This tree has been traced back 180 million years, wow. When a tag says 'slow growing' - this one beats the band. I planted one in my front field 10 years ago and I am guessing it has only grown about 6" (if that) in that time. Ginkgo's primary medicinal use is to improve circulation, which can help with many things - diabetes, memory issues, hardening of the arteries, blood pressure. One of my herb books suggests eating roasted seeds to cure a hangover, but I've never seen a seed to roast, so can't comment on that. I did find a photo in the database with the seeds (thank you GardenGus). Ginkgo is very slow to break dormancy in the spring, to the point that every year I wonder if it didn't over-winter. But, equally slow to enter dormancy - here it is early November and the leaves are just now turning from green to butter yellow, while most of my other deciduous trees are bare. A very pretty tree, with fan-shaped leaves.
