Brains or beauty? How about both. We’ve been talking with brain health pioneer, Dr. Daniel Amen for years now. In fact, we first shared his impressive take on ginkgo biloba and shared it with you in 2014 while the doc was our guest editor.

Recently, Dr. Amen and his Amen Clinics brain scans have been getting a ton of buzz, thanks to the Kardashian effect. Kendal and Khloe recently had their scans done with the doctor and now more people are asking questions about the health of their brains.

                               Dr. Amen at the Amen Clinic with Kendall and Khloe Kardashian

On of the most compelling facts we ever learned from Dr. Amen came from his podcast chat with another former guest editor, Dave Asprey.

After scanning thousands of patients’ brains at the Amen Clinic, Dr. Amen told Asprey that, of all the supplements and behaviors his clients try, those who use ginkgo biloba regularly have some of the “prettiest brains” he sees in his practice. Intrigued? So were we.

What is Ginkgo Biloba + Benefits of Supplementing

Ginkgo biloba is one of the most popular herbal medicines in the world. Long used for its mental acuity benefits, especially for the elderly, ginkgo is coming back on our radars fast. Here’s what you need to know about using – and benefiting from – ginkgo.

Brain Booster: Ginkgo improves blood circulation, which helps our eyes, ears, legs and brains function better. Research shows that ginkgo can help improve concentration, memory, cognitive clarity and can even help lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Energy Enhancer: Ginko helps regulates blood flow; research shows that ginkgo can increase blood vessel dilation and stimulate blood flow throughout our bodies. Consequently, the extra oxygen transported through our system helps boost our energy, endurance and physical strength.

Mood Manager: As an adaptogenic herb, ginkgo can help cool our stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline – making it useful for managing stress, anxiety, and can even help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression. Ginko is also great for handing PMS, addressing both mood swings and cramps (ginkgo is super anti-inflammatory!).

Protective Pro: Notably anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants, ginkgo offers protection against mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and physical signs of aging. In addition to helping prevent certain diseases, ginkgo also helps prevent vision degeneration and cataracts. Some studies have even shown that ginkgo can improve vision and increase long-distance sight capacity for glaucoma patients.

how to try it: Take your recommended dosage of ginkgo daily as a tea, capsule or tincture. Try NOW Supplements Double Strength Ginkgo Biloba or Gaia Herbs Ginkgo Leaf. You can buy loose leaf ginkgo for tea HERE. Do you use Ginkgo? Tell us your experience in the comments!

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.