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The Ark of the Covenant, Pt. 3
WHAT WAS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE SANCTUARY?
SECRETS OF THE SANCTUARY
Experts have proven that one of the most successful methods of memorization is through picture association. The Lord uses this teaching technique because He knows that humans are extremely visual creatures. This is one of the main reasons Jesus taught with parables. Picture stories help people understand and remember the many abstract principles of salvation by associating them with visual images.
God first illustrated the plan of salvation immediately after Adam and Eve sinned by having them sacrifice a lamb. This process impressed upon the first couple the heinous results of sin and foreshadowed the ultimate death of the "Lamb of God" for their sins.
By the time the children of Israel had spent 400 years in Egypt as slaves to a pagan nation, the Lord saw that His people needed a complete re-educating as to the "big picture" of the plan of redemption - including their role and God's role in cleansing them from their sins and restoring them to His image
This is why, when the children of Israel finally limped out of Egypt with scars on their backs and visions of the Promised Land dancing in their minds, God didn't immediately lead them north toward the Promised Land, but south toward Mt. Sinai. He was about to deliver to this infant nation one of the most powerful and enduring object lessons ever recorded. And He would do it almost entirely with symbols.
The Lord told Moses, "Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8). Keep in mind that this earthly tabernacle was never intended to be an edifice to shelter God from the elements. Jehovah is not a homeless God. When Solomon was building the first temple in Jerusalem, he said: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" (1 Kings 8:27).
What, then, is the key to the puzzle of the sanctuary? The structure and ceremonies were to serve as symbols to illustrate the sequence and process of salvation.
As we consider the sanctuary symbols, let's look at the first earthly sanctuary - the one that Moses had the people construct in the wilderness. This portable tent was often called the "tabernacle." Moses did not simply dream up what he thought this structure should look like. In the same way God spelled out the precise dimensions for Noah's Ark, God gave Moses exact plans for everything in the sanctuary, even to the minutest detail of the accessories.
God's plan wasn't arbitrary either. He already had a real dwelling place in heaven where the plan of salvation was first conceived. The earthly sanctuary was to be a miniature model, or shadow, of the heavenly. God told Moses, "According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle [in heaven], and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it" (Exodus 25:9). Unlike any other building ever constructed, the sanctuary would be a three-dimensional, life-sized lesson book. Every component, from the largest curtain to the tiniest piece of furniture, had a symbolic meaning that helped the children of Israel see, experience, and comprehend the plan of salvation and the role of the heavenly sanctuary in a very practical way.
A Journey to God
Let's begin a brief tour through this unusual structure and learn a few basic lessons before examining the deeper meanings of the sanctuary system.
The sanctuary consisted of three principal areas: the courtyard, the holy place, and the most holy place. These three locations represent the three primary steps in the process of salvation known as justification, sanctification, and glorification, and they correspond with three phases of Christ's ministry: the substitutionary sacrifice, the priestly mediation, and the final judgment.
The holy of holies, the tabernacle's most sacred spot, represents the presence of God. The walls around the courtyard and the holy place vividly illustrate man's separation from God. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). All of the sanctuary services represent a sinner's journey back to God. In the first three chapters of the Bible, sin enters the world and man is evicted from the garden of Eden. In the last three chapters, sin is eradicated and man is restored to the garden and communion with God.
Please keep in mind as we venture onto this holy ground that we are gathering only a few gems of truth. Volumes could be written on the sanctuary and its symbols without exhausting the subject.
The Door
The first thing we notice as we approach the sanctuary is that there is only one door. Not even a fire exit! Remember Jesus' words: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved" (John 10:9).
All that are saved are redeemed by Jesus alone. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The only way to God is through Christ, the only Door.
