Supplements That Clean The Arteries

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 arteries over time, leading to atherosclerosis and impaired blood flow throughout your body. Before taking supplements to help clean your arteries, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.

Ginger

Ginger, also known as Zingiber officinalis, is an herbal supplement that may be helpful in cleansing your arteries. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, ginger, a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is used as both a food and a medicine. Ginger is a tropical plant cultivated in South Asia, East Africa and the Caribbean, has a spicy taste and possesses heating, stimulating and drying tendencies. The root of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that ginger is a hypolipidemic, cardiotonic and anti-atherosclerotic, or a substance that combats the accumulation of plaque in your blood vessels. Ginger, notes Tilgner, has been shown to reduce your blood pressure and decrease your risk for arteriosclerosis, or hardening of your arteries.

Hawthorn

Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that herbal supplements containing hawthorn are restorative tonics for your heart and blood vessels, help normalize your blood pressure and improve blood flow through your coronary arteries, or the blood vessels that deliver blood to your heart. Tilgner notes that hawthorn, a member of the Rose family, is an antioxidant, cardiotonic and cardioprotective that has been used to help treat numerous heart and blood vessel conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension and cerebral circulatory disturbances. Hawthorn, also known as Crataegus species, is a common thorny shrub that grows to a maximum height of 5 feet. Hawthorn thrives in sunny hillsides and wooded areas around the world. Practitioners of botanical medicine use the flowers, leaves and berries of the plant medicinally.

Garlic

Garlic is a perennial plant native to Central Asia that is now cultivated throughout the world for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Garlic, a member of the Lily family, has a warm, pungent taste, possesses heating, stimulating and drying tendencies and can grow to a height of about 2 feet. The cloves of the plant are used to help treat numerous health problems, including blood vessel conditions. According to Tilgner, garlic is an antithrombotic, hypotensive and hypogylcemic that is used to help decrease plaque in atherosclerosis. Garlic may also be used to help treat infectious conditions, high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease and diabetes. Smith notes that garlic is helpful in treating fatty deposits and arteriosclerosis, or hardening of your arteries. Tilgner cautions that some people may experience gastrointestinal disturbance when taking herbal supplements containing garlic.