Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Ginkgo The Safety Factor
Platelet activation factor plays a key role in blood clotting. Ginkgo’s PAF-inhibiting action may cause problems for those with clotting disorders.
Some people who take extremely large amounts of the herb have reported irritability, restlessness, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Recommended amounts are considered nontoxic.
For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who do not have clotting disorders, ginkgo is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.
Ginkgo should not be given to children under age 2, and except for prevention of asthma, there is no reason to give it to older children.
Ginkgo should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If ginkgo causes minor discomforts, such as nausea or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant symptoms or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Males Make the Best Trees
Ginkgo is a stately, deciduous tree that reaches IOO feet with a 20-foot girth. Its flat, fan-shaped leaves have two lobes. Ginkgoes are dioecious, that is, male and female flowers appear on different trees. The females produce apricot-size, orange-yellow fruits, which contain an edible seed.
Ginkgoes are attractive street or yard trees that can be grown throughout much of the United States. Obtain a sapling from a nursery in your area Plant only males. The fruits produced by females are messy and foul-smelling.
Plant ginkgo saplings in well-drained soil and stake them to ensure straight growth. Young trees are oddly proportioned and often look gawky, but they become stately with age. Water regularly until trees are about 20 feet tall. Then they become self-sufficient. Ginkgoes are resistant to insects and disease and grow up to 2 feet per year. In autumn, the leaves turn a beautiful gold before they fall.