The Courtyard
The entire edifice of the sanctuary was surrounded by a courtyard made of linen curtains set up in a very specific orientation. It was twice as long as it was wide (150 feet long and 75 feet wide) and was to be set up with the one opening facing east. That arrangement ensured that the worshipers and priests who stood at the door had their backs to the rising sun, instead of facing it like the pagan sun-worshiping religions of the day. God's people worship the Creator instead of the creation.
The Altar of Burnt Offering
Immediately upon entering the door of the courtyard sat the brazen altar of burnt offerings. The altar was actually made of acacia wood and overlaid with brass. Some have likened the wood portion to human works and the brass to Christ's work. Without the brass, the wooden frame would have been consumed by the fire during the burning of the offerings, just as we will be consumed by the lake of fire if we do not believe that Jesus' grace must eclipse self.
The Laver
Between the altar of burnt offerings and the entrance to the holy place stood the laver. It was also made of brass and was filled with water for the cleansing of the priests.
The picture of the sinner's justification became clear in the courtyard. Before God gave the Israelites His law on tables of stone, He saved them from slavery in Egypt by virtue of their faith in the Passover Lamb (symbolized by the altar) and baptized them in the sea (represented by the laver). God takes us just as we are and forgives our sins. When we accept Christ, confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness, our heavenly record of sin is covered by Jesus' blood. Then we are to be baptized.
The Holy Place
The actual tabernacle stood in the west half of the courtyard. It was divided into two compartments, or rooms. While the width of the two rooms was the same, the length of the first room, the holy place, was twice as long as that of the most holy place. The walls of the central structure were made of acacia boards overlaid with gold and connected with silver hardware (Exodus 26).
All who entered the holy place to minister saw themselves reflected in the golden walls on every side, reminding them that the eyes of the Lord see all. "And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that" (Exodus 36:19). The priests could look up and see that they served under a red skin. Likewise, Christians are a nation of priests that serve Jesus under His blood.
The Holy place had three articles of furniture. We will review them one by one.
The Golden Lampstand
Just inside the holy place on the left (south) side, stood the golden menorah that had seven candlestick branches (see Exodus 25:31-40). They were not wax candles as we know them, but lamps fueled by pure olive oil. The priests trimmed the wicks daily and refilled the bowls with oil so that the menorah would constantly be a source of light for the holy place. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).
He also said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). The Olive oil in the lamps symbolized the Holy Spirit that illuminates the church. The lamp is a symbol of the Word, as well (Psalm 119:105).
The Table of Showbread
Opposite the lamp was the table of showbread on the north side. It was constructed of acacia wood and covered with gold (Exodus 25:23-30). On it were kept 12 loaves of unleavened bread (Leviticus 24:5-9). These loaves were symbolic of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). The number 12 signified the 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles of Jesus who were to feed God's people with the bread of life - which is also a symbol of the Bible (Matthew 4:4).
The Altar of Incense
The altar of incense was located directly across from the door standing against the ornate veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place. Like several other items in the sanctuary, it was also made of acacia wood and covered with gold (Exodus 30:1-3). It was much small than the altar in the courtyard and contained a brass pot that held hot coals from the brazen altar of burnt offerings. It was here that the priest burned a very special blend of incense which filled the sanctuary with a sweet-smelling cloud, representing the prayers of intercession and confession of the believers sweetened by the Holy Spirit (Exodus 30:8).
The Holy Place represents the process of sanctification. This corresponds to the wilderness wanderings of Israel. The pillar of fire was their menorah, and the manna was their showbread. The pillar of cloud was their cloud of incense.
Sanctification is the process in the Christian's life of learning to obey. It is made up of a series of justifications. Each time we sin we ask for forgiveness, and we are justified again. However, God offers more than forgiveness when we confess. In 1 John 1:9, He promises us that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
It is that "cleansing from unrighteousness" that constitutes sanctification. The key ingredients in our sanctification are a devotional life in the Word, prayer, and witnessing. The sanctuary's bread, incense, and lamp represent these elements.
