Hypertension, or high blood pressure, may take years to develop, or may be a result of a serious underlying condition. Uncontrolled hypertension can damage the arteries, heart and kidneys and lead to aneurysm, heart attack, metabolic syndrome and...
The body thins blood naturally by using various enzymes, and thickens it by using platelets. However, due to an imbalance of these properties, the blood may thicken in a blood vessel, creating a solid mass known as a blood clot. These clots can...
Certain vitamins and herbs have anti-coagulant properties, meaning that they help to reduce or prevent blood clotting. These include vitamin B6 and vitamin E as well as herbs and foods that contain salicylates, or natural blood thinners; coumarin,...
Your circulatory system moves blood carrying vital nutrients, minerals and oxygen throughout the body. When you eat a poor diet high in fat and cholesterol, for example, your blood circulation slows down, leading to serious health complications....
Coumadin, an anticoagulant, is the most frequently prescribed oral medication to treat disorders involving blood clots, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Coumadin works as a blood thinner by inhibiting the action of vitamin K...
Affecting millions of people annually, this seasonal allergy results in nose and eye irritation from pollen, dust or dander in the air. Frequently occurring during the spring and fall when plants pollinate, hay fever can last throughout the year...
Curcumin is the principal antioxidant phytochemical compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa), a staple dietary spice commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine. Based on historical anecdotes and contemporary scientific research, as...
Garlic is an edible bulb that has been used for medicinal purposes and as a spice for thousands of years, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Garlic can be enjoyed raw or cooked in a variety of recipes....
Green tea is derived from the plant Camellia sinensis. Hundreds of millions of people around the world drink green tea both as beverage and as medicine. Green tea may decrease platelet aggregation. While this may be beneficial, reducing the body's...
Onions may not be one of the most flavorful or colorful vegetables around, but their nutritional profiles give them excellent health value. The veggies are low in calories and fat and contain a collection of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Some...
Prostatitis is a grouping of conditions that affect the prostate. The most common form is chronic prostatitis, or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Not much is known about this condition, but it's often the result of inflammation to the prostate. Even...
Brown seaweed supplements are made from Laminaria japonica or fucus vesiculosus also known as bladderwrack. Some alternative health practitioners recommend brown seaweed for obesity, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, asthma, disorders...
The human body has a rapid and effective mechanism to deal with the unexpected loss of blood. Called coagulation, or blood clotting, this process depends on a series of events and the presence of several different proteins, enzymes, calcium and...
Pineapple is a tropical fruit endogenous to South America. It contains numerous vitamins such as vitamin C and B1, minerals such as manganese and enzymatic proteins. Bromelaine is proteolytic enzyme found in the stem and core of the pineapple. It...
Zingiber officinale, known as ginger, adds bite to stir-fry, cookies and tea, and is also used for medicinal purposes. Ginger as an herbal remedy is perhaps best known for its effectiveness in relieving nausea, but it also shows potential for...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious disorder and a major risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease and kidney disease. Conventional treatment may include diuretics to eliminate excess salt and water, beta blockers to dilate...
With up to 600,000 Americans developing blood clots each year and 100,000 deaths, according to the Surgeon General, it's important to find ways to help treat and prevent the condition. Many people take blood-thinning drugs to prevent blood...
Kombu is the name for a mixture of brown seaweeds of the genus Laminaria. It is a rich source of both iodine and iron but has fewer vitamins than nori, the seaweed eaten with sushi. Traditional Asian medicine has long regarded kombu as having...
Warfarin (Coumadin) is an anticoagulant medication used for the prevention and treatment of blood clots. It is currently the only anticoagulant that can be taken by mouth rather than by injection in the U.S, making it a commonly used medication....
Peptides are a protein component composed of two or more amino acids bonded in a chain and encrypted into the protein molecule. Most dietary peptides remain inactive while contained in sequence within their respective parent proteins and are only...
Certain dietary supplements may be helpful in cleansing your arteries. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, plaque -- a combination of fat, cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissue -- can accumulate on the inner lining of your...
The Food and Drug Administration approves the marketing of prescription drugs after reviewing their safety and efficacy based on clinical studies. However, it is common to discover in post-marketing that some of these drugs have dangers that can...
Numerous herbs may help treat major depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression is one of five principle types of depression. Major depression is a sometimes-disabling condition that interferes with your...
If you have a history of heart disease or have significant risk factors, your health care provider may prescribe clopidogrel bisulfate, also known as Plavix, to prevent blood clots from forming in your circulatory system. Because heart attacks...
If you are on blood-thinning medications or vitamin K therapy, it is necessary to know the levels of vitamin K in foods. Known as the clotting vitamin, its primary role is to prevent you from bleeding to death. Garlic is an herb commonly used in...
Bad cholesterol, also called low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is a substance that helps transport lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides through the blood. It is called "bad" because LDL is involved in atherosclerosis, the formation of plaques,...
Eicosapentaenoic acid is one of the main omega-3 fatty acids. Fat, also known as fatty acids, is needed in the diet to help absorb nutrients, aid in nerve transmission and maintain cell membrane integrity. However, excess amounts of fat lead to...
Ginger is a plant that grows in tropical climates. The root, or rhizome, is used both in cooking and for medicinal purposes. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have long prescribed ginger for nausea and vomiting. According to a 2007...
Hawthorn, a large thorny shrub native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, produces prolific quantities of bright-red berry-size fruit. Hawthorn stems, leaves and fruit are used to make medicinal preparations, famed in traditional herbal...
