Ginkgo Biloba comes from a large tree known as maidenhair tree which sports fan-shaped leaves. This tree grows native to several parts of Asia like Japan, China, and Korea, but it’s also being grown in Europe and US for its health benefits. You’ve probably heard of it because it’s a very popular herbal supplement. The extract is packaged in several forms, including liquid form, tablets, and inexpensive gingko biloba capsules. It’s widely used for a variety of health reasons. Also, its therapeutic properties is often used to treat memory problems and blood disorders. To learn more about this wonder plant, here are 5 benefits to using Ginkgo biloba:

1. It’s rich in antioxidants
Many of Ginkgo Biloba health benefits can be attributed to its impressive antioxidant content. The extract contains high levels of terpenoids and flavonoids. These are compounds known to have strong antioxidant effects.

Now let’s talk about antioxidants for a second. Antioxidants work to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals, or oxidants, on our cells. They’re good for the body and reduces the risk of cancer, asthma, stroke, and several heart diseases.

2. It improves brain function
Some research shows that Ginkgo Biloba supplementation has brain enhancing functions. The data is inconsistent but it was duly noted how studies linked gingko supplementation to improved memory and attention capacity. It is also widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as a popular herbal supplement that helps prevent dementia and memory loss. No wonder it’s a popular supplement to senior citizens!

3. It helps fight inflammation
Inflammation happens as our body’s natural response to injury or foreign substance invasion such as viral and bacterial infection. Years of research reveals how the extract of ginkgo biloba reduces markers of inflammation from certain diseases. To be specific, ginkgo biloba extract has shown positive results in reducing inflammation caused by arthritis, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and irritable bowel disease.

4. It improves cardiovascular health
Dating back to a thousand years ago in traditional Chinese medicine, ginkgo seeds were used to open energy channels to different organs in the body such as the kidneys, liver, brain, and lungs. This drastically improves blood flow circulation which is helpful in the functioning of the heart. A study involving people with heart disease shows that gingko supplementation resulted in a 12% increase in the amounts of nitric oxide found in the body, a compound responsible for widening the blood vessels.

5. It helps reduce anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety are also said to be reduced by taking ginkgo biloba. In a study made with 170 people with generalized anxiety, some were treated with either of 2 supplements: 240 mg or 480 mg of ginkgo biloba or a placebo. Those who took the highest dose of ginkgo biloba reported a 45% reduction in symptoms of anxiety compared to those who took a placebo. While it shows a positive effect on treating anxiety, researchers agree that it’s still too early to draw any definitive conclusion from it, seeing that the results may be due ginkgo’s high antioxidant content.