The Most Holy Place
The length of the most holy place equaled its width so that it formed a square. It was also as high as it was wide and long, making it a perfect cube - just like the New Jerusalem will be (see Revelation 21:16). the apartment contained only one piece of furniture.
The Veil
This veil, or curtain, separating the holy and the most holy places of the sanctuary has a great significance, because it was this veil that tore at the very moment Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). His death symbolized the end of the need for the exclusive Levitical priesthood to mediate between man and God.
The veil represents the body of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19,20). It was only by passing through this veil that access was possible to the most holy place (Hebrews 4:16). The tearing of the veil symbolized the death of the Lamb of God, which now permits the believer in His atonement immediate access to the most holy place through the new High Priest - Jesus Christ - the one and only Mediator between man and God.
The Ark of the Covenant
Inside the most holy place, or "holy of holies," was one piece of furniture - the ark of the covenant. This sacred box, also constructed of acacia wood and covered with gold, contained the tables of stone upon which God had written the Ten Commandments. Later it also contained Aaron's rod that had budded and a small pot of manna.
The lid of the ark was called the "mercy seat" (Exodus 25:17), and above it was the shining glory of the Lord, of Shekinah (which literally means "the dwelling"), radiating between two cherubs, or angels, on either end of the ark. This was a symbol of the throne of God and the presence of the Almighty in heaven. The walls of the most holy place were engraved with many angels, representing the clouds of living angels that surround the person of God in heaven (1 Kings 6:29).
How It All Works
The sanctuary shows how God deals with sin. Sin cannot be ignored. Its wages are death (Roman 6:23). the law can't be changed to make sinners not guilty. Sin's wages must be paid, either by the sinner in receiving eternal death, or by Christ on the cross. Let's follow a sin as it is confessed, and then processed through the sanctuary.
The Courtyard Ministry
When a sinner became convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit and wanted to confess, he came to the door of the courtyard with a spotless animal (usually a lamb) to sacrifice. He laid his hands on the head of the innocent victim and confessed his sin. This symbolically transferred his sin and its penalty to the lamb. Then with his own hand he had to slay the animal and shed its blood. This was to impress upon the repentant sinner that his sins would ultimately require the death of the spotless Lamb of God.
This was the part of the sinner in the sanctuary service. The priests, who represented the mediation of Christ between the guilty sinner and his God, did the rest.
After confessing his sin and slaying the lamb, the sinner went away forgiven, his sin covered by the shed blood of the victim. Of course the lamb's blood didn't cover the sin, but it represented the blood of Christ, "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
After some of the blood was caught by the priest, the rest was poured out on the ground at the base of the altar and the animal was burnt on the altar. The altar symbolized the cross where Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of the world. His blood was spilt on the ground at the foot of the cross when the centurion pierced His side (John 19:34).
The blood of the lamb, symbolically bearing the guilt of the sinner, was then taken by the priest and transferred to the holy place of the sanctuary. However, the priest never went into the sanctuary without first cleansing himself at the laver. This washing is symbolic of baptism and is listed as on of the symbols for salvation (Acts 2:38). The Israelites had to cross the Red Sea before they were free from the bondage of Egypt. "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10:2).
So in the courtyard we pass through the fire and water. Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
In the holy place the smoke of the incense rising from the altar represented the intercession of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' name, making our prayers of confession acceptable to the Father (Romans 8:26, 27). Each day the blood, bearing the guilt, was sprinkled before the veil, thus transferring the guilt from the sinner to the tabernacle. There the guilt of the repentant sinners accumulated throughout the year until the Day of Atonement.
The Most Holy Place Ministry
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest took two perfect kid goats, and lots were cast over them to determine which one would be the Lord's goat and which would be the scapegoat (called Azazel in Hebrew). After confessing his own sins and those of his family upon a bull, the high priest placed his hands on the Lord's goat and confessed the sins of the entire congregation which had accumulated in the holy place during the year. Then the Lord's goat was slain, and the blood was taken by the high priest into the most holy place and offered before the mercy seat of the ark where the presence of God dwelt (Leviticus 16).
