Since thousands of years ago, ginkgo biloba has been used as a traditional medicine in various countries, such as China, Korea, and Japan. This plant is believed to be beneficial for the health of the body, especially to maintain brain health and improve memory.
Decreased brain function and memory impairment are not only caused by age or aging, but can also be caused by certain medical conditions, such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
To prevent and relieve these disorders, there are several ways that can be done, namely living a healthy lifestyle and using medicines from doctors.
You can also take medication or herbal supplements that contain ginkgo biloba. This material is known to be efficacious to overcome memory disorders, especially in the elderly.
Various Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba for Health
Ginkgo biloba contains antioxidants that are quite high, so it plays an important role in preventing and repairing damage to body cells due to exposure to free radicals. In addition, ginkgo biloba also has a blood-thinning effect that can improve blood flow in the body, including in the brain.
Several studies show that there are several health benefits of ginkgo biloba, including:
1. Maintain brain health
Ginkgo biloba is known to be able to improve and increase blood flow to the brain, so that brain health can be maintained. These effects make this herbal plant good for consumption to maintain and improve memory and concentration.
In healthy people, consumption of ginkgo biloba can also reduce the risk of developing dementia or dementia.
2. Improve memory in people with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that causes a drastic decline in memory and thinking skills. This condition generally occurs in the elderly. However, it is not impossible that people who are easier can also experience it.
Until now, Alzheimer's disease can not be cured. However, some research shows that taking ginkgo biloba supplements can improve memory, concentration, and thinking skills in people with this disease, especially those who are elderly.
Giving ginkgo biloba supplements can also prevent and relieve symptoms of dementia or mild dementia.
3. Maintain eye function and health
Ginkgo biloba is rich in antioxidants and active substances that can improve blood flow.
Besides being good for brain health, ginkgo biloba is also good for consumption to maintain eye health and reduce the risk of eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.
4. Smooth blood flow
In the body, ginkgo biloba can increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels. This effect is good for maintaining heart and brain health and reducing the risk of certain diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and peripheral artery disease.
In addition to those mentioned above, ginkgo biloba is also believed to have the following benefits:
- Lowering high blood pressure
- Relieves inflammation
- Calms the mind and relieves anxiety
- Relieves breast pain due to premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Overcoming headaches and migraines
- Inhibits the growth of cancer cells
However, data regarding the effectiveness and side effects of ginkgo biloba as a treatment are still limited, so it needs to be investigated further.
Things to Pay Attention to Before Consuming Ginkgo Biloba
Although classified as natural, it does not mean that ginkgo biloba does not cause side effects. The following are some of the side effects that can occur due to consumption of ginkgo biloba:
- Allergic reaction
- Digestive disorders, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation
- Headache
- Heart beat
- Bruising and bleeding
In addition, there are things that you should pay attention to before consuming ginkgo biloba so as not to harm your health, including:
- Try to consume ginkgo biloba in the form of drugs or supplements and have been registered with BPOM RI.
- Avoid consuming raw ginkgo biloba seeds, as they can cause poisoning.
- Avoid taking ginkgo biloba, if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy, and fertility problems.
- Also avoid using ginkgo biloba, if you are on certain medications, such as blood-thinning medications.
Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are also not advised to take ginkgo biloba, because this herb is at risk of causing premature birth or bleeding during labor.
Ginkgo biloba is considered good for health, especially for maintaining brain function and improving memory. However, this also needs to be accompanied by implementing a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, doing brain exercises, eating nutritious foods, and not smoking.
If you want to take ginkgo biloba, you should first consult with your doctor so that the doctor can recommend the dosage of ginkgo biloba supplements according to your condition.