Ginkgo biloba is commonly used for its ability to astringe the lungs and alleviate asthma, but it is toxic when consumed raw, so caution is advised.

ntroduction to the video series ‘Dr. Da Zhen Talks About Chinese Medicine’:

https://youtu.be/x3a0m1QXD4o

    In the north, people recognize duck’s feet; in the south, people recognize walnuts. They know the inside but not the outside, doubting whether it is an oak nut or something else. The duck’s foot type is the green plum, named because of its high leaves. In my hometown of Xuancheng, it is often used for labor. After planting the tree for thirty years, it bears fruit to prevent mountain monkeys. The shell is so tough that it can’t be peeled by hand, and it is kept in the imperial kitchen. Now, in the capital city, it is enjoyed with wine, pressing down on grapes. Initially, it was praised in the imperial gardens, and now it is the main offering at the estate. Who collects these repeatedly, putting them on a jade bowl with golden frogs? The golden frog is a literary symbol, and I have been given a share. Isn’t there a feeling of homesickness? Feeling that such trivial things are encountered. In a lifetime of dust and soil, my temples have gained frost.                               Song Mei Yaochen

“The ‘duck’s foot’ mentioned in the poem refers to what we now call the ginkgo tree, and the white fruit is its dried seed. The poem also discusses the ginkgo trees cultivated in Xuancheng, and its large-scale industry.

    According to the fourth edition of the Taiwan Chinese Herbal Pharmacopoeia ([已移除無效網址]), white fruit (ginkgo seed) is the dried seed of the Ginkgo biloba L. plant of the Ginkgoaceae family, with the fleshy outer seed coat removed. Alternatively, it can refer to the dried seed kernel with both the fleshy outer and middle seed coats removed. Typically harvested in autumn when the seeds mature, the fleshy outer seed coat is removed, and the seeds are washed, lightly steamed or boiled, and then dried for storage. When used, the seeds are crushed to obtain the kernel. Major production areas include Guangxi, Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Liaoning in China. Nantou County in central Taiwan has extensive plantations and is known as the largest ginkgo forest in East Asia. A distinctive feature of this plant is that it is dioecious, meaning there are male and female trees. Male ginkgo trees do not produce fruit and therefore have no particular odor, while female trees produce fruit, which is the white fruit used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the “Shaoxing Materia Medica” compiled by Wang Jixian during the Southern Song Dynasty, it is recorded: “Ginkgo, a fruit of the world… named so because of its silver color and shape resembling a small apricot. Its leaves resemble a duck’s foot, hence the name ‘duck’s foot’. ” Additionally, white fruit is also known as the “grandson tree fruit” because of the slow growth of the tree. It often takes a generation for the fruit to be harvested after being planted by the grandfather, hence the name. The white fruit is usually oval, slightly pointed at one end and blunt at the other, with a yellowish-white or light brownish-yellow surface, relatively smooth, and with 2-3 ridges. The seed coat is hard, the inner seed coat is membranous, light brown at one end and golden yellow at the other. The cross-section shows a yellow, gelatinous outer layer and a light yellow inner layer. High-quality white fruit is characterized by large size, white shell, full kernel, no mold, a clean fragrance, and a slightly bitter, powdery taste when chewed. It has the effects of astringing the lungs, calming asthma, stopping leucorrhea, and reducing urination, and is beneficial for conditions such as excessive coughing and phlegm, leukorrhea, enuresis, and frequent urination.

    Because raw ginkgo seeds contain a certain amount of toxicity and can easily cause abdominal distension and bloating after consumption, they should only be taken in small doses. Excessive consumption can lead to poisoning, so they are rarely used in clinical settings. However, due to varying clinical needs, there are different processing methods, with stir-fried ginkgo being the primary method. Clean ginkgo kernels are placed in a pan and stir-fried over low heat until the surface turns yellow, slight scorch marks appear, and a fragrant aroma is released. They are then removed and allowed to cool. This process not only enhances the astringent properties but also reduces toxicity, allowing for an increased dosage and improved efficacy

    There is usually no confusion about the products sold under the name “white fruit” in the market. Since white fruit is also consumed as a food in Taiwan, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has established specific limits for heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in addition to the general standards for Chinese herbal medicines. Furthermore, because white fruit is a seed-based medicinal material and is susceptible to insect infestation if not stored properly, a standard for sulfur dioxide has also been set to protect public health. Therefore, consumers can use white fruit with confidence.

【Image provided by Professor Zhang Xian-zhe《道地藥材圖鑑》http://en.whatsintcm.com