The ark of the covenant contains some of the most beautiful and significant symbolism of God's entire plan of salvation. Inside the ark, between the golden bowl of manna, symbolizing God's providence, and Aaron's rod that budded, symbolizing God's authority and discipline, were the two tables of stone on which God's finger inscribed the law that has been violated by all men (Romans 3:23). The breaking of that law is sin (1 John 3:4) and the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23).
Between the law which condemns us to death and the all-consuming presence of God is the mercy seat, or the lid of the ark. This arrangement illustrates that only Jesus' mercy saves us from being consumed by the fiery presence and justice of God. But Jesus' mercy isn't cheap. He bought it with His own blood. He paid the wages of sin so He could offer mercy to all who will accept it.
Next, representing Christ as Mediator, the high priest transferred the sins that had polluted the sanctuary to the live goat, Azazel, which was then led away from the camp of Israelites. This symbolically removed the sins of the people and readied the sanctuary for another year of ministry. Thus, all things were right between God and His people once again.
A Broad View of Salvation
The plan of salvation is the theme of the entire Bible. The salvation of the children of Israel from Egypt follows this plan exactly. Egypt corresponded to the courtyard where justification transpired. God sacrificed all the firstborn of Egypt, representing those who will pay for their own sins. But the Israelites were allowed to substitute the blood of the Passover lamb for their firstborn child, representing those who accept Jesus' payment. After the sacrifice came the cleansing. All of the children of Israel were "baptized" in the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:1,2) symbolized by the laver.
This daily progress in character building is the process of sanctification. But what is the end result of sanctification? Eventually we come to the place where we would rather die than dishonor our Savior by sinning. That is when the new covenant is fulfilled in us. "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33). When God's law is our delight and pleasure and sin has no more power over us, then the process of sanctification is complete.
Atonement
For 10 days leading up to the Day of Atonement, the children of Israel were to clean their camp, houses, bodies, and guilt by confessing every known fault. After the high priest went through the ritual of cleansing the sanctuary, God had a clean sanctuary and a clean people.
Now, as the real atonement is taking place in heaven, God's people must be purified again. In order to finish the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and bring His people to heaven, Christ cannot have any more sins confessed. The wicked will go on sinning, but they will bear their own sins and pay sin's wages in the judgment.
The righteous, on the other hand, will have gained the victory over sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. This takes place when they all have the new covenant experience, which takes the law from the stone tables and makes it an integral part of their hearts. At that time, Christ can finish cleansing His heavenly sanctuary and and come for His bride because His earthly sanctuary - His people - have also been cleansed. He will have a clean sanctuary in heaven and a clean sanctuary on earth. Doesn't Jesus say that we are His temple? (Ephesians 2:19-21; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
Jesus Is the Sanctuary
This study could go on for hundreds of pages, but ultimately the central theme of the whole sanctuary system is Jesus. Jesus is the Door, the spotless Lamb, our High Priest. He is the Light of the World and the Bread of Life. He is the Living Water in the laver and the Rock upon which is written the law of God in the ark. His love is the gold shimmering throughout the holy place. It is His blood that makes it possible for us to approach the Father. Indeed, Jesus is the essence of the temple, for He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ...But he spake of the temple of his body" (John 2:19,21).
Have you made Christ your sanctuary? The Scriptures promise: "Behold, A king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be an an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isaiah 32:1,2).
"We might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil" (Hebrews 6:18,19).
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Amazing Facts Inside Report, Feb. 2000
NOAH'S ARK . ARK OF COVENANT . SODOM & GOMORRAH . RED SEA CROSSING . MT. SINAI
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According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was born near the end of Herod's reign which would place his birth at 6-4 BCE. Luke tells us that Jesus was born around the time the Roman governor Quirinus took a census in Judea. That would place his birth at 6-7 CE, ten years from the end of Herod's death. Mark and John say nothing. As explained in the nativity legends, neither gospel has the qualities of real history.
