Cardiac Herbs Flashcards
Cardiotonic
Herbs that benefit the heart and blood vessels, but do NOT contain cardiac glycoside
i.e. Crataegus, Tilia, Allium sativa, Leonurus
Circulatory stimulant
Herbs that improve blood flow and are generally warming.
i.e. Capsicum, Rosemary, Zingiber
Peripheral vasodilator
Herbs that widen peripheral vessels to improve circulation.
i.e. Crataegus, Tilia, Ginkgo
Hypotensive
Herb that reduces blood pressure.
i.e. Crataegus, Rauwolfia, Coleus, Viscum
Monascus purpureus
Red rice yeast Family: Parts used: For: lowering cholesterol and lipids Has: natural statin.
Cynara scolymus
Artichoke Family: asteraceae Parts used: leaf For: lowering lipids Has: flavonoids support endothelial integrity by increasing NO production.
Commiphora mukul
Guggul
Family: Burseraceae
Parts used: resin
For: anti-inflammatory; anti-hyperlipidemia
Has: guggulsterones that block a substance that stops the body from getting rid of cholesterol
Trigonella foenum-graecum
Fenugreek Family: Fabaceae Parts used: seeds For: lower cholesterol and glucose Has: galactomannans and steroidal sapogenins that lower cholesterol; flavonoids; alkaloids. *Good fiber*
Allium sativum
Garlic
Family: Liliaceae
Parts used: bulb
For: many great things! GI mainly but lowers lipids and helps with arteriosclerosis
Has: Allicin. As aged garlic more anti-oxidant protecting the heart. As fresh more antimicrobial.
Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorne
Family: rosaceae
Parts used: leaf, flower, berry
For: Cardiotonic, vasodilator, antioxidant.
Has: flavonoids (highest is flower) that help calcium metabolism increasing heart strength. Oliogomeric procyanidins (OPC) (highest in berry) are more antioxidant.
*opens heart
Tilia spp.
Linden (Lime) tree
Family: Tiliaceae
Parts used: flowers and leaves
For: hypotensive, sedative, demulcents, diaphoretic.
Has: mucilage that is soothing, flavonoids, volatile oil.
Viscum album
Mistletoe Family: Loranthaceae Parts used: stems and leaves For: hypotensive, anti-spasmodic. *anti-cancer. Has: Viscotoxins and lectins.
Beta vulgaris
Beets Family: Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot) Parts used: root and juice For: liver tonic and NO stimulator Has: nitrates which get turned into nitrites when turn into NO!
Rauwolfia serpentina
Indian Snake root Family: Apocynaceae (periwinkle) Parts used: root For: hypotensive, sedative Has: insole alkaloids Reserpine that reduces HR by affecting the CNS by depleting catacholamines decreasing sympathetic tone.
Veratrum viride
Hellebore Family: Liliaceae Parts used: root For: hypotensive For full-bounding pulse. Used as homeopathic d/t toxicity.
Cardio active glycosides
- Affect the force of heart contraction at lower doses by interfering with potassium site leading to increased intracellular Ca++ which increases contraction. 2. They also affect rate and rhythm of the heart at higher doses by interfering parasympathetically at the SA node reducing firing rate and at AV node reducing conduction velocity.
Digitalis purpurea and ianata
Foxglove and Wooly foxglove Family: scrophulariaceae (figwort) Parts used: leaf For: cardiac stimulant Has: cardio active glycoside dioxin (ianata) and digitoxin (purpurea).
Convallaria majus
Lily of the Valley Family: Liliaceae Parts used: rhizomes For: cardiotonic, cardiostimulator Has: cardio active glycoside and flavonoids
Cactus (Selenicereus) grandiflorus
Cactus Family: cactaceae Parts used: succulent stem For: stimulating cardiotonic, cardiac trophorestorative Has: alkaloids and cardiac glycoside.
Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse chestnut
Family: Hippocastanaceae
Parts used: dried seed
For: astringent reduces capillary permeability
Has: Aescin (triterpene saponin), flavonoids (quercetins), polysaccharides
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary Family: Lamiaceae Parts used: leaf For: circulatory stimulant Has: volatile oil, diterpenes (bitter), flavonoids, triterpenes
