I made this glycerite tincture as a custom blend for someone specifically to address vertigo. However, when I was straining it I got excited thinking about the blend and how much it encompasses. In fact, I’ve decided this is one I’ll have to start taking regularly so I will continue to make it.
This is a blend of Ginkgo, Holy Basil, Ginger and Licorice root. I chose Ginkgo as the main herb in this blend for several reasons. It’s one of the most researched herbs showing efficacy in encouraging better circulation, especially to the brain (as well as the inner ear, so if you struggle with a lot of ear infections stemming from the inner ear, its definitely  worth exploring) Ginkgo is an incredible time honored cognitive herb and is often used for a variety of ailments, including adhd, memory loss, nausea, balancing disturbances, tinnitus and inflammatory conditions. The Ginkgolides that Ginkgo contains not only help improve blood flow but this action supports the lymphatic system as well (which then of course helps the immune system). Next, I’ve included Holy Basil as it’s one of my favorite anti-inflammatory herbs. It’s worked wonders for me over the years through chronic pain from old injuries. It’s also an incredible adaptogen, allowing the body to better adapt to stress and lowering cortisol levels. Holy basil has also shown promise in several peer reviewed studies as a great herb for cognitive health, enhancing memory and focus. Then there’s ginger, which seems like a simple herb but is quite complex and has a lot of studies behind it and of course it is also time honored (like every herb in this blend-my favorite types of herbs to work with. Long histories don’t lie). I’ve personally had great results with ginger for inflammatory conditions, including vertigo. Finally, there’s licorice root. I chose licorice root because it's a great option for folks that struggle with orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure, especially after sitting or laying down). Licorice root helps to raise blood pressure, resolving any vertigo or dizziness resulting from that condition. However, there is so much more to Ginger. It’s a wonderful anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic herb and is a great addition to protocols addressing muscle and ligament soreness (I even use it for menstrual cramps and postpartum cramps). It’s also well known for aiding with minor nausea, and it is incredibly effective in appetite suppression and metabolism health. Licorice root also is a great synergistic herb enhancing and amplifying the effects of the other herbs. This blend is extracted in non gmo vegetable glycerin, which extracts the water soluble constituents (ideal for these herbs for the most potency). I chose to extract this blend as a glycerite rather than an ethanol based tincture because Ginkgo has compounds that are not favorable (like Ginkgolic acid). However, Ginkgolic acid is not water soluble, and glycerites extract only the water soluble compounds which are the compounds I wanted to extract from these plants. In fact, all of these plants in this blend are most effective in this extraction method in my opinion.
Some things to note: contraindications include if you are on blood thinners or have high blood pressure.
As I mentioned, I’ll be taking this myself with cognitive health, lymphatic health, inflammation and immune support in mind.