Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Literatus: Survivor of Hiroshima By Zosimo T. Literatus, R.M.T. Breakthroughs
TURKISH poet Fazil Husnu Dag Iarca described the aftermath of Hiroshima bombing in his poem Guilt Driven Madness:
Hiroshima, the flower, pelaled off into extinction./How can it be? Where did I gather these multiples of death?/My mind becomes a fire-bird and erups into dark, dark flights.
It has since been known that no living things grew within a certain area of impact from the first-ever used atomic bomb that the United States dropped in Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug 6, 1945. The bombing killed around 70,000 people. But that is not really true. In the spring following the tragedy, one old tree sprouted again. It was an old ginkgo tree—the only flora to resprout in the desolate land.
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) is a very hearty plant, which survived after it disappeared from America about 7 million years ago and from Europe about 3 million years ago.
Today, maidenhair leaf extracts are among the leading prescription medications in both Germany and France. Not so long ago, it became the top selling herbal medicine in the United States. It is prescribed to treat mild forgetfulness, blood vessel diseases, and ringing of the ears. It is very popular as a memory enhancer. It is popular among women as an after-stroke medication; and among the elderly to minimize signs of mental deterioration. It has even been recommended by the World Health Organization for Raynaud’s disease. A team of Canadian scientists recently reviewed research literature to determine how much is known on maidenhair's safety during pregnancy and lactation. Team leader Jean-Jacqyes Dugoua taught at the Dept of Clinical Epidemiology of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.
In a report published in the Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in Nov 2006, researchers found neither strong nor good evidence of harm when the leaf, roasted seed and raw seed are used during pregnancy and lactation. It is, however, important to notice that this finding is so much a result of insufficient studies made to determine the toxicity of this herb to human consumption.
Understanding the functional mechanism of maidenhair in relation to certain of its known properties could provide a reasonable basis for caution when using it at least among pregnant and lactating women. It is a known anti-platelet. “The main concern with using ginkgo leaf revolves around its anti-platelet activity,” Duguoa said. “There is a valid concern that ginkgo use could prolong bleeding during delivery.”
Prudence would remain a critical word in treatments using medicines. “Medicines are nothing in themselves if not properly used, but the very hands of the gods if employed with reason and prudence,” reminded the Greek anatomist Herophilus.
