There are many herbs that benefit the heart and circulatory system, including many of the herbs
listed in other chapters. For now, we’ll focus on three herbs. All are right in your own kitchen.
Garlic, cayenne, and ginger are inexpensive and easily obtained seasonings packed with hearthealthy
nutrients.
Garlic (Allium sativa)
Scientists have extensively studied garlic over the last four decades. It lowers the risk of heart
disease, helps to reduce LDL cholesterol, and to increase HDL cholesterol. Garlic can also
help to reduce triglycerides. Did you know that garlic reduces blood pressure and is helpful in
the prevention of the hardening of the arteries called atherosclerosis?
Garlic helps keep the blood flowing freely throughout the peripheral circulatory system. Some
people have leg cramps due to poor circulation in the legs, and garlic can be helpful in
preventing this painful condition.
A clove of garlic daily is beneficial for heart health. Garlic provides multiple health benefits,
including mood-regulating functions, improving the flow of bile, and hormone production. It
can also help to expel pinworms. Because it’s metabolized partially by the respiratory system,
garlic is especially beneficial for respiratory ills. It’s rich in antioxidants, iodine, and sulfur.
Blood clots can cause a lot of problems in the body. For example, when a blood clot lodges in
the brain, a stroke can occur. When blood clots lodge in the heart, a heart attack can result.
Yet, if you consume a substance such as garlic on a regular basis, then you’re preventing the
formation of these blood clots. Can you see how this lowly herb can be a powerful medicine?
Garlic’s relatives, such as onions, shallots, leeks, and chives, all contain similar constituents,
but to a lesser degree. Garlic has been a popular folk medicine for centuries. In some
societies, garlic was worn around the neck to fight off evil and disease. In fact, the disease part
of the tradition actually worked! One of the keys to this is allicin, a natural antibiotic that’s
found in garlic.
Garlic is best used fresh or lightly cooked. For people who don’t like to eat garlic, try putting
the garlic pieces between your toes overnight with the help of a sock. The healing properties of
garlic are quickly absorbed through the skin. You’ll be able to tell that it’s working because
the person will exhale garlic breath.
If you’re afraid of having garlic breath, you can find commercially available odor-free
supplements. Check with your health care provider before you start increasing your intake of
garlic if you’re on blood thinners or a surgery is planned, as garlic possesses anticoagulant
characteristics.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger is one of my favorite herbs. Who knew that gingerbread cookies could be healthy when
real ginger is used?
Fresh ginger and dried ginger both have medicinal properties; however, fresh ginger is the
most potent. If you aren’t going to use fresh ginger in great quantities, keep it in the freezer.
Have you ever had candied ginger? It’s available for purchase at health food stores. When I
was a nurse at a student health center, I used to keep some in a jar—the students would stop by
and eat some if they had upset stomachs or stuffed-up heads. It’s very tasty.
Ginger is considered a stimulating herb: it gets the blood flowing. This prevents blood clots
from forming and aids the functioning of the heart. This action also reduces high blood
pressure.
Ginger is also a warming herb. It’s been studied for use with nausea associated with pregnancy
and chemotherapy, and it works for any sort of nausea and motion sickness.
Ginger benefits the entire body, but it has particular affinity for the circulatory, respiratory,
reproductive, and digestive systems. It can relieve cramps, and it’s even been used to treat
osteoarthritis.
I use ginger in many blends. Ginger and other stimulant herbs serve to activate and potentiate
the healing effects of the other herbs that they are blended with. Ginger is especially useful
because of its flavor, which can mask the taste of less palatable herbs.
You can grow a ginger plant in a pot by covering a 1-1/2-inch piece of a root of ginger with
soil and watering well.
Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum annuum, and others)
Fiery cayenne pepper is the ultimate warming herb. It increases the strength of the heart’s
contraction without increasing blood pressure. It may help prevent heart attacks, and it lowers
cholesterol. It also has antispasmodic, antibacterial, and astringent properties. Cayenne
prevents platelets from clumping and causing harmful blood clots.
Cayenne has been used externally and internally to relieve cluster headaches, nerve pain, and
joint pain. It’s also used as an antiseptic wash.
