Getting To The Heart Of The Matter With Herbal Supplements

With heart disease being the number one cause of death in Americans and high blood pressure being the “silent killer,” high homocysteine levels are considered by most researchers to be as dangerous as high cholesterol levels.  An aging heart is proven to be less efficient and much more likely to develop disease.  Thankfully, certain nutrients and specialty compounds may help to promote healthy blood pressure, homocysteine levels and heart function, which ultimately exert a positive impact on heart disease. 

One of the most significant remedies in traditional medicine is Dansheng, which has historically been associated with the circulatory and cardiovascular systems consequently, leaving it to be recommended for conditions surrounding the blood and heart.  Many studies have shown that dansheng dilated coronary arteries, increased coronary blood flow, and scavenged free radicals in ischemic diseases, which reduce the cellular damage from ischemia and improve heart conditions.  Studies have proven that dansheng can improve the ischemic state of the myocardium by dilating the coronary vessels and, in turn, decreasing serum lipid peroxides and increasing levels of SOD in patients with coronary heart disease. 

These effects could potentially be associated with dansheng’s ability to inhibit platelet aggregation, reduce blood viscosity, improve myocardial ischemia, and protect the cytomembrane.  Dansheng has even been shown to effectively improve and protect myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease who are undergoing non-heart surgery. 

Hawthorn has traditionally been used as a cardiac tonic, and current used for it include treatment of angina, hypertension, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure.  Research has shown that it may improve cardiac muscular contractions and blood flow in coronary arteries.  The use of hawthorn has been validated by Germany’s Commission E, in which it was reported that hawthorn improves subjective findings as well as increases heart work tolerance, and decreases blood pressure/heart rate.  Similarly, clinical research has confirmed that hawthorn is beneficial in treating mild congestive heart failure.  Regarding angina, hawthorn extract, when taken three times per day, improves heart function and exercise tolerance in angina patients. 

Garlic has also shown significant contributions toward cardiovascular health.  Garlic’s lipid-lowering effects, which have been proven in six randomized, double blind studies.  Garlic also has an anti-hypertensive effect, which was proven in two randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies.  A review and meta-analysis of randomized trials was conducted to determine the effects of garlic on blood pressure.  Of seven trials comparing the effects of garlic to a placebo, three demonstrated a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and four in diastolic blood pressure. 

Garlic has also been shown to have a positive impact on platelet function.  Garlic’s ability to prevent and possibly reverse atherosclerosis was tested in one of the longest clinical trials on garlic to date.  After four years, subjects experienced an average reduction in plaque volume of about 2.6 percent, while the placebo group increased in plaque volume by 15.6 percent. This allowed researchers to conclude that garlic has a preventative and potentially curative role in arteriosclerosis therapy.

Finally, cayenne also has a history of traditional use for its ability to simulate circulation.  Traditionally used as a catalyst herb in herbal combination formulas, cayenne’s stimulant effects sped up circulation and thus aid in absorption.  This herb increased absorption ability is believed to be due to the fact that cayenne can draw blood to the intestinal walls aiding in food digestion and absorption in the intestinal tract.  Whether you choose dansheng, hawthorn berry, garlic, or cayenne in single or herbal combination, you can go wrong by choosing natural herbal formulas to help restore heart function and prevent heart disease.