7 Heart Healthy Herbs

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for one-third of global deaths, claiming approximately 17.9 million lives annually. CVDs encompass heart and blood vessel disorders, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and rheumatic heart disease, among others. The World Health Organization reports that heart attacks and strokes account for four out of five CVD fatalities, with one-third occurring in individuals under 70 years old. To lower your risk of developing a CVD, it's important to address diet and lifestyle first, and then consider using herbs and spices, because herbs and spices are not cures, they're supportive.

7 Heart Healthy Herbs

Here’s my list of 7 heart healthy herbs and a recipe for a heart healthy tea.  

1. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) 

   Cinnamon is a cardiac stimulant and helps lower blood pressure.  Use cinnamon in cooking, such as in your oatmeal or add it to teas. 

   
   

2. Garlic (Allium sativum)

   Garlic is a cardiac stimulant, vasodilator, helps reduce blood pressure, and helps manage abnormal heart rhythms.  It’s also a blood thinner.  Garlic is great to cook with, so add it to your dishes when cooking.  If you’re on a Low-Fodmap diet, raw garlic is not advised, but you can use a garlic-infused olive oil when cooking.  It has the benefits just mentioned and it tastes good too.  Use with caution if taking cholesterol-lowering medication.  

   
   

3. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

   Ginkgo is a strong cardiac tonic, vasodilator, vessel tonic, is high in antioxidants, helps lower blood pressure, and inhibits clotting.  Avoid if taking the drug Warfarin.

   
   

4. Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)

   Gotu kola is a blood tonic and a strong vessel tonic.   

   
   

5. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha)

   Hawthorn is a strong cardiac tonic, it calms the heart, is a blood thinner, vasodilator, vessel tonic, and helps reduce blood pressure.  Hawthorn can help strengthen the heart muscle. The flowers, leaves and berries of this plant are used. 

   
   

6. Motherwort (Leonorus cardiaca)

   Motherwort is called “lion heart”.  It calms the heart, helps with irregularities in heart rhythm, and helps lower blood pressure. Motherwort is also a vessel tonic and a cardiac tonic.   

   
   

7. Rose (Rosa)

   Rose is the “Queen of Flowers” and has many benefits from physical to energetic.  Physically, it supports the circulatory system, particularly its fruit, called rose hips, which are high in antioxidants and help improve the tone and integrity of blood vessel walls.  Energetically, it comforts and uplifts the heart.  Rose can help soothe grief and heartache, and ease agitation and anxiety. It fills your heart with love and peace. 

Healthy Heart Tea Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Hawthorn flowers and leaves (can add Hawthorn berries too, just grind them up a bit first)

• 1/2 cup Motherwort 

• 1/2 cup Ginkgo Biloba  

• 1/4 cup Roses 

• 2 tablespoons Cinnamon Chips or break up a Cinnamon Stick into little pieces

Directions:

• Blend the herbs together in a bowl and add mixture to a glass jar with a tight lid, such as a mason jar.  Store the jar in your pantry or kitchen cabinet.  When ready to make your tea, you’ll need a heaping teaspoon of herb formula per cup of water.

• Add water to a saucepan and place it on the stovetop; turn on heat to medium-high. 

• Bring water almost to a boil and take pan off the heat.

• Add herbs to the pot and cover; steep for 15 minutes.

• Strain the herbs from the pot and discard the herbs or add them to your compost.

  
  

Pour tea into a mug, add sweetener if you’d like, and enjoy.

Please note that if you are taking medication for a heart condition, consult with your doctor before taking herbal supplements. 

Resources:

https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases#tab=tab_1