Cayenne is a rich source of vitamin C, which benefits digestion. You can use it topically to
treat nerve pain. You should feel a warmth in the joints after applying the topical cayenne, but
it might take a couple weeks for long-term benefit, so give it some time.
Cayenne can relieve pain associated with herpes infections, including shingles. It has also
been used to treat psoriasis, osteoarthritis, and diabetic neuropathy.
Use cayenne with care, as it is very hot. Opt for the lower strength cayenne peppers at first,
and only proceed to the higher strength formulas after you’re used to these lower strength
formulas. For example, start out with the 25,000 HU (heat units) or BTU (British Thermal
Units) strength and then proceed to increase it to 45,000.
You really don’t have to worry about burns if you use the lower strength formulas unless you
use cayenne topically on open skin. Using cayenne on an open wound wouldn’t be too smart.
However, use common sense. Do you have ulcers? Then don’t use it—it’s too powerful for
you!
Do you have hemorrhoids? What goes in hot comes out hot, and there can be some pain with
hemorrhoids when you take cayenne. However, is it harming you? No. In fact, it’s probably
healing up the condition. It’s just easier on the body to use a more soothing herb for something
like hemorrhoids.
People with digestive ills should consult with their health care provider before employing
therapeutic amounts of cayenne. You should also speak with a health professional if you are
taking MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) medications or ACE (angiotensin-converting
enzyme) inhibitors.
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus mexicana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus
pinnatifida, and others) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum
erythrospermum)
Hawthorn berry is an herb that can be obtained from an herb shop, or you may gather the
berries in the fall if they grow in your area. These berries are rich in antioxidants, and help
your body regulate blood pressure. It relaxes the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the
heart itself, and dilates major blood vessels.
Hawthorn berry is generally a very safe herb. Always check with your health care provider
before using it if you take digoxin or any other medications, as any herb can potentiate the
effects of a drug. It takes about two weeks for the benefits of consuming hawthorn for blood
pressure reduction to be seen.
Dandelion leaf is a wonderful herb that’s rich in nutrients. It has diuretic properties but, unlike
diuretic drugs, it doesn’t deplete the body of potassium. Dandelion is a rich source of the
mineral.
listed in other chapters. For now, we’ll focus on three herbs. All are right in your own kitchen.
Garlic, cayenne, and ginger are inexpensive and easily obtained seasonings packed with hearthealthy
nutrients.
Garlic (Allium sativa)
Scientists have extensively studied garlic over the last four decades. It lowers the risk of heartdisease, helps to reduce LDL cholesterol, and to increase HDL cholesterol. Garlic can also
help to reduce triglycerides. Did you know that garlic reduces blood pressure and is helpful in
the prevention of the hardening of the arteries called atherosclerosis?
Garlic helps keep the blood flowing freely throughout the peripheral circulatory system. Some
people have leg cramps due to poor circulation in the legs, and garlic can be helpful in
preventing this painful condition.
A clove of garlic daily is beneficial for heart health. Garlic provides multiple health benefits,
including mood-regulating functions, improving the flow of bile, and hormone production. It
can also help to expel pinworms. Because it’s metabolized partially by the respiratory system,
garlic is especially beneficial for respiratory ills. It’s rich in antioxidants, iodine, and sulfur.
Blood clots can cause a lot of problems in the body. For example, when a blood clot lodges in
the brain, a stroke can occur. When blood clots lodge in the heart, a heart attack can result.
Yet, if you consume a substance such as garlic on a regular basis, then you’re preventing the
formation of these blood clots. Can you see how this lowly herb can be a powerful medicine?
Garlic’s relatives, such as onions, shallots, leeks, and chives, all contain similar constituents,
but to a lesser degree. Garlic has been a popular folk medicine for centuries. In some
societies, garlic was worn around the neck to fight off evil and disease. In fact, the disease part
of the tradition actually worked! One of the keys to this is allicin, a natural antibiotic that’s
found in garlic.
Garlic is best used fresh or lightly cooked. For people who don’t like to eat garlic, try putting
the garlic pieces between your toes overnight with the help of a sock. The healing properties of
garlic are quickly absorbed through the skin. You’ll be able to tell that it’s working because
the person will exhale garlic breath.
