February is ‘American Heart Health Month’ and natural medicine can be a very valuable tool to help treat cardiovascular disease. This could range from hypertension to hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) to irregular heartbeat and arrhythmias. Two remedies I often recommend to use for any heart health condition are CoQ10 and Hawthorn Fruit. Both of these are readily available, however I now typically prescribe patients a stronger, specialized extract of Hawthorn (see my post Hawthorn for your Heart). For treating hyperlipidemia, there are specific remedies as well (for more information on this, see another post Natural Recommendations instead of Statin Drugs)
Additionally, treating hypertension is best accomplished with a complete analysis of the specific imbalance involved in the individual, as we diagnose in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Two typical patterns that are seen can be treated with Chinese herbal remedies such as Evergreen Herbs Gentiana Complex or Gastrodia Complex (there are more patterns as well, as seen in more progressive, complicated cardiovascular disease).
The hypertension pattern of an individual who is impatient, easily upset or angered and may have throbbing headaches, possibly also has restlessness and/or is a workaholic, and possibly is even an alcoholic, results in a diagnosis requiring Gentiana Complex. (An example of this type of person can be those that get red in the face or ears when upset or angered.) The opposite hypertension pattern is a person who may be tired or fatigued easily, may have dizziness, dull headaches or blurry vision, or may have hot flashes and/or night sweats (even in males), may have a history of blood loss and/or poor dietary habits such as not consuming adequate protein. This pattern typically is an older individual who has had hypertension for years, with resulting congestive heart failure and/or renal (kidney) failure. In this case, the person has a deficiency or weakness which results in hypertension. The correct remedy for this pattern is Evergreen Herbs Gastrodia Complex.
Additionally, if a patient has coronary heart disease or even angina or has poor circulation, there is a remedy for that pattern as well. As with any chronic health condition, one needs to consult with a natural healthcare practitioner to obtain a specific diagnosis and corresponding treatment.
For more information on using Chinese Herbs, see
Why Chinese Herbs? And How Long Before I See Results?” by Evergreen Herbs.