We might wonder what Matthew and Luke imply when it was known at the time of Jesus' birth that he would be a savior. The answer is bound up in astrology, based on his place of birth and the alignment of the stars at his time of birth. Matthew does it by imputing the wise men (magi=astrologer), and Luke suggests shepherds were visited by an angel (angel=angle). (See Bible Astrology)
For reasons explained here, I am not sympathetic to the idea that Jesus was a real person. The date of his annual birth can be found in the stars because he was a mythologized sun hero. (See Gospel Zodiac) This page explains the astrological significance of December 25th and the age which marked the year of his original birth. The date of his original birth can be affixed at December 25, 7 BCE.
The clue to the timing of Jesus' first birth has to do with his association with fish. In what astrologers call a Great Year spanning 25920 years; it is divided into twelve Ages according to the constellations of the Zodiac, lasting 2160 years each. Because earth rotates with a wobble called precession, it does not return to the exact point of departure from the previous year. When the sun is at its highest position during the spring equinox, the constellation in its background determines the Age it is in. (For more detail, see Bible Astrology)
Technically, the Age of Jesus began when the sun entered Pisces on the spring equinox. At the beginning of spring for the last two thousand years, the sun appears to be drifting across the stars of Pisces with each passing year. Because this creeping process is so slow, it is not easy to make an exact determination when an Age begins and ends. But the timing of the beginning of the Age of Pisces fits nicely with the Bible's depiction of Jesus being born about 4-6 years before the beginning of the first century.
On May 27, 7 BCE, shining as a beacon in the Western sky, a conjunction occurred among Jupiter (traditional king of the gods) and Saturn (ruling planet of Judah) in the constellation of Pisces the Fish (the House of the Hebrews). For a few days the two planets appear as if to be nearly touching. There was a second conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn on October 6 and a third Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on December 1.
Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions occur about every twenty years. Triple Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions occur about every 139 years. And triple Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions occur in Pisces roughly once every 900 years. Jupiter is the fourth brightest planet after the Sun, Moon and Venus.
Figure 1. The Age of Jesus began with three Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions in Pisces.
Figure 2. Since then, the sun has been creeping across Pisces every spring for the last 2,000 years.
About 2012 the sun will enter the Age of Aquarius. Then it can be said that the Age of Jesus has past.
"I am with you always to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20).
The next question is when was the Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit? By affixing the timing of Jesus' birth at December 25, she would have to have been conceived nine months earlier. That would be when the sun crosses the spring equinox on March 21.
By looking at the midnight sky at that time we see the constellation Virgo descending upside down as if she is in the missionary position. Allegorically, the sun has conquered the forces of evil because it is when daylight hours exceed nighttime hours. In the spring she is free of sin because it is the only season of the year when the sun has overpowered the retreating dark forces. Thus there is peace on earth.
Figure 3. The virgin being descended upon by the Holy Spirit on March 21.
Some sources say that this triple conjunction looks like a single bright star and depicts the wise men and the star of Bethlehem. No so! For a better fit we need three stars to represent the three gifts symbolizing the wise men. We also need an unusually bright star for the star of Bethlehem, and we need a yearly event that coincides with the sun's rising on December 25.
The candidate for the three wise men can be found in the constellation of Orion the hunter. It has three stars at its belt that align with Sirius. What makes Sirius the prime candidate for the star of Bethlehem is that it is the brightest star in the sky next to the sun.
At four o'clock in the evening, on December 25, Sirius rises above the horizon in Jerusalem. This was the first such event in the Age of Pisces. The three stars on the belt of Orion point down towards Sirius, the star of Bethlehem. Orion is not a trivial constellation; it plays the part of the Son of Man in the Gospels.
