James F. Balch, M.D.
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 In this study, there was a dramatic comparison in the 202 patients with Alzheimer's disease who were treated with ginkgo biloba extract, as compared to the placebo, after one year. Ginkgo stabilized the Alzheimer's disease and lead to significant improvement in mental function in almost 65 percent of the patients. This extract of ginkgo should be a 24 percent ginkgo flavonglycoside dose and the recommended dosage is 80 milligrams three times per day. |
| It was followed by grape seed extract, Pycnogenol, ginkgo biloba, and other commercial flavonoid blends. The three diseases that we will focus on regarding green tea are heart disease, AIDS, and cancer.
Heart Disease and the Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea, as we mentioned, lowers blood pressure. In the experiment that confirmed this, two groups of rats were used, and no matter which group got the tea extract, their blood pressure went down. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Researchers reported that the ginkgo biloba supplement gready improved erections in both groups, whether or not the men had also taken papaverine.
Until recendy, no one knew precisely how ginkgo affected circulation, but according to Dr. Lester Packer, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California at Berkeley, ginkgo's primary role in the body may be as a regulator of nitric oxide metabolism. Nitric oxide is critical for regulating many body functions, including blood flow. |
James F. Balch, M.D.
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| Other important antioxidant substances found in the diet include:
• proanthocyanidins, in grape seeds
• herbs like ginkgo biloba and garlic
• quercetin, found in zucchini, squash, and green tea
• lycopene from tomatoes
• the trace minerals selenium and germanium, and many other naturally occurring substances, some as yet unidentified.
We will learn about these and other antioxidants and how they work in chapter 5.
But how and why do ROS attack cells? And how does the antioxidant system work to counteract this attack? |
| Garlic and ginkgo biloba are examples. A detailed discussion of these wonder herbs follows in chapter 5. Other herbs have antioxidant-like qualities in that they have a major influence on the nervous system. Catnip, hops, valerian root, kava kava, and passion flower are just a few for you to consider.
Put simply, the best way to fight stress is to improve your diet. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. Drink their juices for immediate vitamin, mineral, and enzyme uptake. Avoid processed foods, dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, and junk food. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 A typical woman of the same age might also want to take the ginkgo biloba, garlic, Siberian ginseng, and bilberry. She might add
Finding an herbal Practitioner
So; who are these folks who practice herbal medicine? Some of them are the same doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses that you're already seeing. It's becoming more and more common to find medical doctors who know herbal medicine, and that trend is likely to continue because the demand exists and will probably grow. |
The Complete Book of Alternative NutritionSelene Y. Craig, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar and the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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| Ginkgo
One of the hottest-selling supplements in Europe is an ancient staple from Chinese medicine called ginkgo, an extract of the pretty, fan-shaped leaves of the Asian ginkgo biloba tree. Fans of these little fans say that the extract can relieve many ailments that time inflicts on us, particularly the ills caused by decreased blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain and extremities. Among the problems that ginkgo is said to cure are short-term memory loss, vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss and the ringing in the ears known as tinnitus. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
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 Take 500 to 1,000 milligrams once or twice daily.
¦ ginkgo biloba has been shown to help restore blood flow to the genitals, even if it has been inhibited by medication such as antidepressants. Choose a product containing at least 24 percent ginkgo heterosides (sometimes called flavoglycosides) and take 40 milligrams three times daily. Be aware that to attain the desired result, you must use this herb for six to eight months.
¦ Oat straw has shown beneficial effects in sexual performance and desire for both men and women. Take 500 milligrams two or three times daily. |
| Take 1,000 milligrams of a bupleurum and dong quai combination formula two or three times daily for two weeks out of every month (if you are a woman, take it for the two weeks prior to the anticipated onset of your menstrual period).
¦ ginkgo biloba increases the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and can significantly reduce the symptoms of depression. This herb must be taken for at least three months before you can assess its effectiveness. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Memory Effects of Standardized Extracts of Panax Ginseng (G115), ginkgo biloba (GK 501) and their Combination Gincosan (PHL-00701)," Planta Med, 59(2), April 1993, p. 106-114.
Diabetes
This study examined the effects of a 0.2/200 g ginseng solution on antiperoxidation in myocardium and erythrocytes of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats over a period in 15-16 days. Results showed a significant reduction in the levels of fasting blood-glucose and lipid peroxide in myocardium and erythrocytes relative to controls.
—Z.C. Xie, et al. |
| Results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that ginkgo biloba extract significantly improved memory after 6 weeks of treatment and learning rate after 24 weeks in cerebral insufficiency outpatients.
