Caring for the Heart the Natural Way

By Valerie Blankenship

(this article was published in the Colorado Springs Health Magazine)

Using herbs and nutrition for the cardiovascular system can be a gentle, effective method of preventing heart problems and maintaining good health throughout a lifetime. But for those who already have heart conditions, herbs can be an excellent alternative, or (in more serious cases) an addition to drug therapy. The key to using herbs for the cardiovascular system is to choose wisely, with purpose. Although choosing the wrong herb for a cold or a viral bug may not cause any problems, choosing the wrong herbs for the cardiovascular system may leave a person without the protection they had counted on.

This article was designed to help educate the consumer about a variety of herbal, vitamin and dietary therapies, and how they can be used to bring about a healthier heart. There are a wide range of herbs and supplements that have little or no toxicity, that can help to strengthen heart function and gradually, over time, help to reduce the underlying weakness and degeneration of the heart.

Many people have diets that are lacking in basic nutrients needed for good heart health. Of all the essential minerals for the cardiovascular system, perhaps the most important is magnesium. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, and a critical component in keeping the heart pumping normally. Magnesium is found in dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and soy. If you choose magnesium supplements, they should be the type that are easily absorbed, or else they will be of little benefit.

CoQ10 is an important nutritional supplement which increases oxygenation to the heart and should be supplemented by anyone who wishes to protect their cardiovascular system. Note: for patients on cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, it is even more important to supplement with CoQ10, as statin drugs actually cause depletion of this supplement! Another important antioxidant for the heart is vitamin E, which should always be taken in the form of mixed tocopherols, as this form is closer to that found in nature. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins that keeps homocystine levels in check. Lowered levels can mean trouble when it comes to the cardiovascular system. Folic acid can be found in dark green leafy vegetables. Selenium is another important mineral for the heart, lacking in the American diet due to the fact that it is deficient in the soil in virtually all of the US, with the exception of the Southwestern states.

Carotenoids are another important nutrient for good heart health. Carotenoids are bioflavonoid compounds that give vegetables their red, orange or yellow colors. Carotenoids not only have a very strong antioxidant effect, they also protect the arteries against artherosclerosis. In addition, they help to maintain a healthy flow of blood. In nature, you will find lutien, beta-carotene, lycopene and a whole range of carotenoids. These are best when ingested in fresh vegetables that contain carotenoids, which include cooked tomatoes, red, orange and yellow peppers, carrots, beets, pumpkins and winter squash. In supplements, they should be taken as mixed caratenoids, rather than individually.

Many Americans do not know what to make of fats. Including good quality fats in the diet, is imperative for lowering and maintaining proper cholesterol and blood lipid levels. Fish oil supplements, containing Omega 3 fatty acids, thin the blood without causing gastric bleeding, as aspirin can. In the American diet, we have too many saturated and poor quality fats, including margarine. All of these should be eliminated as they are highly damaging to the arteries, due to their oxidative effects. But we also have too few of the good fats. Including 3 tablespoons of high quality, virgin olive oil, nut oils or grapeseed oil in our daily diet is as important to our cardiovascular health as eliminating poor quality fats. In addition to these oils, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and nut oils all have a beneficial effect on blood lipids by naturally thinning the blood. Nuts also contain fat-soluble nutrients, including vitamin E, carotenoids, and vitamin K.

One dietary danger that is often ignored by those trying to reduce their cholesterol levels, is the typical American high sugar diet. Having too many refined carbohydrates and sugars in our diet causes cortisol levels to be elevated, which in turn elevates triglyceride levels, putting us at risk of developing heart disease.

Heart Failure - Mild to moderate heart failure will usually respond positively to the use of herbs. The herb that is most effective for this is hawthorn, since it is mild acting but effective, and strengthens the heart. It does not have the strong effect of digitalis drugs, nor does it have the side effects. In most cases, drugs containing digitaloids are not used in cases of arrhythmias. Hawthorn can be used in cases of heart failure, since it doesn’t have any negative effects on arrhythmias, and actually helps to prevent them. In addition, Dong Quai is useful for strengthening the tone of the heart, and is commonly used for congestive heart failure in China. Motherswort can be especially useful, as it slows a rapid heartbeat, and generally improves cardiac activity.

Arthrosclerosis, or placquing of the coronary arteries responds well to hawthorn. In addition, reishi, which like hawthorn has cardio-protective activity, improves blood flow to the heart, and eases pain from angina. Astragalus, generally thought to be an immune herb, is used extensively in Chinese medicine for increasing cardiac output. In addition, it also reduces angina. One of the herbs that is always used for clogged arteries is garlic, which besides reducing cholesterol, has a very strong protective effect on the heart and circulatory system.

Cardiac arrhythmia is a serious health concern where there is an irregular heartbeat, which can lead to heart attack. Hawthorn, CoQ10 and magnesium can all be used to normalize irregular heartbeat. Angelica Archangelica contains at least 14 different anti-arrhythmic compounds, one of which is said to be as active as Verapamil, a popular calcium channel blocker. Garlic is another potent anti-arrhythmic agent.

