Herbs for Heart Health

Herbs for the healthy heart

Heart health is a major concern for most Americans. This is because heart disease kills or directly affects over 68 million people. This means more than 1 in 5 people will have one form or another of cardiovascular disease. These are very real risks, and as of right now, modern medicine has no "cure" for cardiovascular disease. There are quite a few methods of treatment...including lifestyle changes, medication, or even surgury.

While these are all helpful and sometimes necessary approaches to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, there are herbs for heart health that can also be very helpful in decreasing risk of heart attacks.

Hawthorne herb for heart health:
Some studies have been conducted that show hawthorne may have the ability to dialate blood vessels. This in turn can lower blood pressure, which is very helpful in treating heart disease. The "secret" is in the pigmentation cells of the hawthorne flowers, leaves, and berries. These include bioflavinoids that have antioxidant properties and can help the body remove free radicals. It also has a blood vessel dialating property, and can hep strengthen heart muscle after a heart attack by improving blood flow and oxygen to the heart.

Garlic:
Garlic is commonly used to prevent athlerosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Arteries harden when cholesterol and fat molecules attach to the inner walls of arteries. Studies have demonstrated that regular garlic consumption decreases cholesterol in the bloodstream by up to 10%! And all it takes is a single clove of garlic a day to get these results.

Ginkgo Biloba:
herbs for heart health list wouldn't be complete without this natural herb to increase circulitory health. While ginkgo may not directly help the heart, studies have suggested it can help dialate blood vessels and increase blood flow to the entire body...including the heart. Furthermore, it can reduce blood clotting and inhibit platlet aggregation. Both of these benefits are very important to prevent a heart attack.

Cayenne pepper, Rosemary, and Chamomile:
These three herbs have been shown to increase cardiovascular health by decreasing blood pressure and and decrease cholestoral.

The most important aspect of heart health to remember is that prevention is the best medicine. These herbs listed are best used to maintain a healthy heart when combined with a healthy diet, proper excercise, and most importantly staying away from risk factors such as smoking. ALWAYS talk to a doctor or medical professional before trying any treatment, herbal or otherwise. Some herbs can interact badly with other medication, or cause allergic reactions. So live healthy, maintain health, and consult a doctor before trying any of these herbs.