—E. Grassel, [Effect of Ginkgo-biloba Extract on Mental Performance: Double-blind Study Using Computerized Measurement Conditions in Patients with Cerebral Insufficiency], Fortschr Med, 110(5), February 20, 1992, p. 73-76. |
| Results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study of cerebral insufficiency inpatients with depressive mood noted as a leading symptom found that those treated with 160 mg per day of ginkgo biloba extract experienced a significantly greater degree of clinical improvement than controls.
—F. Eckmann, [Cerebral Insufficiency—Treatment with Ginkgo-biloba Extract. Time of Onset of Effect in a Double-blind Study with 60 Inpatients], Fortschr Med, 108(29), October 10, 1990, p. 557-560. |
| Placebo Study of the Treatment of Tinnitus with ginkgo biloba Extract], Presse Med, 15(31), September 25, 1986, p. 1562-1564.
¦ GINSENG
Adrenal Function
In this study, results of two experiments found that ginseng therapy restored the thyroid and adrenal functions inhibited by dexamethasone treatment in rats.
—J.H. Lin, et al., "Effects of Ginseng on the Blood Chemistry Profile of Dexamethasone Treatment in Male Rats," American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 23(2), 1995, p. 167-172. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 The medicinal use of ginkgo biloba can be traced back to the oldest Chinese materia medica (2800 B.C.). Traditional Chinese medicine prescribes ginkgo leaves for their ability to "benefit the brain," relieve the symptoms of asthma and coughs, and help the body eliminate filaria.
Ginkgo leaf extracts are now among the leading prescription medicines in both Germany and France, where they account for 1.0 and 1.5 percent, respectively, of total prescription sales. In 1989 alone, more than 100,000 physicians worldwide wrote more than 10 million prescriptions for GBE. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Effect of Leaves of ginkgo biloba on Hair Regrowth in C3H Strain Mice], Yakugaku Zasshi, 113(10), October 1993, p. 718-724.
Hearing Loss
In this study, patients with idiopathic sudden hearing loss existing no longer than 10 days were given treatment with either Ginkgo EGb 761 (Tebonin) + HAES or Naftidrofuryl (Dusodril)-t-HAES. Results showed that, after one week of observation, 40% of the patients in both treatment groups experienced a complete remission of hearing loss.
—F. Hoffmann, et al., [Ginkgo Extract EGb 761 (tenobin)/HAES versus Naftidrofuryl (Duso-dril)/HAES. |
James F. Balch, M.D.
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| Ginkgo Tea or ginkgo biloba Extract
It is possible to prepare tea from ginkgo leaves, but remember what I said about the tree: it stinks. So maybe a standardized extract is a better solution. A dosage of 80 to 150 milligrams a day is normal. The dosage used in the dementia experiment was 40 milligrams three times a day (120 milligrams total).
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Saved the Day!
I believe that silymarin saved the life of a dear friend of mine, an alcoholic for a number of years. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Some herbs that help the eyes by allowing for better circulation are ginkgo biloba, gotu kola, and hawthorn berry.
The field of vision therapy offers exercises and lifestyle advice that can help strengthen the eyes. Daily activity is important to help lower interocular pressure and increase circulation. Also, specific vision exercises can help with particular problems.
Acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, and biofeedback are other techniques used to improve vision. |
| Red raspberry leaf tea contains a lot of iron, as well as other nutrients, making it beneficial to the reproductive system overall. ginkgo biloba improves circulation, and therefore may help to overcome impotence.
Treatment Summary
Learn to identify when ovulation begins. This can be done by observing: (1) an increase in temperature approximately two weeks prior to menstruation, in addition to (2) a change in the color and texture of vaginal discharge to more of a clear, slippery substance. |
| The herb ginkgo biloba is good for anyone who needs to enhance brain functioning because it strengthens circulation to the brain. Ginkgo's effects are further amplified by the addition of coenzyme Q10, an enzyme that gets more oxygen to all parts of the body, particularly the brain. Dimethyl glycine, an over-the-counter vitamin-like compound that is placed under the tongue, has a similar effect. Bee pollen can be wonderful for improving focus, if the child is not allergic to bee stings. It is especially high in B vitamins, which are essential for good mental health. |
Jean Carper
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 For six months the patients were given either a dummy pill or a daily dose of 240 milligrams of standardized ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), taken twice a day before meals.
