When you drink herbal teas containing ginkgo biloba, you might be unaware that you are benefiting from the powerful properties of a living fossil. The ginkgo biloba, also known as the maidenhair tree, is the last member of an order of plants found only in the fossil record.
The beloved herb leaves of the ginkgo biloba can be harvested and made into ginkgo extract, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. This is because these leaves contain compounds shown to improve a variety of functions in the body. These leaves can also be steeped as tea, providing you with an easy and delicious way to access this ancient plant’s powerful properties.
In this article, we will explore the top 9 ginkgo biloba tea benefits and take a look at some of the teas that contain ginkgo biloba.
What Are the Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba Tea?
There are several different compounds that give ginkgo biloba its medicinal properties. For one, the ginkgo plant is packed with powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants empower your body and improve your health by eliminating particles known as free radicals. Although free radicals are naturally produced by the body’s metabolic processes, an influx of free radicals can potentially damage healthy cells and tissue, contributing to advanced aging and disease.
When you sip a cup of tea containing the ginkgo leaf, you are helping to stave off the effects of these free radicals.* The ginkgo leaf also contains compounds known as terpenoids, which provide a secondary boost of antioxidants.
Additionally, ginkgo biloba contains a variety of flavonoids. These compounds have been found to:
- Assist the aging brain*
- Improve blood flow*
- Stimulate mental clarity and brain activity*
When combined, the effects of these compounds offer a variety of benefits for the mind, as well as the body. Below, let us explore the top 9 benefits in greater detail.
#1 Improves Brain Cognition
One of the most important organs receiving a boost from ginkgo biloba is your brain. While we often do not think of the brain as an organ, it too benefits significantly from increased blood circulation.
In fact, some studies have found that ginkgo may be responsible for improving:
- Memory
- Focus
- Attention span
This means incorporating ginkgo biloba tea into your daily diet may help keep your brain healthy and your mental clarity sharp.* So, the next time you are trying to focus, try sipping some ginkgo leaf herbs to boost your brainpower.
Although ginkgo tea is naturally caffeine-free, the ginkgo leaf is also commonly found in various caffeinated tea blends, like white tea and green tea. Some say pairing gingko with caffeine may support brain function and clarity.
#2 Helps Reduce Inflammatory Responses
An inflammatory response occurs when your body is combating foreign objects and diseases within your system. As you age, these inflammatory processes may increase due to the increase of certain age-related health conditions, such as arthritis.
An inflammatory response can include:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Heat
- Redness
As your body experiences increased inflammation, it can damage your cells and DNA. However, studies performed on animal and human cells have found that repeated consumption of ginkgo extract may help manage some of these inflammatory responses and reduce their prevalence over time.*
#3 Increases Circulation
In traditional Chinese medicine, the ginkgo leaf was used to open channels within the body to promote the flow of energy. As it turns out, consuming ginkgo tea can provide you with a similar benefit, promoting more efficient circulation.*
This is because ginkgo tea can dilate your blood vessels by increasing the levels of nitric oxide in your bloodstream. When nitric oxide causes your blood vessels to dilate, increased blood flow is stimulated, which means more oxygenated blood can travel to various organs, including:
- Lungs
- Heart
- Liver
- Kidneys
These organs all need oxygenated blood to function properly, so improved circulation means healthier organs.
#4 Promotes Eye Health
Macular degeneration is a condition that destroys the macula portion of the eye, which helps sharpen and define objects to help you see clearly. By 2050, it is estimated that the number of adults with age-related macular degeneration will double from 2.07 million individuals to 5.44 million.
In fact, the rise in other age-related eye diseases is also expected to grow. This includes glaucoma, a medical condition caused by a fluid buildup in the eye which increases your eye pressure and can damage the optic nerve.
Thankfully, research on ginkgo biloba’s effects on eye health is promising. The increased circulation and antioxidants within the ginkgo leaf also target the eyes, improving blood flow to the crucial vessels around your optic nerve.*
Some evidence has even shown that these effects help reduce retinal degeneration and improve color vision for those with diabetic retinopathy.
#5 Calms Your Mind
Sometimes, the anxieties from life can further contribute to health-related problems. To improve your mental health and maintain a positive mindset, commit to stress-relieving activities, such as meditating, exercising, and drinking the herbal remedy of ginkgo tea.
Due to its high content of antioxidants, the herbal remedy of ginkgo tea is believed to boast anxiety-combating properties.* In fact, in one study, patients with generalized anxiety saw a 45 percent reduction in their anxiety symptoms after consuming a daily dose of ginkgo biloba leaf (when compared to those who consumed a placebo).
#6 Manages Headaches and Migraines
If you’re someone who is prone to headaches or migraines, ginkgo leaves might be a beneficial ingredient for your tea. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine has used ginkgo as a treatment for headaches for many years. It is believed to manage headaches and migraines in two ways:
- Reducing cortisol – If your headaches are stress-induced, ginkgo may provide some relief. The antioxidants in the dried leaf are thought to improve high levels of cortisol, otherwise known as the stress hormone.
