Gingko Trees Sacred Chinese Tree

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 299-365

The ginkgo is a living fossil, recognisably similar to fossils dating back 270 million years. Native to China, the tree is widely cultivated and was introduced early to human history. It has various uses in traditional medicine and as a source of food.

The oldest ginkgo tree in Beijing is over 1300 years old and is still standing outside of a temple first built since the Tang Dyansty from 6th Century,the second oldest one is in a temple called "Dajue" or "Great Awakeness" in the western suburb of Beijing which is from the Liang Dynasty from 8th Century.

In ancient times, the Ginkgo Tree was called the "Duck Feet Tree". Ginkgo tree it's also referred as the White Fruit Tree 

Sacred Tree

Ginkgo biloba has been considered as a type of "Sacred Tree" in China since ancient times. Because the gingko tree has been around for millennia and has often out-survived humans during catastrophic events.

Apart from being a manifestation of the sacred concept of yin and yang, the tree was primarily a symbol of longevity and vitality. Most gingkos grow to an imposing height and width during their lifetime, often living for several millennia.

Planting ginkgo trees outside of temples was a common practice because the tree was revered as a symbol of sacred knowledge and long lasting wisdom. 

Chinese Daoist shamans used gingko trees for shamanistic tree worship and would engrave on gingko trees to communicate with the spirit world.

Daoist shamans used to engrave their magical spells and seals on ginkgo wood from old trees in order to communicate with the spirit world."

Additionally, legend has it that Confucius taught while sitting under a gingko tree.

Medicinal Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors believe that 

• the ginkgo kennel could reduce inflammation of the body if the kennels were eaten, 
• it can cure certain skin problems if the kernal is mushed and used to cover the skin rashes.
•  treatment for dementia and 
• Alzheimer's disease
• The medicinal properties of the gingko root were first reported in the Sichuan herbal primer, Chongqing Folk Herbs (Chongqing Caoyao). Different from the seed and the leaf, the root is classified as a warm herb that affects the liver and 
• kidney channels
• A similar feature to the seed and the leaf, however, is its astringent affect. In particular, the root is described as astringing kidney qi deficiency related turbid discharge from the lower burner, such as spermatorrhea, dribbling urine, and leukorrhea.
• In 1985 Dictionary of the Chinese Materia Medica (Zhongyao Da Cidian), adds that gingko leaf benefits the heart and 
• treats stuffiness in the chest, 
• angina pectoris, and 
• palpitations. 
•  The leaves contain substances that promote blood circulation,
• alleviate allergy reactions, and 
• have antioxidant properties.
• The medicinal uses of ginkgo nut were mainly involved with treatment of lung diseases. In fact, one of the famous traditional Chinese formulas for treating asthmatic breathing, Ding Chuan Tang, has ginkgo nut as a key ingredient (the original formula is sometimes called Ma-huang and Ginkgo Combination as an English designation, recognizing two of its most important ingredients). The nine ingredient decoction was first recorded in the book Exquisite Formulas for Fostering Longevity (Fu Shou Jing Fang), written by Wu Min in 1530 A.D.

To maximize the astringent effect, all three medicinal gingko items are properly harvested in September and October, when the metal qi of nature leaves its condensing and storage promoting energetic imprint on all living organisms. Because of this overriding astringing action, all gingko parts are contraindicated in true excess situations. In order of potency, the seed appears to be the strongest of the three, folllowed by the leaf and then the root. The seed is usually prescribed in amounts of up to 9g, the leaf up to 15g, and the root up to 30g.

Hiroshima

Extreme examples of the ginkgo's tenacity may be seen in Hiroshima, Japan, where six trees growing between 1–2 km from the 1945 atom bomb explosion were among the few living things in the area to survive the blast.

Distribution

Currently, about 70% of the world's ginkgo trees are in China, mainly those cultivated in Jiangsu Province in huge, dense plantations. China has recently become a supplier of ginkgo extract to America, providing an alternative to the French product that, perhaps ironically, gets its ginkgo leaves from America at higher cost.