How The Ginkgo Tree Can Support Our Health Whilst On Holiday

If you’ve stayed at Witches Falls cottages before, you may have noticed a tree that seems to stand out from all the rest. This beauty is the ginkgo, or maidenhair tree, also known by its Latin name as Ginkgo biloba.

Ginkgo trees are considered to be “living fossils”, as they have existed on our planet for over 250 million years without changing and are the last surviving species of their botanical family.

So what gives them their survival edge, and could they improve human health too?

What’s in a Ginkgo Tree?

Ginkgo trees show a high resistance to diseases, pollution and environmental stresses, making them suitable for planting in cities and of interest to herbal medicine practitioners.

In fact, Chinese herbalists have used their leaves and seeds for centuries.

Ginkgo leaves are high in a wide range of antioxidants, which provide direct protection to our bodies’ cells and tissues or stimulate our own defence mechanisms.

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However, as some components of ginkgo are toxic, therapeutic-grade supplements are standardised to certain levels of different phytochemicals.

What Can Ginkgo Do for Me?

In Germany, ginkgo (as a standardised extract) has been approved for many years as a remedy for memory problems, poor concentration, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, vertigo and intermittent claudication, a condition where blood vessels seize up and cause pain while walking.

Healthy cognitive function allows us to really enjoy and remember our holidays, and relief from vertigo makes a trip to the mountains more fun too!

Better circulation also means you can spend more time bushwalking!

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However, as ginkgo reduces blood clotting, you may not be able to use it if you take certain medications that do the same thing.

Research On Ginkgo

Many studies have shown that ginkgo can improve memory, concentration and other functions in volunteers ranging from healthy people to those with moderate dementia.

Ginkgo biloba protects our brains by both its antioxidant effects and circulatory-stimulating properties.

What’s more, it has been shown to improve resistance to poor oxygen levels – which may be helpful if you have some BIG goals when it comes to mountain climbing.

Even better – ginkgo helps protect the part of our cells that produce energy, potentially giving it anti-aging effects.

Ginkgo extract may boost immunity too! Now that no fun is allowed when we’re sick, we have more incentive than ever to keep our immune systems strong and balanced.

On Tamborine Mountain at Gallery Walk we have a wonderful tea supplier, Tamborine Tea (Australia’s widest selection of quality loose leaf tea), who stock a very large variety of teas. Maybe pop-in while you are up on the mountain and browse their range or visit their website Tamborine Tea at Gallery Walk.

We are truly blessed on planet Earth to live with hundreds of amazing medicinal, edible and just plain beautiful plants! However, while ginkgo is available as a herbal tea, anything stronger calls for professional support from a qualified holistic health professional.

Tamborine Mountain is a beautiful, natural and unspoilt destination for a restorative break of any kind. The air is fresh, the wildlife diverse and with so much to do for everyone

If you come on up to the mountain for longer than a day then why not stay at Witches Falls Cottages

Click here if you would like to visit Tamborine Mountain and stay in one of our beautifully appointed private cottages so that you can experience the difference for yourself. Or if you have any questions not answered just contact us via this page.

This article written by Alexandra Preston – BHSc (Naturopathy)