Top 15 Herbs for a Strong Healthy Heart

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6. Cayenne

Well-noted for its ability to prevent heart attacks, cayenne is a powerful herb filled with more than 26 healthy vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, selenium, zinc, magnesium as well as dietary fiber. Scientific studies show that cayenne has powerful substances that play an important role in heart health. Cayenne removes plaque from the arteries, which provides nourishment to the heart. It improves blood circulation, removes harmful toxins from the blood, re-builds blood cells, lowers cholesterol levels and emulsifies triglycerides. One study showed that not only does cayenne prevent blood clots, it can also reduce pain.

7. Ginseng

Ginseng root has been used for thousands of years to treat various ailments. Recently studies have shown that this herb has value in the treatment of heart disease. Though more studies are needed, some show that ginseng protects the heart. Numerous trials have shown promise that ginseng can fight cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, cardiac contractility, arrhythmia, and coronary artery disease. Ginseng is high in anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-tumor compounds.

8. Cacao

Cacao helps the heart through a flavonol that improves the healthy function of blood vessels, called epicatechin. One randomized controlled study showed that flavonol-rich chocolate was shown to help platelet function and vascular health with subjects who had congestive heart failure. This Swedish study showed that short term and long term health was improved by increasing the nitric oxide bio-availability and decreasing heart damaging oxidative stress, through daily consumption of cacao, this effect remained consistent throughout the 4 week study.

9. Hawthorn

There is strong evidence that links Hawthorn to the dilatation of blood vessels, the strengthening of the heart, the lowering of blood pressure, the removal of fatty deposits and cholesterol levels. Due to active phytochemicals, including bioflavonoids that contain antioxidant compounds, free radicals get devoured like ice cream on a hot day. Hawthorn has also been found to help distribute and make use of the vitamin C in the body to help strengthen capillaries. Some studies show that hawthorn has little or no effect on those suffering from heart failure so this herb might have more of a protective effect rather than a healing one.

10. Motherwort

Despite its funny name, this herb has been used traditionally to stop a racing heart due to nervous tension. Long term use can reduce the formation of blood clots, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and even strengthens the heart muscles. Motherwort has been identified as having flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, sterols, tannins, and volatile oils. There has been a great deal of pharmacological studies confirming that motherwort has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and hypotensive properties.

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