For mild to moderate hypertension, herbs can be very effective. Hawthorn, as usual, is definitely useful for this heart condition. In addition, fresh garlic can be used here as well. In dealing with the stress aspect of hypertension, many herbs can be taken, including motherswort, which slows a rapid heartbeat, and generally improves cardiac activity. It also helps to tranquilize the nervous system, reducing the anxiety, nervous tension and stress that may trigger hypertension. Valerian is also useful here, and besides its ability to relieve stress, it also lowers blood pressure, increasing blood flow to the heart and improving the heart’s ability to pump efficiently. Diuretics are often indicated in cases of hypertension to decrease blood pressure. A common diuretic drug used in hypertension is Lacix, which causes a loss of potassium. Dandelion leaf is an effective herbal diuretic which is non-irritating and potassium sparing, and does not cause the side effects that lacix causes.

Although many herbs can safely be used instead of, or in combination with medications, remember to exercise caution when combining the two. (see sidebar: Caution! Side effects from taking herbs and drugs together) Remember, your herbalist or holistic practitioner is not an expert in administering drugs and recognizing the side effects that can occur from using medications. On the flip side, your doctor is usually not the best source for accurate information regarding administering herbs. Working together, the combination of traditional and western medicine can offer the safest and most beneficial decisions regarding your heart health.

Some Important Heart-Friendly Herbs

Probably the most important herb used for heart health is hawthorn. Hawthorn is considered to be an “amphoteric” herb, meaning that it normalizes heart function. It is actually considered by herbalists to be a “food for the heart,” making it appropriate for any type of heart or circulatory condition. Studies on hawthorn have shown that it helps prevent all types of heart problems by gently strengthening and tonifying the heart’s muscle. In addition, it improves blood circulation through the heart, reducing the heart’s need for oxygen. It also helps the heart circulate blood with less effort. Arteriosclerosis, angina, mild to moderate congestive heart failure, or the prevention of myocardial infarction, hypertension, mytrovalve prolapse, for all of these conditions, hawthorn is indicated.

One thing to note about hawthorn is that although hawthorn berries are traditionally used, hawthorn flowers are more active than the berries, so they are best when taken together. Caution: hawthorn is so effective at strengthening the heart, that taking hawthorn with digitaloids-containing or beta-blocking drugs, you can actually increase the efficiency of heart medications. Working with your doctor and your herbalist, it is possible that you can lower the amount of your heart medications. This can be a beneficial thing, because your need for the drug will actually be reduced, and there are substantial side effects from these drugs.

Garlic is one of the most important herbs for heart health. Studies on steamed, aged, and extracted garlic have gotten mixed reviews. That is because taking fresh garlic is by far the most effective method for reducing cholesterol. Fresh garlic should be chopped up and allowed to sit for 10-15 minutes so that an oxidative process takes place where the active constituents are allowed to develop. Try mincing the garlic and swallow it down with water, like a pill. Or, you can eat slices of garlic with an apple, or incorporate it into your foods right before serving. Children can take it with honey. Other foods containing high amounts of allicin are onions, shallots, leeks, and ramps; they are all blood lipid-lowering foods and have beneficial effects on cardio function, although none are as beneficial as garlic.

Cactus, or Celanicerus grandiflorus, is similar to hawthorn, but it is a little bit less of a tonifier, and is slightly more active medicinally. In fact, the combination of hawthorn and cactus together for people with something like congestive heart failure, is MUCH more effective than hawthorn by itself. Be careful when choosing an extract of this useful herb. Many companies do not carry the correct species, which is grandiflorus, and the results are that it can be quite a bit less active. Cactus is appropriate for a number of heart conditions. One of those conditions is “athlete’s heart,” which is where people push themselves beyond their body’s capacity, and this has had a negative effect on their heart. It is also used for “tobacco heart” which is a condition in long-term smokers where their heart loses the ability to maintain a strong electrical contraction. In addition, it can be used for fatty degeneration of the heart.

Caution!

Side effects from taking herbs and drugs together. There are relatively few contraindications when adding the herbs mentioned in these articles to your drug regimen. Although effective, all of the herbs mentioned have a relatively mild effect on the system and it is unlikely that there would be any side effects. However, when taking any herbs with medications, it is always best to start with very small doses and build up over a course of 2-3 weeks to the normal dose while under the supervision of your doctor and a trained herbalist. If you have any side effects over the course of the building period, discontinue the herbs.

A Little More Salt Please…

Generally, people consider reducing sodium when they have hypertension. But sodium is actually not to blame for high blood pressure. Sodium chloride, which table salt is made from, also contains aluminum salts, sugar and other agents, which are unnatural and can cause high blood pressure. Foods naturally high in sodium, such as seaweeds, however, can be beneficial at actually lowering blood pressure and can help to bring about suppleness in blood vessels made brittle by table salt. These seaweeds are available in health food and herb stores, and include kelp, bladderwrack, nori or dulse as well as many others. They can be sprinkled in place of table salt on nearly any food, or can be added to soups.