- Increasing blood flow – If your headache is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, the circulatory properties of ginkgo tea may help increase the flow of oxygen and blood to your brain, mitigating your headache.
Unfortunately, there is not much research on the effects of ginkgo leaves on headaches or migraines. However, if you frequently experience headaches or migraines, teas with ginkgo biloba might be helpful for you.* Ultimately, it’s worth trying to see if it helps manage your symptoms.
#7 Eases Menstrual Pain
Out of those who experience a menstrual cycle, 10% report pain that is incapacitating, making it difficult for them to carry on with their day-to-day lives. Fortunately, ginkgo tea might provide a natural remedy for menstrual pain.*
In a study involving ginkgo biloba leaf tablets, a significant number of subjects, nearly 25%, saw a decrease in physical or mental symptoms caused by menstruation.
Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of ginkgo on menstrual pain, but if you suffer from painful PMS symptoms, try sipping some muscle-relaxing tea bags containing ginkgo leaves before your next cycle, and take note of how it impacts your symptoms.
#8 Helps Reduce Asthmatic Symptoms
For those who experience asthma and other respiratory-related issues, ginkgo extract can be used to help manage respiratory symptoms.* The ginkgolide B extract, obtained from the ginkgo leaf, has been shown to help improve airways in mice by inhibiting the pathway that activates asthma.
Additionally, ginkgo tea may help treat those dealing with:
- Mild coughing *
- Damaged lungs from respiratory diseases*
This is because the antioxidants and flavonoid compounds in the gingko leaf promote an increased lung capacity, which helps expand the airways and deliver more oxygen to the lungs.
As more studies are done on ginkgo leaves, more information will continue to develop on its respiratory-assisting properties. Until then, try enjoying a nice cup of ginkgo biloba tea the next time you step outside for a breath of fresh air.
#9 Promotes Healthy Kidneys
The boost in antioxidants from the ginkgo leaf have wide-sweeping benefits throughout the body, and the kidneys are no exception. In fact, kidneys that have healthier tissue can more effectively filter toxins out of the body.
One study found that rats who were given ginkgo biloba saw boosted kidney function when compared to rats who did not receive ginkgo biloba. The subjects who had ginkgo biloba in their system were also able to filter heavy metals out of their blood better and faster.
What Teas Contain Ginkgo Biloba?
The relaxing tea, Ginkgo biloba, is made from the dried leaves of the ginkgo tree. When combined with other herbal ingredients, the ginkgo leaf can produce tea that offers a pleasant aroma, taste, and a boost in health benefits. You’ll likely find ginkgo biloba in herbal tea blends along with other memory-boosting and cardiac focused ingredients, such as:
- Elethero
- Gotu Kola
- Bilberry
- Hawthorn
Lemon balms or cinnamon teas can be greatly improved with the addition of ginkgo biloba, as well. These blends are often used to promote increased brain function and alleviate foggy memory that can occur during a busy work week.
Enjoy the Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba with The Republic of Tea
When you decide to pick up your next cup of tea, look for a blend boosted by all the added perks of ginkgo biloba. From increased circulation to improved brain function, no tea cabinet is complete without ginkgo biloba—provided to you in the delicious tea varieties available through The Republic of Tea.
Try our Beautifying Botanicals® Beauty Brain® Herbal Tea, complete with ginkgo to empower your cognition. Or, warm up your body while improving your heart health with our vibrant, berry-rich blend, get heart®. With over 300 premium teas to choose from, ranging from chamomile teato chai, The Republic of Tea can help you find the right cup and sip to your heart’s content.
Sources:
wisegeek. What is Ginkgo Tea?. https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-ginkgo-tea.htm
Verywellmind. The Health Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba. https://www.verywellmind.com/ginkgo-what-should-you-know-about-it-88329
Healthline. 12 Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba (Plus Side Effects & Dosage). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ginkgo-biloba-benefits
Ncbi. Advances in the Studies of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract on Aging-Related Diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5758353/
Pubmed. Ginkgo biloba extract improves coronary artery circulation in patients with coronary artery disease: contribution of plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18446847/
Well+good. 7 Ways Ginkgo Biloba Can Help Your Entire Bod, According to an Herbalist. https://www.wellandgood.com/ginkgo-biloba-benefits/
National Eye Institute. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Data and Statistics. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/outreach-campaigns-and-resources/eye-health-data-and-statistics/age-related-macular-degeneration-amd-data-and-statistics
Pubmed. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba L. in treatment of premenstrual syndrome. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19678774/
Pubmed. A novel anti-inflammatory role for ginkgolide B in asthma via inhibition of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21900866/
Ncbi. Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in generalized anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder with anxious mood: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