The significance of Bethlehem is another play on words. In Hebrew, "Bethlehem" means house of bread. As the picture of Virgo shows in the picture above, Virgo is holding stalks of grain. It symbolizes Mary in the house of bread. The name of "Mary" is etymologically related to water, the element of birth.
2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. (Gen. 1:2)
Figure 4. The three wise following the Star of Bethlehem
In conclusion, the original date of Jesus' birth occurred on December 25, 7 BCE. The entry of the sun into the Age of Pisces was a one time event. Jesus' death and resurrection plays out each year with the sun's course through the four seasons.
An excellent explanation about the origins of the constellations can be found in Ancient Egypt. To the ancient Egyptians, Orion was their god Osiris. In the Gospels, Orion is the Son of man. To the Egyptians, Sirius was their most sacred star. Its brightness combined with its rising at the time of the spring equinox, marked off each new year.
Related links
For when Jesus was born: Star of Bethlehem
The gospel characters can be seen in the Garden Tour
Jesus' yearly sun cycle: Gospel Zodiac
Jesus Nativity Legends explains the lack of historicity of the gospels
Jesus Christ Sun of God by David Fideler
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Can Ginkgo Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
Greg Prince
10/9/2008
Purpose and History of Ginkgo
With origins dating back almost 200 million years ago, Ginkgo Biloba is one of the world’s oldest trees. Ginkgo also has long-standing roots in herbal remedy, as the first medical uses of ginkgo were traced back to 2800 BC through traditional Chinese medicine. A native to Southeast Asia, the ginkgo tree is now grown all over the world so that the leaves and fruits may be harvested over the summer. Ginkgo trees are widely recognized for their green to yellow fan-shaped leaves and round fruits that are approximately 1 cm in diameter (http://altmed.creighton.edu/ginkgo/History.htm). The tree is also known for its extreme resistance to pollution, insects, and disease (http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/55/11/1409). Today, ginkgo is one of the best selling herbal supplements in the world and is among the leading prescription drugs in both Germany and France (http://altmed.creighton.edu/ginkgo/History.htm). The ginkgo extract is made by soaking the ginkgo leafs in alcohol, drying the leafs, and then grinding the leafs into a powder. The extract commonly is used in a variety of forms, such as tablets, capsules, teas, and skin products, in an attempt to heal existing conditions like asthma or bronchitis. Recently, ginkgo extract is used to treat memory issues ranging from a general memory boost to preventing/treating dementia, a deterioration of the brain (http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ginkgo/). Although there have not been sufficient scientific studies done on the effects of ginkgo with Alzheimer’s patients, there are a number of studies that suggest that the use of ginkgo can reduce the effect of dementia, such as that caused by Alzheimer’s Disease.
Picture Source: (http://z.about.com/d/forestry/1/0/o/i/ginkgo_leaf.JPG)
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive, genetically heterogeneous disease of the brain that affects 15 million people worldwide (http://www.molecularneurodegeneration.com/content/3/1/1). Common symptoms of patients with Alzheimer’s includes confusion, agitation, metabolic disturbances, as well as a loss in cognitive, intellectual, functional, and social abilities (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1697743). Early signs of Alzheimer’s are characterized by memory impairment and subtle behavioral changes, although this takes place before any extreme structural damage to the brain (http://www.molecularneurodegeneration.com/content/3/1/1). The symptoms of the disease were first described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906 during an autopsy of a 56-year-old woman that showed signs of mental deterioration. Alzheimer noticed that the nerve cells in the woman’s brain were disorganized and clustered. This led Alzheimer to develop the early theory, which is still somewhat prevalent today, that the nerve “plaque” at these areas was a probable cause for the memory loss (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1697743). According to the Creighton University School of Medicine, dementia of the brain due to Alzheimer’s is associated with “the loss of cholinergic neurons that innervate the cerebral cortex.” In other words, the pathways that send signals through the brain are lost along with the means to recall memories or perform certain functions. Alzheimer’s is now widely believed to have a genetic link on either chromosome 1 or 14 (http://altmed.creighton.edu/ginkgo/Alzheimers.htm).
