WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is the dried ripe seed of Ginkgo biloba L.,family Ginkgoaceae. The ripe seeds are collected in autumn. After the episperms are removed, they are washed clean and then dried after being steamed or boiled for a while. With crust removed, the raw or stir-baked ones are used.

[ Medicinal Properties ]: Sweet,bitter,astringent,neutral and toxic; relate to lung meridian.

[ Medicinal Efficacies ]: Astringe lung to relieve dyspnea; stop leukorrhagia, reduce urination.

[ Clinical Applications ]: 1. Cough, adverse rise of qi, profuse sputum       For cough and dyspnea with sputum, it is combined with Mhuang and Gancao, such as Yazhang Powder; for lung heat and phlegm dyspnea with rapid respiration, with Huangqin and Sangbaipi, such as Dingchuan Decoction.

2. Turbid leukorrhea      For lower energizer deficiency and thin leucorrhea, it is uaually boiled and eaten together with LIanzi, Hujiao and black-bone chicken. For yellowish and fishy leukorrhea due to down-pour of damp-heat, it is combined with Huangbo and Qianshi in Yihuang Decoction; for turbid leukorrhea, usually with Bixie and Yizhi.

3. Frequent urination, enuresis      It is usually combined with Shudihuang and Shanzhuyu.

[ Usage and Dosage ]: 4.5-9g.

[ Precautions ]: Over dosage should be avoided, especially for infants. It is used cautiously in cases of cough and thick sputum.

[ Side Effects ]: Over dosage may cause poisoning, manifested as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, cyanosis, coma, convulsions and even death due to respiratory numbness in severe case.

[ Annotation ]: Yinxingye       It is the leaf of Ginkgo biloba L., collected in autumn when the leaf is green and then dried. It is sweet, bitter, astringent, neutral and relates to the lung meridian. It astringes lung to relieve dyspnea and promotes blood circulation to alleviate pain, so it treats cough and dyspnea due to lung deficiency, hyperlipemia, hypertension, coronary heart disease, angina and cerebral vasospasm.The dosage is 9-12g. It is also made into pills or injections. It is not suitable for those contracted by pathogenic factors of excess type.

白果为银杏科植物银杏Gimkgo biloba L．的成熟种子。全国各地均有栽培。主产于广西、四川、河南、山东、湖北。秋季种子成熟时采收，除去肉质外种皮，洗净，稍蒸或略煮后烘干。用时打碎取种仁，生用或炒用。

2．《本草纲目》；“熟食温肺益气，定喘嗽，缩小便，止白浊；生食降痰，消毒杀虫；嚼浆涂鼻面手足，去皶疱，皴皱及疥癣、疳、阴虱。”“食多则收令太过，令人气壅胪昏顿。……《三元延寿书》言昔有饥者，同以白果代饭食饱，次日皆死也。”        3．《本草便读》：“上敛肺金除咳逆，下行湿浊化痰涎。”