Numerous herbs may be helpful in improving circulation to your feet. According to the Foot Health Facts website, peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is one of the most common causes of poor foot circulation. If you have diabetes, you have a greater likelihood of developing PAD. Certain herbs may helps improve blood flow to your extremities. Before taking herbs to help improve foot circulation, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Ginkgo
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, ginkgo, also known as Ginkgo biloba, has been used to treat a wide variety of health problems. The ginkgo tree is one of the oldest types of trees in the world. Ginkgo has a slightly sour taste. The leaf of the plant is used medicinally. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that ginkgo increases circulation, or blood flow, to your extremities, and head. Tilgner says ginkgo is an antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic that should be considered when microcirculation -- blood flow through your body's smallest blood vessels -- needs to be increased. Before taking ginkgo to help treat poor foot circulation, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Hawthorne
The University of Maryland Medical Center states that hawthorne, also known as Crataegus species, is a common thorny shrub that thrives on hillsides and sunny wooded areas throughout the world. Hawthorne, a member of the rose family, has been used to treat numerous cardiovascular problems, including hardening of your arteries, hypertension and heart failure. According to Ed Smith, a herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," hawthorne is a restorative tonic for your heart and blood vessels. Tilgner notes that hawthorne helps maintain healthy arteries, including your peripheral arteries, or the arteries in your extremities. Before taking hawthorne to help treat your poor foot circulation, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Cayenne
According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, cayenne, also known as Capsicum frutescens or Capsicum annuum, has been used to treat numerous health problems, including circulatory disorders, diabetic neuropathy and elevated cholesterol. The fresh or dry pods with seeds are used medicinally. Tilgner states that cayenne normalizes distribution of blood flow in your body and is particularly beneficial in conditions where your blood needs to be pulled toward your peripheries and away from internal congestion. According to Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," cayenne tends to produce vasodilation, or dilation in your veins and arteries, and has traditionally been used to treat cold feet. Before taking cayenne to help improve your foot circulation, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
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