Picture Source: (http://www.about-dementia.com/articles/images/Neurons.jpg)
How Does Ginkgo Help Those with Alzheimer’s Disease?
Even though various studies have proven that the use of ginkgo has benefited patients with Alzheimer’s, the exact mechanisms as to how it works are still unknown; however, there are two commonly accepted theories. The first theory comes from ginkgo’s antioxidant qualities. When cells in the body use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals, which are highly unstable, as a product. The free radicals will try and stabilize by reacting with other cells, which causes a damaging chain reaction. Antioxidants, such as those in ginkgo, act as “free radical scavengers” that prevent damage caused by the free radicals (http://www.healthcastle.com/antioxidant.shtml). This relates to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, as ginkgo’s antioxidant qualities prevent, or at least slow down, a membrane breakdown in the brain that is common among the elderly and Alzheimer’s patients (http://altmed.creighton.edu/ginkgo/Ginkgo for memory disorders.htm). The exact physiological features of Alzheimer’s are unknown, but the primary hypothesis is based on age-related oxidative injury, similar to the kind ginkgo helps prevent (http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/55/11/1409). The other theory on ginkgo’s effects on Alzheimer’s patients is centered on ginkgo’s anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation in the body is the localized reaction of tissue to irritation, injury, or infection, which can result in the loss of function for that tissue (http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/a/antiinflamfood.htm). The anti-inflammatory products in ginkgo helps reduce the “plaque” buildup of dysfunctional neurons as well as regulating neurotransmitter function. This is important for Alzheimer’s patients because the neuron buildup, or “plaque,” that is commonly found in Alzheimer’s patients is believed to be a primary cause for the loss in brain function (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1697743).
Picture Source: (http://www.alzheimersmemoryloss.info/alzheimers-disease.jpg)
Scientific Results
Even though ginkgo is one of the most popular herbal supplements worldwide, there are few conclusive experiments done testing its effectiveness, specifically with degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. What’s more, I found a variety of results that both support and disprove the notion that the use of ginkgo has a beneficial effect on Alzheimer’s patients. However, most of the experiments disproving the beneficial effects of ginkgo were generally reported before the results of the experiments supporting the beneficial effects of ginkgo on Alzheimer’s patients. This is likely due to a better modern-day understanding of the properties of ginkgo as well as the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on the brain. Therefore, I have chosen to focus on the more recent reports on the effect of ginkgo and Alzheimer’s, in which all three chosen studies support the notion that there is a positive correlation between the two.
The first experiment, conducted by the New York University Medical Center and Memory Centers of America, tested the effect of a ginkgo extract, EGb 761, on patients with Alzheimer’s. The experiment was a 52-week, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study that treated the variable test subjects with 120mg/day of EGb 761. In order to qualify for the experiment, patients had to score between 23 and 14 on the Mini-Mental State Examination, a test of a person’s mental aptitude; scores between 23 and 14 were common for Alzheimer’s patients. These precautions were taken to insure that participants in this study were efficiently randomized and that one potential result was not influenced over the other. To test the effectiveness of ginkgo, the participants underwent two different tests, the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale and the Geriatric Evaluation by Relative’s Rating Instrument, that measured that participant’s cognitive functions. The results showed that the ginkgo extract EGb 761 improved the cognitive state of those with mild or moderately severe dementia, while it noticeably slowed down the effects of dementia among those with severe dementia (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11803237). This model was effective in that it eliminated outside influencing factors, while providing a quantitative means of comparing results between the ginkgo group and the placebo group.
