National Heart Awareness Month: Herbal Preventatives

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National Heart Awareness Month: Herbal Preventatives

February is National Heart Awareness Month and throughout the month I

will be posting tips for improving heart health.

Herbal medicine is a wonderful preventative solution. Complications

can arise when taking herbal medicine and allopathic drugs your

doctor has prescribed.

Great caution should be used especially if you are on blood thinners,

diuretics or any other heart related medication. Consult your doctor

with any questions you may have, before taking additional herbs or

supplements.

These herbal supplements must be part of a comprehensive diet, exercise

and lifestyle program that supports cardiovascular health.

Bilberry: a great herbal supplement for maintaining healthy eyes,

bilberry delivers these results because they improve microcirculation

(the tiny capillaries in our eyes and several other organs). They not

only improve circulation to those microcapillaries but assist in the

strengthening of vascular walls, and stimulate the formation of new

capillaries.

Blessed Thistle: Strengthens the heart. Also known as "St. Benedict

Thistle" and "Holy Thistle", this herb contains B-complex, calcium,

iron, manganese and cincin. This herb has been used to tonify the

heart, improve circulation and fight plaque.

Capsicum: Blood pressure and health of blood vessels, Capsicum

stimulants circulation, enhances blood flow and is considered to be

food for the circulatory system. Capsicum assists in lowering blood

pressure and breaking down cholesterol buildup.

Cayenne Pepper: is renowned, not only for healing the entire digestive

system, and for arthritic pain relief, but also for the heart and

circulatory system. It acts as a catalyst and increases the

effectiveness of other herbs when used with them. Cayenne has been

known to stop heart attacks within 30 seconds. Cayenne has a high

source of Vitamins A & C, has the complete B complexes, and is very

rich in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it

is good for the heart. Consider the synergy of taking both cayenne

and Hawthorne berry together. Cayenne is also linked to decreases in

cholesterol and blood pressure and the general maintenance of a health

circulatory system.

Cornsilk: Natural diuretic. Corn silk is used as a tea. the potassium

in corn silk helps to offset potassium loss which is caused by

increased urination. Compared to other diuretics, corn silk reduces the

likelihood of muscle cramps and irregular heartbeat due to a loss of

electrolytes by increasing urination.

Garlic: A rich source of potassium, zinc, selenium, vitamin A and

Vitamin C, is commonly used to fight infection, increase circulation

and help prevent cardiovascular disease. Consider eating raw Garlic

every day; since it is a very effective antifungal agent, or use it

in tincture form. Research has shown that garlic is an anti-

cholesterol remedy and is recommended for heart and circulatory

problems. This is a wonderful natural antibiotic and detoxifier which

protects the body against infection by enhancing immune function, as

well.

Ginkgo Biloba: is a known fighter or cerebro-vascular disease. Impaired

circulation to the brain, often called a stroke, can cause severe and

far-reaching effects on the entire body. Ginkgo has been shown in

numerous studies to cause dilation and increase the blood flow in the

arteries, capillaries and veins. In addition, they inhibit platelet

aggregation, reduce blood clotting and work through antioxidants to

protect our vascular walls from free-radical damage.

Goldenseal: Berberine, an active ingredient of goldenseal, can dilate

blood vessels. Therefore, it may prove useful in the treatment of

certain causes of both irregular heartbeat and heart failure.

<B>Do not use goldenseal for more that seven days at a

time</B>. Seven days off/seven days on.

Gotu Kola: This herb has a positive effect on the circulatory system as

it strengthens the heart and helps lower blood pressure. It improves

the flow of blood while strengthening the veins and capillaries. It has

been used successfully to treat phlebitis, leg cramps, and abnormal

tingling of the extremities.

Hawthorn Berry: a member of the rose family, was recognized by physicians in the early 1800s for its ability to treat disorders

related to circulation and respiration (breathing). Considered

a "cardiotonic" herb, the flowers and berries of the hawthorn plant

have been used in traditional medicine to treat irregular heartbeat,

high blood pressure, chest pain, atherosclerosis, and congestive

heart failure. Hawthorn berries contain large amounts of

bioflavonoids, which help dilate and strengthen the walls of blood

vessels, relax arteries, and improve circulation of blood to heart

muscles. studies suggest that Hawthorn berry extract improves heart

function and exercise capacity in those with CHF. Participants in

research trials also report significantly improved symptoms (like

reduced shortness of breath and fatigue). Hawthorn extract may even

prove to be as effective as low doses of ACE inhibitors (a leading

class of heart medication) in improving symptoms of congestive heart

failure. Hawthorne must be taken daily to be affective.

Kelp: Helps to clean and maintain the arteries. Some animal studies

show kelp may help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. On the other

hand, kelp is also high in sodium, which may raise some people's blood

pressure. Salt-sensitive individuals with high blood pressure should

not consume large amounts of kelp. Others may include the herb in a

comprehensive heart-disease prevention program.

Mistletoe: Used as a cardiac tonic to stimulate circulation, reduce

blood pressure and arteriosclerosis and strengthen capillary walls.

Constricts blood vessels and stimulates heart beat. It lessens reflex

irritability and strengthens the heart's beat, as it raises the

frequency of a slow pulse.

Motherwort: Improves blood flow circulation and reduces heart blood

pressure and palpitations. The glycosides appear to have a short-term

ability to lower blood pressure and reduce blood platelet aggregation.

As a cardiac tonic, it is said to reduce heart palpitations. This herb

strengthen the heartbeat without increasing the pulse rate as it

sedates the coronary arteries. This results in increased circulation to

the heart.

Olive Leaf Extract: Naturally support the circulatory and immune

systems. Based on a recent study published in the medical journal,

Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, polyphenols from

olive leaf extract, significantly inhibited platelet aggregation in the

laboratory. This has important benefits as the antiplatelet effects in

olive leaves may offer a degree of protection from thrombosis and other

cardiovascular diseases.

Rhodiola: Extracts from the root of rhodiola have been the subject of

intensive pharmacological and clinical investigations in Russia and

Scandinavia for more than thirty-five years. The results of these

studies strongly support the use of Rhodiola as an adaptogen: a

substance that normalizes physiology in response to stressors. As such,

Rhodiola provides a solid foundation for restoring and maintaining

health. It promotes cognitive and physical performance, supports

positive emotional states, immune function and cardiovascular health,

and restores balance to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Rosemary: Is considered a heart tonic. Rosemary is also linked to

decreases in cholesterol and blood pressure and the general maintenance

of a health circulatory system.

Again, I must stress, if you are on any type of Western medication it

is important to check with your doctor before starting an herbal

supplement regime. Side effects and the combination of certain Western

drugs with herbs can be dangerous and deadly.

Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/heart_health.htm

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