan-shaped, and veins are never anastomosed into the shape of a network. Two veins branch out several times. Leaf length is approximately 10 cm.
Breeding
Ginkgo is a plant that is divided into male and female trees. The former produce pollen cones with sporophylls. They have two microsporangia, which are arranged in a spiral. Female trees do not produce cones, eggs are formed at the end of the stem, and after pollination are transformed into seeds up to 2 cm in length.
Where does ginkgo biloba grow?
For many years, the nut was considered extinct in the wild, but it became known that it grows in eastern China. The tree can be found in deciduous forests or in places where silty soil is observed with good drainage and a pH in the range from 5.0 to 5.5.
What is the use of the plant?
For medicinal purposes, gingko biloba leaves are used , which must be collected during the growing season. Derivatives of phenylpropane and linalool esters are present. A unique ginkgolid was found in the roots.
The plant has specific substances that expand the blood vessels and increase the elasticity of their walls. In addition, ginkgo effectively fights against inflammatory processes. Preparations based on this plant are indicated for arrhythmia, heart attack, atherosclerosis and asthma.
Gingko nuts and their leaves contain flavin glycosides, which have a strong antioxidant property. Thanks to the therapeutic effect that the plant has on the human body, it helps to lower cholesterol, reduce edema, and normalize metabolic processes.
Preparations for the preparation of which use gingko biloba normalize blood pressure and have a beneficial effect on thinking and memory, accelerate brain processes and supply oxygen to tissues.
Regular intake for a long time helps to improve vision and hearing, helps to eliminate headaches and dizziness.
The drug is often prescribed for dangerous diseases that are accompanied by circulatory disorders, for example, with diabetes.
Leaf tinctures
They are a drug that has many beneficial properties. Its spectrum of action is quite wide, therefore, a positive effect is exerted on the functioning of the whole organism.
Doctors are sure that regular medication, which includes gingko nuts or leaves of this plant, prevents the development of heart attacks and strokes. Positive dynamics, as a rule, is observed already a week after the first use.
Cooking tincture
To prepare the drug at home, it is necessary to fill the leaves of the nut with 40 percent alcohol in a proportion of 1:10. After this, you need to let them brew for two weeks in a dark place, and then strain. Take 10 drops, which are diluted in 100 grams of water. You need to be treated for at least a month in order to have a positive result. Three such courses are required per year. This scheme allows you to get a stable improvement. If you take gingko regularly, your mind will be sharp.
Tincture is also used as an external remedy, for example, to rejuvenate the face and body.
Ginkgo biloba seeds
The length of the seeds rarely exceeds 3 centimeters; they have a fleshy membrane. With their help, you can propagate the plant. To do this, before planting, it is necessary to remove the meaty pericarp and sow to a depth of about 5 centimeters. They need about a month to germinate. Gingko nuts are considered a fast-growing plant, so in the first year the seedlings grow about 15 centimeters higher. On them shoots and active shoots from stump to root are quickly formed.
Seedlings react very negatively to the transplant, so for some time after it they may not grow.
Ginkgo teas
On the basis of this plant, a wonderful tea is obtained, which is widely known for its medicinal value. If you combine the roots and leaves, the effect is greatly enhanced. After taking the drink regularly for a month, immunity will increase significantly, memory will become better, mental reactions will aggravate, and overall health will improve.
Tea restores blood circulation, provides a sufficient influx to the brain, protects cells from free radicals and improves the functioning of all organs. Regular intake of this drink slows down the aging of the body and platelet activation.
To replenish the supply of strength and energy, morning coffee must be replaced with such tea.
Ginkgo Oil
It is considered a terrific restorative that, when applied topically, strengthens the hair and makes the hair smooth and shiny. Oil is also used in face care. It perfectly treats eczema, sores, wounds and other skin diseases.
Chemical composition and calorie content
The plant is considered incredibly useful, as its composition includes such components:
- bioflavonoids;
- ginkgolides A, B, C, J;
- bilobalide;
- proanthocyanidins;
- alkyl phenols;
- simple phenolic acids;
- 6-hydroxykynurenic acid;
- 4-O-methylpyridoxine;
- polyprenols.
Unlike other nuts, the calorie content of these fruits is small, 0.1 kcal, so their use will not affect the harmony of the figure.
How to eat nuts?
Ginkgo biloba nuts have a strange taste, so it’s unlikely that they can be eaten with handfuls. In addition, they have a peculiar aroma and a heavy finish. But they can be used as an ingredient in cooking. They are used as a spice and give the dishes a piquant taste.
Contraindications
The benefits of this plant are undeniable, but still uncontrolled intake of drugs based on it can be dangerous. It is not recommended to use it if hypersensitivity to its components is observed. Also, do not use the drug during pregnancy and lactation.
Some people have noticed side effects such as headache, dizziness, dyspeptic disorders, and allergic reactions.