Heart disease refers to a variety of conditions that affect your heart muscles and coronary arteries, which are the primary arteries that supply blood to your circulatory system. These conditions include heart failure; high blood pressure; and arrhythmia, or irregular heart contractions. Heart disease may lead to heart attack or stroke. Left untreated, it can be fatal. Although herbal therapy cannot replace conventional medical treatment, certain herbs may help treat heart disease. Check with your physician before using any herb to treat heart disease.
Step 1
Add chopped, crushed or diced garlic to soups, stir-fry dishes, rice, casseroles and soups. This herb contains two chemicals called ajoene and allicin, which may help thin your blood and lower blood pressure and may ease the workload on your heart muscles. Talk to your doctor before treating heart disease with garlic. This herb may impair your body's ability to clot blood and heal skin wounds.
Step 2
Blend fresh tarragon in sauces and marinades. Tarragon has a long history of use as an analgesic, but it may also help prevent heart disease. Rutin, the active chemical compound in this herb, may help strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries and may help clear plaque from your arteries, improving blood circulation and easing strain on your heart. Consult your physician if you plan to use tarragon to ease the effects of heart disease. Tarragon also contains estragole, a chemical that may promote the growth of cancerous tumors, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The Healing Herbs."
Step 3
Add grated ginger to stir-fry dishes, soups and curries. The chemical compounds contained in the roots of this herb may help lower blood cholesterol, reducing the risk of arterial blockages that can cause stroke or heart attack, says Castleman. It may also reduce blood pressure and dissolve internal blood clots. Check with your physician before treating heart problems with ginger. In rare cases, this herb may cause heartburn.
Step 4
Chop up some red peppers to put into entrees and side dishes. Capsaicin, the chemical compound that lends intense heat to these peppers, may help dilate your arteries and blood vessels. It may also reduce blood cholesterol levels, improving blood flow in your circulatory system, notes Castleman. Call your doctor if you plan to use red pepper to treat heart disease. Although side effects are rare, this herb may cause stomach upset.
Tips and Warnings
- Adopt a diet low in saturated fats and sodium to augment the healing properties of herbs. Sodium and saturated fats may contribute to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which can worsen the effects of heart disease.
Things You'll Need
- Garlic
- Tarragon
- Ginger
- Red pepper
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 1997
- "The Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 1991
