By Jonathan Evans
Herbal Information Specialist for the Herbarium
Heart health is the traditional subject for February. That means you, dear readers, will be bombarded with all sorts of heart-healthy suggestions in the news, and it falls to me to give you the suggestions that won’t be covered anywhere else. For example, the list of herbs and supplements continues to grow regarding their beneficial effects for cardiovascular health.
Alt medicine’s heart stars
Long time readers and customers are familiar with alternative medicine’s big guns for heart health: Hawthorn berries, leaves and flowers, magnesium, Coenzyme Q10, garlic and Omega-3 fatty acids. Here’s a breakdown of what the big three do:
Hawthorn is a pure cardiotonic for any heart issue. It has a normalizing effect on the heart, increases blood flow to the heart, helps maintain arterial integrity, and stops angina.
Magnesium helps with arrhythmia, blocked arteries and blood pressure.
CoQ10 is important for cellular energy and helpful for congestive heart failure.
Some new players
A recent review of my files and newly published articles shows there is so much more in alternative medicine that can be heart-helpful, from substances with a direct action on the heart to those that help with atherosclerosis, cholesterol, stress and inflammation.
For example carotenoids – the pigments in brightly colored fruits and vegetables, spices such as turmeric, thyme and coriander, green tea, pomegranate, cilantro and vitamin E all exhibit antioxidant activity, among other favorable characteristics.
Common flavorings such as onion and cinnamon help lower blood pressure and blood sugar.
Herbs such as Hibiscus, valerian and Hawthorn, as well as cayenne, cardamom, omega 3, magnesium and garlic lower blood pressure. In addition rosemary, ginger and
Reishi mushrooms help circulation, and fenugreek, garlic, cayenne and ginger help with clogged arteries. Many of these same herbs will help lower your cholesterol to boot.
Dong quai tones and strengthens the heart; Motherwort helps with stress and is great for the “emotional heart.” Cactus and Linden flower are also heart tonics.
Dandelion leaf has diuretic action and is a natural substitute for Lasix, without the potassium leaching and other side effects.
There is so much in nature to help your cardiovascular system, I could write for days. I hope this list gives you some good starting points.
Probiotics and heart health
Here is yet another reason for using a good probiotic. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working with a team from Berlin, Germany, found a high sodium diet can reduce the presence of certain bacterial strains that lead to inflammation and therefore, hypertension. Research showed supplementing with probiotics can restore this imbalance by replenishing the helpful bacteria. The study appeared in the Nov. 15th issue of Nature.
This research comes amid new blood pressure guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, which lower the guidelines for high blood pressure to 130/80, making these findings more pertinent than ever.
Calcium and osteoporosis, again
For regular readers, I ask your indulgence yet again. I have written for years about calcium and the need for magnesium. Every day I have to explain to people that the information they were given about taking more calcium to help with osteoporosis is flat out wrong, and very outdated. The next minute I have to explain that the story they read about too much calcium is also based on poor information.
Let me try to explain one more time. Calcium carbonate, the most common form of calcium is not good for you, especially if you are older, have digestive issues, or are on proton pump inhibitors such as Omeprazole. Calcium carbonate is TUMS, an antacid. You need acid to break down calcium, plus you have to have magnesium to absorb the calcium and to activate the vitamin D that is needed for proper bone building. Magnesium stimulates the hormone calcitonin, which draws calcium from the blood and soft tissue back into the bones and helps preserve bone structure. This helps lower the likelihood of osteoporosis, some forms of arthritis, heart attack and kidney stones.
When choosing a calcium supplement, look for calcium citrate, malate, glycinate or asporotate, but not carbonate. Avoid brand names such as Caltrate or Oscal. The most obvious products containing carbonate come in 600 mg tablets.
Cold weather tip
Finally, with the brutally cold weather we have been experiencing; remember to put cayenne pepper in your boots. Cayenne is a rubefacient and draws blood to the surface. Taken internally it promotes circulation. Put a spoonful in your boots and slip in your dry feet and you will have toasty warm feet in the coldest of weather. If you do not have cayenne, ginger powder is a good alternative. We give this advice to all the police, fire, EMTs and outside workers every year, and they all thank us for the information. You will, too.
— Jonathan
Send questions on botanical remedies to: Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans at herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, MA. 01013. If requesting additional info, include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
