Ayurveda is a system of medicine native to India. Ayurveda is thought to be one of the oldest healing systems in the world, dating back more than 5,000 years. In this system of medicine, natural products, including foods and herbs, are prescribed based on a person's dosha, or constitution. The three doshas, which are often imbalanced in disease states, are treated with natural substances to create balance or health. Ayurvedic herbs used for the heart are often specific to a condition, but based on tradition will also carry an affinity to a certain dosha.
Guggul
Guggul, also known by its traditional Ayurvedic name Commiphora mukul is an oil-based extract from a plant native to India. The reduction of high cholesterol is one of main heart healthy benefits of this Ayurvedic herb. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that guggul has been found to be as effective as the conventional cholesterol-lowering medication colfibrate. The herb appears to act on the liver by reducing overall cholesterol production in the body, with mostly mild gastrointestinal complaints noted as the only side effect. Guggul may interact with other medications therefore discussion with your health-care practitioner before use is advised. MSKCC says guggul's effectiveness in a suggested dose of 50mg twice per day.
Coleus
Coleus forskholii is named after its Finnish botanist, Forskal, but it is a long-standing traditional herb of the Ayurvedic healing system, according to a 2006 Alternative Medicine Review article. The herb has an affinity to the heart and has been used both traditionally and conventionally as a medicinal treatment for hypertension and congestive heart failure. By relaxing the smooth muscle lining of the blood vessels, forskolin, the active ingredient in coleus, effectively lowers high blood pressure. Forskolin also improves heart muscle energetics by strengthening each contraction, while additionally providing blood-thinning qualities. Coleus is relatively safe but can interact with other medications and should be discussed with a doctor before use.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is commonly known for its calming and stress-reducing effects. A 2000 Alternative Medicine Review article says that its calming effects are partly due to the effects that it has on the heart and lungs. Some of the heart-healthy qualities about this herb are its capacity to lower blood pressure for a significant period of time and to slow the pace of the heartbeat. Considered a tonifying or overall supportive herb in the Ayurvedic system of health, ashwagandha also has anti-inflammatory, cancer-preventive and immune-boosting properties. This herb should be discussed with a physician before use.
Amla
Amla is a fruit of the Ayurvedic tradition and also goes by the common name Indian gooseberry. The fruit, according to a 2009 Botany Research International journal article, is one of the richest food sources of vitamin C. Amla's supreme antioxidant quality provides the basis of its heart-healthy profile. It may protect the systemic and coronary arteries from free-radical damage occurring after a heart attack or stroke as well as from the secondary effects of diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease.
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