The second study, conducted by the Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology at Philipps University of Marburg, focused on what qualities of the ginkgo extract EGb 761 produces the neuroprotective effects that have aided Alzheimer’s patients. To do this, EGb 761 was split into its main constituents, ginkgolides A, B, C, J and bilobalide. Each of these was added independently to various animal brains (mice, rats, chick embryos). Once added, the extraction-aided brain was tested with the addition of neuronal-damaging compounds such as glutamate and cyanide. The results of this experiment suggested that each of the EGb 761 constituents have some protective properties against neuronal damage (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13130383). While well presented, this study serves more of a theoretical purpose than a practical one. First, the design of the experiment assumes a few things: that the use of animal brains is an acceptable substitute for the use of human brain, that the benefits of ginkgo must come from any of the four ginkgolides or bilobalide, that the effects of neuronal damagers such as glutamate or cyanide are an acceptable substitute for the effects of Alzheimer’s. While these changes were made to accommodate for ethical restrictions and based on a generally accepted train of thought, the foundation for the experiment is not entirely well grounded, therefore, neither are the results.
The third study, published by the Department of Pathology and Infectious Disease of Royal Veterinary College, follows a similar in vitro, or outside of the living organism, structure to that of the second experiment. However, the second experiment focuses more on the response of the ginkgo extract EGb 761 on synapse damage due to the production of Aβ1–42, a peptide closely connected to the early stages of Alzheimer’s. As Aβ1–42 is produced in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, synapse damage occurs, lowering the amount of neurotransmissions that take place. By pre-treating neurons with ginkgolides A or B, components of the ginkgo extract EGb 761, neurons were protected from the damage possible due to the presence of Aβ1–42 (http://www.molecularneurodegeneration.com/content/3/1/1). As mentioned, this experiment is similar to the second experiment discussed in that both test the effects of ginkgo extracts on neurons subjected to harmful products in an in vitro model; whereas the first experiment mentioned studied the effects of ginkgo extracts in an in vivo, or inside the living organism, model. Likewise, the shortcomings of the third experiment are similar to that of the second in that this study provides theoretical knowledge, but does little as to providing evidence that ginkgo will have the same effect in a living human with Alzheimer’s. The third experiment’s credibility is aided by the fact that it was published in 2008, about six years after the first two, so it has more outside research to support its findings than the two previously mentioned.
Picture Source: (http://rauljurado.com/images/Alzheimers.gif)
Conclusion
The studies provided uphold the general belief that ginkgo has positive results for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Nonetheless, the “myth” is often discredited based on other research experiments that prove otherwise and because there are not a sufficient number of directly relevant or long-term studies done that can prove ginkgo’s remedial properties once and for all. However, there are studies currently underway to satisfy these demands. The GuidAge Study Group is in the midst of a five-year double-blind randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of 240mg/day of EGb 761, the ginkgo extract, in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease; the results should be available in 2010 (http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/67/9_suppl_3/S6). As health care is becoming more and more expensive, herbal remedies, such as the use of ginkgo, are becoming accepted, cheap alternatives or complimentary supplements. Unfortunately, not all of these herbal alternatives are proven to work, so it is important that more clinical trials are done to debunk common myths. If ginkgo is an accepted substitute for Alzheimer’s treatment as current studies suggest, then it could be an important discovery for the medical community. However, more long-term, clinical in vivo trials, like the one by The GuidAge Study Group, are necessary to prove the relevance and effectiveness of ginkgo in Alzheimer’s patients.
Picture Source: (http://wb3.indo-work.com/pdimage/73/177773_gingko.jpg)
References
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Bate, Clive, Tayebi, Mourad, & Williams, Alun (2008). Ginkgolides protect against amyloid-β1–42-mediated synapse damage in vitro. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 3(1). Retrieved October 9, 2008 from Molecular Neurodegeneration database.
Chiappelli, Francesco, Navarro, Audrey M., Moradi, David R., Manfrini, Ercolano, & Prolo, Paulo (2006). Evidence-Based Resarch in Complementary and Alternative Medicine III: Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. PubMed Central, 3(4), 411-424. Retrieved October 7, 2008 from PubMed database.
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