Numerous herbs may be effective for heart failure. According to the Texas Heart Institute, congestive heart failure, or heart failure, is a condition in which your heart is not pumping as well as it should. If you have heart failure, your heart is unable to pump sufficient amounts of oxygen-rich blood to your body's cells, tissues and organs. Before taking herbs to help treat your heart failure, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Hawthorne
Hawthorne is an herb that may be helpful for treating your heart failure. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC, hawthorne, also known as Crataegus monogyna, has been used as a digestive aid in traditional Chinese medicine, but is currently used to treat heart failure, angina, atherosclerosis and hypertension, or elevated blood pressure. The MSKCC states that hawthorne is believed to cause a dilation of smooth muscle in your coronary arteries that decreases their resistance to blood flow and increases blood flow to your heart. According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," hawthorne is a diuretic, astringent, antioxidant, cardiotonic and cardioprotective medicine that is helpful for heart failure, hypertension and coronary artery disease. Before taking hawthorne to help treat your heart failure, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Cactus
Cactus is an herb that may be beneficial for treating heart failure. Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," states that cactus, also known as Selenicereus grandiflorus or night blooming cereus, treats numerous cardiovascular problems, including irregular pulse, valvular lesions, slow heart rate and aortic regurgitation. Cactus may also be effective for treating heart failure. The flowers of the plant are used medicinally, and the constituents of this plant include cactoid and cactine. According to Tilgner, cactus is a diuretic and stimulating cardiac tonic that acts upon the circular muscle fibers of your heart and arterioles to treat cardiac incompetence, heart failure, cardiac weakness, mitral insufficiency and angina. Before taking cactus to help treat your heart failure, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the valley is an herb that may be effective for treating your heart failure. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, lily of the valley, also known as Convallaria majalis, is a flowering plant whose flowers, fruit, and leaves contain poisonous ingredients. The rhizomes, or underground stem, of the plant is used medicinally. Tilgner states that lily of the valley is a diuretic and cardiac tonic that increases your coronary circulation and myocardial, or heart, action. Lily of the valley is specific for congestive heart failure, angina, endocarditis, mitral insufficiency, heart palpitations and irregular pulse. A toxic dose of this herb, notes Tilgner, may cause nausea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension. Before taking lily of the valley to help treat your heart failure, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
