Herbs for the Heart
The heart is one of the strongest muscles in our body; it holds all that is dear to us and all that must be protected. It works so hard without asking for much from us until it demands our attention, it is then that we realize how thin that string to our health was.
Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. Over 250 billion dollars a year is spent on research and the sad truth is that it is mostly spent on drugs and costly medical equipment used for surgeries. We believe this is all preventable if the correct knowledge were only shared we could energize and open our hearts to lead to a better quality of life and longevity. Below we talk about some of the things we can do to keep our hearts happy and healthy.
Herbs for the heart
Hawthorn berries, leaves and Flowers to increase the body’s ability to utilize oxygen and the heart’s ability to utilize calcium. It helps regulate high and low blood pressure, and breaks down fat deposits and cholesterol in the body. Hawthorn has been proven to reduce calcification of arterial plaque, which hardens and narrows the arteries leading to the heart.
Linden which is known for its long use for conditions such as atherosclerosis, angina, and heart palpitations especially when there is nervous tension or stress involved.
Reishi, has some known constituents that allow it to possibly support and balance the cellular health within the heart and cardiovascular system. Traditionally, Reishi is believed to support the emotional heart as well.
Ginger, used for thousands of years to help lower blood pressure and improve circulation.
Garlic, prevents cell damage, regulates cholesterol and lowers blood pressure. Other research shows that garlic also reduces plaque buildup in the arteries.
Mustard Seeds are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that help in balancing cholesterol levels.
Cayenne if you had to choose to take one of the herbs mentioned in this article this would be the one Cayenne is as a circulatory stimulant, an herb that feeds the necessary elements into the cell structure of the arteries, veins, and capillaries so that they, regain youthful elasticity and so that the blood pressure reduces itself to normal. Cayenne equalizes the blood pressure, influencing the heart immediately, and then extending its effects to the venous structure It also works to cut the mucus in the venous system, and indeed in all the systems throughout the body.
Motherwort is used not only for the gladdening and the strengthening of the heart but, Pharmacological studies have confirmed its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiarrhythmic activity.
Astragalus is a vasodilator, it dilates the coronary artery and peripheral blood vessels, and reduces platelet aggregation, and because of all that it is known to help enhance the contractility of the heart. In TCM it has been used for centuries to treat the weak or deficiency. (Qi Deficiency)
Foods for the Heart
A whole food plant-based diet is the only diet that has been
proven to reverse heart disease Dr Esselstyn says “Plant-based nutrition provides us with a pathway to escape the coronary artery disease epidemic”
Eating Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, and legumes is so easy and is not a diet but a lifestyle. It is so important to understand this in a time when fad diets pop up left and right trying to play to our emotions and lifestyles that we want to keep.
High-protein diets can generate ketosis, which predisposes us to electrolyte imbalances and cardiac arrhythmias. We must be aware of the dangers of these types of diets. We already have medical studies carefully discussing the mechanism by which popular high-protein diets can lead us to harm.
Some foods that are great to keep in our daily routines to help our hearts are
Beetroot and dark leafy greens contain nitrate, when you consume nitrate, your body converts it to nitric oxide, which in turn causes blood vessels to relax and dilate, lowering blood pressure.
Avocados are an excellent source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which have been linked to reduced levels of cholesterol and a lower risk of heart disease
Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries Studies show that eating lots of berries can reduce several risk factors for heart disease.
Whole Grains One analysis of 45 studies concluded that eating three more servings of whole grains daily was associated with a 22% lower risk of heart disease
Walnuts some studies have also found that regularly eating nuts such as walnuts is associated with a lower risk of heart disease
Supplements for the Heart
Magnesium Taurate or Glycinate. Taurate has recent research in helping lower blood sugar and pressure whereas glycinate has been shown to help stress and improve sleep.
D-Ribose is a naturally occurring sugar derivative of ATP that helps fuel the regeneration of energy when your body can’t create it quickly enough.
L-Arginine supports the production of one of the good guys endothelium-derived nitric oxide(EDNO).
EDNO is a potent substance that dilates blood vessels and allows more blood to course through them.
L-Carnitine It’s the only molecule in our cells with the ability to move fatty acids into the mitochondria and move the waste out.
CoQ10 helps protect cell membranes and arterial tissue from oxidative stress and inflammatory damage.
All these things paired with exercise and doing more things that make us happy can lead us back to the path of wellness.
Although I am a trained Master Herbalist I am not a Doctor, this information is not meant to treat, diagnose or cure. My goal is to empower you with knowledge so you may take control of your own health.