Five Plants for Heart Health

Heart disease is the number one killer among Americans. According to the American Federation for Aging Research, one in three men and one in ten women will develop heart disease before age sixty. While age and genetics do play a large role in heart conditions, scientists recognize the importance of lifestyle factors in determining heart disease risk. A healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition and exercise, among other things, can help reduce your risk for heart disease. Along with eating healthy foods that are high in fiber, antioxidants, monounsaturated fats and other fatty acids, the following five plants are useful in maintaining a healthy heart, and treating a heart that has damage.

As always, before starting any homeopathic regiment, it's important to discuss it with your doctor. Anything, even plants, taken in the wrong quantity, or the wrong way, can have harmful consequences.

Astragalus
Astragalus is an adaptoge, which helps protect the body against various stresses. It has been shown to lower blood pressure, and in people who already have heart disease, it offers beneficial antioxidants during treatment.

The root of the astragalus plant is usually used in teas, extracts, or capsules, and is commonly mixed with ginseng, angelica, and licorice.

Barberry
Barberry has spiny leaves and bright yellow flowers that bloom from April through June. In the fall, the flowers become dark red berries. The root and bark of the barberry contains isoquinoline alkaloids which have antibiotic properties. For the heart, barberry has proved effective in reducing and normalizing heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

You can find barberry in tea, capsules, tinctures, or extracts.

Chrysanthemum
Often shortened to the name 'mum,' chrysanthemums are a genus of plant containing about thirty species of flowers native to Asia and Europe. Chrysanthemum is used to treat circulatory disorders, including atherosclerosis (inflammation of the arteries). It is also used as a treatment for high blood pressure.

Chrysanthemum is most often drunk as a tea.

Garlic
Taken for the heart, garlic can strengthen blood vessels and lower blood pressure. It is often used in treating arteriosclerosis, circulatory diseases, and heart disorders.

Garlic can be eaten raw, cooked, or taken in capsule form.

Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a genus of shrubs and small trees that grow up to 15 m tall and sport thorny branches and clusters of pome fruit, or flowers. Hawthorn contains a wide variety of flavonoids, including the heart friendly flavonoid vitexin. The plant provides many benefits to the heart, including dilating coronary blood vessels, restoring heart muscle wall, and lowering cholesterol. It's commonly used to treat chronic heart failure, high blood pressure, and an irregular heart beat.

Use the hawthorn berry in tincture or capsule form.