Nature's Rx

Natural ways to keep you heart healthy By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME February is heart month. Everywhere you look there are stories and features about heart health. I usually avoid doing a "heart" story in February because the topic is so overplayed I feel people are numbed by all the information. Now that we are in March, I hope I have your attention. Listed below are some natural products with proven cardiovascular benefits, backed up by mountains of research. Natural heart helps Garlic (Allium sativa) Garlic has been used medicinally for millennia. According to noted herbalist Steven Foster, "It works by lowering blood cholesterol, acting as an antioxidant to protect blood vessels from free radical damage, lowering levels of LDL (lousy cholesterol), increasing blood flow to the capillaries (thus slightly lowering blood pressure), reduces the tendency of blood to clot, and enhancing the process called fibrinolysis, which works to remove plaque and clots from blood vessels." Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) is the premier herb for heart health. It is a well-regarded treatment for everything from high blood pressure to mild heart arrhythmias. The berries are rich in flavinoids which have been shown to dilate peripheral and coronary blood vessels. This action helps alleviate hypertension and high blood pressure and reduce the severity and frequency of angina attacks. The berries also provide antioxidants to enhance heart muscle contractions and support a steady beat. Hawthorn also contains procyanidins, which exert a sedative and antispasmodic effect. It has also been shown to act as a cardiotonic, restoring both high and low blood pressure to normal. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidium) This mushroom, highly prized in Chinese medicine for over 4,000 years, has been found to lower blood pressure by reducing the flow of nerve impulses activated by emotional stress, lowers cholesterol, and helps inhibit platelet aggregation. It also exhibits antioxidant properties. Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) has been used for more than 1,000 in China, Mongolia and Tibet. Its high levels of lipids, proteins, vitamin C, flavinoids and antioxidants make it a standout nutritionally and medicinally. In clinical studies, Sea Buckthorn lowered LDL while raising HDL and reducing tension of the blood vessel walls. In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, those receiving Sea Buckthorn showed a marked decrease in serum C-reactive protein concentrations. CRP is a marker of inflammation and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. D-Ribose This is a bit tricky to explain. D-Ribose is a unique sugar that has been shown to increase the functional capacity for patients with congestive heart failure by improving diastolic heart function, ventilation, exercise capacity and oxygen uptake efficiency, according to Dr. John Foker, the Kaster Professor of Surgery and Pediatric Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeon at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Fokers studies found administering D-Ribose significantly improved heart function following heart attacks. The D-ribose is essential in the production of ATP which is the primary source of energy for the cell. Several area cardiologists have recommended D-Ribose to their patients and Dr. Steven Sinatra of Manchester, CT. strongly suggests D- Ribose in his newsletter. We have several articles about D-Ribose available at the Herbarium for those who are interested. Believe me, it will be easier if you just read it for yourself. Resveratrol. You may have heard about it on "60 Minutes," and we talked about it on our radio program, "Herbs for Health and Healing" months ago. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that plays a large part of the hype concerning red wine's health benefits. It is also found in some degree in blueberries, peanuts, cranberries and Japanese Knotweed. To get the benefit from wine, one would have to consume about three quarts of red wine a day (I like a good Southeast Australian Cabernet, but that might be a wee bit too much) This is one good reason to use a supplement. According to research published in Free Radical Research magazine, resveratrol helped defend against certain types of artery-damaging radicals that harden and thicken the arteries, which then begin to narrow as scar tissue develops. Reseveratol also promotes vasodilaton- the relaxing and expanding of arteries which helps with increased blood flow- by enhancing the production of nitric oxide, and helps inhibit platelet aggregation. Reseveratol helps with other conditions, but I am focusing only on cardio vascular health. Of course, diet, exercise, changing lifestyles will go a long way in promoting heart health, but I am guessing you have heard all that before, especially in February. I hope these notes can be of help to you when looking into supplements and give you some background in fact. Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013