If you’re afraid of having garlic breath, you can find commercially available odor-free
supplements. Check with your health care provider before you start increasing your intake of
garlic if you’re on blood thinners or a surgery is planned, as garlic possesses anticoagulant
characteristics.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger is one of my favorite herbs. Who knew that gingerbread cookies could be healthy when
real ginger is used?
Fresh ginger and dried ginger both have medicinal properties; however, fresh ginger is themost potent. If you aren’t going to use fresh ginger in great quantities, keep it in the freezer.
Have you ever had candied ginger? It’s available for purchase at health food stores. When I
was a nurse at a student health center, I used to keep some in a jar—the students would stop by
and eat some if they had upset stomachs or stuffed-up heads. It’s very tasty.
Ginger is considered a stimulating herb: it gets the blood flowing. This prevents blood clots
from forming and aids the functioning of the heart. This action also reduces high blood
pressure.
Ginger is also a warming herb. It’s been studied for use with nausea associated with pregnancy
and chemotherapy, and it works for any sort of nausea and motion sickness.
Ginger benefits the entire body, but it has particular affinity for the circulatory, respiratory,
reproductive, and digestive systems. It can relieve cramps, and it’s even been used to treat
osteoarthritis.
I use ginger in many blends. Ginger and other stimulant herbs serve to activate and potentiate
the healing effects of the other herbs that they are blended with. Ginger is especially useful
because of its flavor, which can mask the taste of less palatable herbs.
You can grow a ginger plant in a pot by covering a 1-1/2-inch piece of a root of ginger with
soil and watering well.
Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum annuum, and others)
Fiery cayenne pepper is the ultimate warming herb. It increases the strength of the heart’scontraction without increasing blood pressure. It may help prevent heart attacks, and it lowers
cholesterol. It also has antispasmodic, antibacterial, and astringent properties. Cayenne
prevents platelets from clumping and causing harmful blood clots.
Cayenne has been used externally and internally to relieve cluster headaches, nerve pain, and
joint pain. It’s also used as an antiseptic wash.
Cayenne is a rich source of vitamin C, which benefits digestion. You can use it topically to
treat nerve pain. You should feel a warmth in the joints after applying the topical cayenne, but
it might take a couple weeks for long-term benefit, so give it some time.
Cayenne can relieve pain associated with herpes infections, including shingles. It has also
been used to treat psoriasis, osteoarthritis, and diabetic neuropathy.
Use cayenne with care, as it is very hot. Opt for the lower strength cayenne peppers at first,
and only proceed to the higher strength formulas after you’re used to these lower strength
formulas. For example, start out with the 25,000 HU (heat units) or BTU (British Thermal
Units) strength and then proceed to increase it to 45,000.
You really don’t have to worry about burns if you use the lower strength formulas unless you
use cayenne topically on open skin. Using cayenne on an open wound wouldn’t be too smart.
However, use common sense. Do you have ulcers? Then don’t use it—it’s too powerful for
you!
Do you have hemorrhoids? What goes in hot comes out hot, and there can be some pain with
hemorrhoids when you take cayenne. However, is it harming you? No. In fact, it’s probably
healing up the condition. It’s just easier on the body to use a more soothing herb for something
like hemorrhoids.
People with digestive ills should consult with their health care provider before employing
therapeutic amounts of cayenne. You should also speak with a health professional if you are
taking MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) medications or ACE (angiotensin-converting
enzyme) inhibitors.
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus mexicana, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus
pinnatifida, and others) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum
erythrospermum)
Hawthorn berry is an herb that can be obtained from an herb shop, or you may gather theberries in the fall if they grow in your area. These berries are rich in antioxidants, and help
your body regulate blood pressure. It relaxes the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the
heart itself, and dilates major blood vessels.
Hawthorn berry is generally a very safe herb. Always check with your health care provider
before using it if you take digoxin or any other medications, as any herb can potentiate the
effects of a drug. It takes about two weeks for the benefits of consuming hawthorn for blood
pressure reduction to be seen.
Dandelion leaf is a wonderful herb that’s rich in nutrients. It has diuretic properties but, unlike
diuretic drugs, it doesn’t deplete the body of potassium. Dandelion is a rich source of the
mineral.
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