Medicinal Herbs

The Circulatory Syatem

Heart Tonics

The most important herbal agents for the heart include Bugleweed, Figwort, Hawthorn Berries, Lily of the Valley, Motherwort and Night Blooming Cereus. By far the most important one on the list is Lily of the Valley.

Lily of the Valley: This can be used where the strength of the heart is insufficient, as in angina or in the treatment of the ageing heart, especially when there are deposits in the blood vessels.

Night Blooming Cereus: This can be used similarly to Lily of the Valley and is especially useful where there is any change in the rhythm of the heartbeat.

Hawthorn Berries: These constitute one of the most valuable remedies for the cardiovascular system, strengthening the force of the contraction of the heart muscle while also acting to dilate the vessels of the coronary circulation. They can be used in most circula­tory problems as they are amphoteric  (i.e. they will relax or stimulate the heart according to its need) and normalize the heart function.

Motherwort: This herb is a relaxing nervine and a valuable   emmenagogue. Its value for the circula­tory system is noted in its Latin name, Leonurus cardiaca. It will greatly strengthen   and normalize the function of the heart.   

Figwort: Although this is primarily an herb known for skin problems, it also increases the strength of the heart contractions.

Bugleweed:  Whilst this herb increases the strength of the heartbeat it also reduces its rate. It is a valuable relaxant as well.

 

Herbs For Circulation: The most important herbal agents for the circula­tion include Cayenne, Dandelion, Ginger, Hawthorn, Horse chestnut, Linden Blossom, Mistletoe and Yarrow. As you can see, some of these are also heart tonics, 'while some are diaphoretics and stimulate the peripheral circulation (Cayenne, Ginger), and yet others are diuretics (Yarrow). 

 

Diuretics: There is often a need to aid the body in the removal of water from the system. When the heart is weak and fails to circulate the blood efficiently through the kidneys a build-up of water in parts of the body can occur and in such conditions diuretics such as Dandelion, Lily of the Valley and Yarrow can help. The most important diuretic for circulatory problems is Dandelion. When any other remedy is used to increase the power of the heart, there is always the danger of causing a potassium deficiency, which would aggravate the condition. Dandelion contains a high level of potassium, avoiding this problem. The cardio-active herb Lily of the Valley is included here because Lily of the Valley also acts as a strong diuretic if the root of the problem lies in the heart.

 

Nervines: Anxiety and stress can lead to cardiovascular problems, and it is often impossible to pinpoint any particular cause. Whenever there is a cardiovascular problem, the use of relaxing nervines has to be considered.The most useful nervines for cardiovascular problems are Lemon Balm, Hops, Linden Blossom, Motherwort, Skullcap and Valerian. 

 

Heart Weakness:

To strengthen the heart, the following mixture should be taken over an extended period of time.

Hawthorn Berries           2 parts

Motherwort                    2 parts

Lily of the Valley            1 part

 

Drink a cup of this three times a day. If there is any water retention, add one part of Dandelion to the mixture. If tension or anxiety is present, use the following combination.

 

Linden Blossom             1part

Lemon Balm                  1 part

 

Take three times a day or as often as needed. If this does not prove strong enough, use Skullcap and Valerian instead.

 

Palpitations:  Racing of the heartbeat can occur and can be caused by a whole range of factors. There are a number of remedies that will reduce erratic and fast heart beats without adversly affecting the heart. In addition to the remedies described for normalizing heart activity, Bugleweed, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Passion Flower and Valerian are indicated. A common occurrence is the speeding up of the heart rate due to anxiety and stress. An excellent basic mixture for this problem is the following.

Motherwort        2 parts

Mistletoe           1 part

Valerian            1 part

 

Take three times a day or as needed. If there is any suggestion of heightened blood pressure or heart problems, Hawthorn Berries should be added.

