Vitamin K is an essential vitamin for optimal health. It helps your body produce platelets that coagulate blood, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." It also improves your body's ability to use calcium to maintain strong bone cells. Although your body naturally produces vitamin K, certain herbs can help boost levels of this vitamin in your bloodstream. Talk to your doctor before taking any herb to boost your vitamin K intake.
Alfalfa
Chinese farmers originally used alfalfa as a food source for livestock. However, alfalfa may also offer healing benefits for humans. This herb is a rich source of vitamin K, according to the Herbs 2000 website. The chemical compounds in alfalfa may also lower "bad" blood cholesterol, preventing plaque deposits that can clog your arteries and promote heart disease. Check with your physician if you plan to take alfalfa -- the seeds of this herb contain cananavine, a toxic chemical.
Kelp
Kelp is a sea vegetable that grows along coastal waters of North America, Japan and Europe. This herb is best known as a rich source of iodine, which may help support the production of thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The New Healing Herbs." Kelp may also prevent your thyroid's absorption of toxic chemicals, particularly strontium 90, a radioactive chemical. It is also an abundant source of natural vitamin K. Talk to your doctor before using kelp -- it is high in sodium, which may contribute to high blood pressure.
Nettle
Nettle, a rich herbal source of vitamin K, was used as a replacement for cotton in textile production during World War II. It may also offer healing benefits. Ancient Greek healers recommended this herb as a treatment for scorpion stings and snake bites, according to Castleman. The juice contained in nettle leaves may also help relieve pain associated with gout, a painful condition caused by excess uric acid in your bloodstream. Consult your physician before using nettle as a vitamin K source -- it may cause urination difficulties.
Shepherd's Purse
Ancient Roman and Greek physicians recommended shepherd's purse as a remedy for constipation. This herb has astringent properties that may make it useful for hemorrhoids and wound healing. Shepherd's purse has also been used since the 16th century to improve the coagulation of blood and prevent excess bleeding, according to Castleman. The coagulant properties of shepherd's purse stem from its vitamin K content. Check with your doctor before taking shepherd's purse. In rare cases, this herb may cause diarrhea.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 2010
- Herbs 2000: Alfalfa
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
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