Ginkgo:: Nature's Brain Booster

Will taking ginkgo improve your memory? Cure Alzheimer's? Give you more energy? Alan H. Pressman, D.C., Ph.D., C.C.N., and Helen Tracy answer these questions and many more in their comprehensive guide Ginkgo: Nature's Brain Booster. Dr. Pressman and Tracy also discuss other memory-enhancers, such as ginseng and DMAE, and the so-called "smart drugs." The authors organized their book in a question and answer format. The questions are those commonly asked by those wanting more information, and the answers are presented in layman's terms. They begin with a description of ginkgo, saying that "it is the herbal medicine most frequently prescribed by physicians worldwide." Ginkgo is known to have three functions in the body: "as an anti-inflammatory, as an antioxidant, and as an aid to blood circulation." They fully describe how each function works. Dr. Pressman and Tracy then answer extensive questions about ginkgo, especially about how it helps with memory problems. They say that "research is accumulating to show that ginkgo biloba can help repair and maintain memory in people with Alzheimer's Disease." They also explain that studies have shown very little memory improvement in young, healthy people. Ginkgo has also demonstrated favorable results in some people when used for vision or hearing loss, asthma, osteoarthritis, and damage from diabetes. The authors emphasize that these studies are in the early stages. Ginkgo has been proven effective, however, for PMS, and certain kinds of impotence. Many brands of ginkgo are currently marketed. Dr. Pressman and Tracy explain how to choose the brand and dosage that will be effective for you. They also emphasize that "ginkgo is effective as part of a general program of healthful nutrition." They provide information on how to consume a "brain-healthy" diet. Lots of information exists today about ginkgo, much of it conflicting. Readers will find accurate answers to all their questions about how ginkgo works and the results they can expect from using it in Ginkgo: Nature's Brain Booster. It's an essential reference for anyone wanting to know more about the "new" herb that's been used for centuries.Sandra I. Smith, Reviewer