February is Heart Month

February is American Heart Month and today (2-7) is National Wear Red Day created by the American Heart Association to bring attention to Women’s Heart issues.

Digitalis purpura, commonly called foxglove is the plant the heart medicine Digoxin is made from.

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp) is a well-established heart tonic used for angina (chest pain), and atherosclerosis (clogged arteries). It lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.

Euphrasia officinalis-eyebright contains a compound called aucubin which minimizes scarring that occurs after a heart attack. Areas of scar tissue reduce flexibility of the heart muscle leading to irregular beats, heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest.

Juglans nigra, black walnut is used for heart disease and weight-loss. It lowers the risk of heart disease and strokes by regulating blood pressure and lowering LDL cholesterol (bad).

Leonurus cardiaca, common name motherwort is a heart tonic used for heart failure, irregular heartbeat, racing heart, and high blood pressure. It’s shown to prevent blood clots.

Salvia miltiorrhiza, better known as danshen (not to be confused with Dan shen) protects the heart. It lowers blood pressure, improves circulation, and promotes new blood vessel formation. It is used for angina (pain), myocardial infraction (heart attack), and pulmonary heart disease. In pulmonary heart disease, pressure in the arteries of the lungs strains the heart.

Disclaimer: I am a holistic health professional. I am not a medical doctor. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for proper medical treatments or care. Always consult with your medical doctor before starting and new diet, fitness, or lifestyle program.