Undeniably, those getting ginkgo did much better. As judged by specific tests, overall condition, including improvement in "memory and attention functions," was about three times better in ginkgo takers than in those on the inactive pills. The plant medicine was more effective after six months than after three months. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Interestingly, European studies comparing the effects of this product and ginkgo biloba have indicated that ginkgo extract is more effective in enhancing circulation and brain functioning. Furthermore, ginkgo has potent antioxidant properties that are vital in protecting the cells of the central nervous system from free radical damage. |
The Garlic CureJames F. Scheer, Lynn Allison and Charlie Fox
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| His granddaughter read a booklet about ginkgo that I gave her and she started giving him ginkgo biloba Plus three times a day. Within three months, there was a marked improvement in his behavior and alertness, and he seldom hallucinates now.
Yours truly,
V.G., Atlanta
HEARING IMPAIRMENT
My 10 year old son is deaf in his left ear and has fluctuating hearing in his right - mostly bad. I started him on one tablet of Kyolic daily, and now his hearing is 75 to 100 percent better. I am truly pleased. So please send me a catalog and price list of your available products.
S.R. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Effect of ginkgo biloba on Fluidity of Blood and Peripheral Microcirculation in Volunteers," Arzneimittelforschung, 40(5), May 1990, p. 589-593.
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients suffering from peripheral arteriopathy experienced significant improvements in degree of pain free walking distance, maximum walking distance and plethysmography recordings relative to controls.
—U. |
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
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 For circulation, he prescribes the herbs ginkgo biloba or macunabrure. Dr. Sodhi also gives supplements of thiamin (vitamin Bi) and niacin (vitamin B3), though he cautions that patients with liver damage must be careful not to overload the liver with niacin.
Treatment varies depending on each patient's blood chemistry and individual needs. "My main criterion, however, is to improve digestion and elimination, because if you don't have good digestion and elimination, it does not matter what you put into your body, it all goes down the drain," says Dr. Sodhi. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 Brett makes the following recommendations: "When feverfew is taken with magnesium, in doses of 250 to 500 mg daily, and ginkgo biloba, most people notice a significant reduction in the number of migraines, even to the point of disappearance. This includes people who suffered daily. Many people come to me who have had no success with more conventional treatments. After starting them on feverfew and magnesium, they get a significant reduction in the number of headaches and the severity of pain. Even when they have headaches, they tend to be less frequent and less painful. |
| Other plant supplements such as ginkgo biloba and American ginseng provide antiaging benefits and aid in preventing cerebral disorders.
Perhaps surprisingly, restriction of food in general has been shown to slow the aging process in animals, suggesting that caloric intake should be lessened with increasing age. More specifically, excess sucrose in the diet may accelerate aging, inducing hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.
Studies suggest that mental deterioration in Alzheimer's patients can be slowed by supplementation of iron, vitamins B6 and B12, coenzyme Q10, and acetyl-L-carnitine. |
| Taillandier et at, "Traitement des troubles du vieillissement cerebral par l'extrait de Ginkgo biloba: Etude longitudinale multicentrique a double insu face au placebo," Presse Med 15, no. 31 (Sept. 25, 1986): 1583-87.
Animal research showing that aged garlic extract improves memory acquisition suggests that the extract may be useful for humans.
T. Moriguchi et at, "Prolongation of Life Span and Improved Learning in the Senescence Accelerated Mouse Produced by Aged Garlic Extract," Biol. Pharm. Bull. 17, no. 12 (December 1994): 1589-94. |
Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien
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 Intermittent claudication: Trental vs. ginkgo biloba extract. American journal of Natural Medicine 1995; 2(1):
10-13.
16. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, et al., eds. American Herbal Products Association Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997. |
| A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of ginkgo biloba for dementia. Journal of the American Medical Association 1997; 278: 1327-1332.
2. Blumenthal M, Busse W, Goldberg A, et al., eds. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Austin, TX: The American Botanical Council; Boston: Integrative
Medical Communications, 1998.
Hofferberth B. The efficacy of EGb 761 in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, a double-blind, placebo controlled study on different levels of investigation. Human Psychopharmacology 1994; 9: 215-222. |
| Botany
Often called a "living fossil," the magnificent ginkgo biloba tree is the oldest known living tree species and the last survivor of its botanical family, Ginkgoaceae. Individual ginkgo trees may live as long as 1,000 years, growing to heights of 80 feet or more. Legend has it that ginkgo was saved from extinction by ancient Chinese monks, who used it in temple plantings. Ginkgo gets its species name, biloba, from its graceful two-lobed leaves, which turn brilliant yellow in autumn.
Although native to Asia, ginkgo trees are commonly planted as ornamentals in North America. |
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