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Page 37
| and tincture blends for which many herbalists report good results and few side effects. |
| Because it interferes with blood clotting, ginkgo should not be taken by those with clotting disorders. Some users, after taking extremely large amounts, have reported restlessness, irritability, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. The recommended dosages are considered nontoxic. |
| Most experts agree that ginkgo preparations have to be taken consistently for two to four months before significant results are noticed. Gingko leaves are often mixed with gotu kola (another memory-enhancing herb) in tea blends, tinctures and memory tonics. The medicinal constituents of ginkgo do not dissolve readily in water, which is why, unlike most leaves, they should be boiled as a decoction. To brew a memory tonic tea containing equal parts of ginkgo, gotu kola and the culinary herb rosemary, first simmer 1 Tbsp. ginko in 2 cups water for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, add 1 Tbsp. each of gotu kola and rosemary, cover and let stand an additional 10 minutes. |
| For men, ginkgo is of special interest because it has been shown to cure impotence caused by blocked arteries. In one study, 50 patients with arterial erectile impotence were treated with 240 mg of ginkgo extract daily and all reported significantly improved erections; in another, 60 men who did not respond to injections of the erection-boosting drug papaverine took 60 mg of ginkgo extract daily and half regained potency within six months. |
| Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) |
| The round, fan-shaped leaves of gotu kola grow close to the ground in a thick green carpet. In tropical climates, it is a familiar lawn and roadside weed. Known to Indian writers centuries ago as an herb that increases longevity, gotu kola traveled with people from that country as they |
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