 

Angina Pectoris: This condition is brought about when the blood supply to the heart itself is deficient and leads to a lack of usable oxygen in the heart tissue, often brought about by physical exertion or emotional stress. A twofold process is needed here. Initially the vessels can be dilated to allow more blood to flow through, but as a long-term treatment, any blockage that is present in the vessels has also to be cleared. The key to this is the use of Hawthorn Berries, which will do both, if given enough time and taken regularly. An addition of Linden Blossom leads to excellent results, as it has the unique ability to clear any cholesterol deposits in vessels and guard against any further build-up. A basic mixture comprises:

Hawthorn Berries           3 parts

Motherwort                    2 parts

Linden Blossom             2 parts

Lily of the Valley            1 part

 

High blood pressure (hypertension) can be caused by a range of physical problems, that must be seen addressed. But it can also occur without any clear cause. Stress and anxiety play a large part in this condition. There are a number of herbs that will dilate the peripheral blood vessels,  increasing the total volume of the system. Similarly, there are herbs that will help the kidneys to pass more water, reducing the amount of fluid in the system. There are others to safely decreasing the force with which the blood is pumped through the body. The most important remedies in this group are Cramp Bark, Garlic, Hawthorn Berries, Linden Blossom, Mistletoe and Yarrow.  The actual approach to each individual will vary. As a basic guide, the following mixture is effective.

Hawthorn Berry              2 parts

Linden Blossom             2 parts

Yarrow                          2 parts

Mistletoe                       1 part

 

Drink three times a day. In addition to this, Garlic may be used. If there is a lot of tension in the body, one part of Cramp Bark should be included. For anxiety and stress, include Skullcap and Valerian. When head­aches accompany high blood pressure, include one part of Wood Betony . By using this mixture over a period of time, blood pressure will return to a normal level. The mixture is safe and does not artifi­cially depress the blood pressure.

 

Arteriosclerosis is characterized by a thickening and hardening of the artery walls, restricting the flow of blood to the cells of the body. Cholesterol and fatty deposits in the artery walls lead to a speedy degeneration of the vessels and cause profound problems. These fatty deposits are called atheroma. They can build up in the aorta, the arteries and in the brain. 

There are also a number of herbs that can help, above all Linden Blossom, as it has a specific anti-atheroma action. In long-term use it will guard against the deposition of cholesterol, also helping the body in the removal of any that has already built up. Specific herbs for this condition include Garlic, Hawthorn Berries, Linden Blossom, Mistletoe and Yarrow. These are also herbs found to be most effective in the treatment of raised blood pressure, which often accompanies arteriosclerosis. The same mixture as for high blood pressure can be used, if the propor­tion of Linden Blossom is increased to three parts.

 

Thrombus: When there is a build-up of atheroma, there is an added danger that a piece of it or clotted blood may enter the bloodstream. Both can cause a vessel to be blocked, which leads to a deficiency of oxy­gen downstream from the blocked blood vessel. The seriousness of this thrombosis depends on where in the body the block occurs. It can be a minor problem, but it also is a possible cause of death. It must be treated to make sure that no new-focus for thrombus formation develops. The treatment should be based on herbs that ensure a healthy circulatory system, to­gether with the advice given for arteriosclerosis.

When a clot occurs in the veins of the legs, the condition is labelled phlebitis. In cases of local inflammations and pains, lotions, compresses or poult­ices are most effective. Arnica, Comfrey, Hawthorn Berries and Marigold can all  be used in the external treatment of these conditions.Varicose Veins: Lack of exercise, obesity, pregnancy, and anything that reduces the circulation in the legs can contribute to the develop­ment of varicose veins, a name for veins that have become enlarged, twisted and swollen. They can appear anywhere in the body, but are most commonly found in the legs. Appropriate herbs are Cayenne, Ginger Prickly Ash Bark (or Berries). Furthermore, herbs that strengthen the blood vessels have to be included, for example Hawthorn Berries or Horse chestnut. If there is any water retention that leads to swelling, a diuretic such as Dandelion. This mixture approaches  the problem from all angles.

Hawthorn Berries           3 parts

Horse Chestnut              3 parts

Prickly Ash Bark            2 parts

Yarrow                          2 parts

Ginger                           1 part

 

Drink three times a day.

 

When there is a local inflam­mation with pain, a lotion or compress of Witch Hazel will often ease the discomfort, otherwise Marigold, Comfrey or Hawthorn Berries can be used externally.

 

Varicose Ulcers:  The herbs to be used here are the same as for varicose veins, but a higher proportion of diuretics and alteratives have to be used.External treatment is vital here. If there is any secondary infection, it can be treated by a compress made from Marigold, Marshmallow and Echinacea, which has to be changed often. When the infection has subsided, change the compress for a poultice of powdered Comfrey,

Bad Circulation and Chilblains

When circulation of the extremities is not adequate, leading to cold hands and feet, the following mixture can be helpful

Prickly Ash Bark            3 parts

Hawthorn Berries           3 parts

Ginger                           1 part

Drink 3 times a day.