Herbs can help prevent heart disease and ease the symptoms of several cardiovascular conditions. This accessible reference includes a detailed A-to-Z directory of the 44 herbs that most benefit the heart. Noted herbal clinician David Hoffman teaches you how to prepare safe and effective herbal teas, tinctures, and supplements to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, varicose veins, angina, and more. Practical tips for incorporating lifestyle changes round out this holistic approach to complete cardiovascular health. This easy-to-use handbook details safe and effective herbal preparations to treat common cardiovascular conditions, including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, varicose veins, and angina. David Hoffmann has been a clinical phytotherapist for almost 20 years. He is a founding member and past president of the American Herbalists Guild. He is on the advisory board of the American Botanical Council, the peer-review boards of Herbalgram and the Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine, and the steering committee of the American Herbal Pharmacopoea. He is the author of 17 books, including Healthy Bones & Joints, and teaches phytotherapy throughout the world. He is visiting faculty at Bastyr University, The California Institute of Integral Studies, the National College of Phytotherapy, and the Rocky Mountain School of Botanical Studies. He lives in California. Introduction
Why Use Herbal Remedies for Heart Health?
When touched by the beauty of a spring meadow in bloom or the profound sense of presence felt in a grove of redwood trees, the heart figuratively takes flight and the spirit is healed. But nature brings physical healing as well, offering nourishment and strength for our troubled hearts.
Half of the annual deaths in the United States result from heart and blood vessel diseases. Herbs offer promise in preventing and easing the symptoms of these diseases. While modern cardiology seems to perform miracles when it comes to treating acute emergencies, such as heart attacks, maintaining good health and preventing the development of disease are critically important. Can we do more for ourselves than simply exercise and minimize risk factors? The answer is an emphatic yes! This is where herbal medicine comes in.
How Herbs Support the Heart
Herbs have actually held a central position in orthodox medicine for treating various heart problems. Plant constituents called cardiac glycosides, which are found in plants such as foxglove and lily of the valley, are used throughout the world for the treatment of heart failure and some arrhythmias. These herbs address these conditions by helping to increase the strength of the heart beat and normalize the rate of the beat. Their real value lies in the increased efficiency they bring to the heart muscle without requiring an increase in the oxygen supply. (In heart problems there is often a deficiency in blood supply - and thus in oxygen supply - because of blockage in the coronary arteries.) Foxglove has this valuable action, although it is also potentially quite toxic. Lily of the valley shares foxglove's therapeutic value but has fewer side effects and lower toxicity. However, there are other herbal remedies that nurture the heart in deeper and more subtle ways. Consider the cordial, a warming drink and a word for heart-felt friendliness. The original cordial was a medieval drink made from borage that warmed the heart and gave a person heart.
There are profound concerns about toxicity from the long-term use of prescription medications. Although it is resplendent in "wonder drugs," the modern pharmacopoeia sorely lacks preventive medicines. Tonics are not mentioned in pharmacology texts since the concept of a preventive medicine is illusory. The practice of discarding gentle toning therapies in favor of intensely active ones can be seen as one of the core problems of orthodox health care. This is where herbal medicine can complement and su
