Herbs for the Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What are cordials?
To support the heart
Tonics taken in small amounts to strengthen the body, mind, an spirit.
To support the heart
What are nervines?
To support the heart
Tonics used to help calm the body, mind and spirit.
Two main groups of cardiac herbal remedies:
Cardiotonics and Cardioactives
What are cardiotonic herbs?
Restore tone and function to heart. Usually nourishing and tonifying to the whole system improving overall function and health.
Should be taken long term to create sustained positive physical change and improve heart rate and rhythm, decrease palpitations, decrease blood pressure, and potentiate a calm heart.
What are examples of cardiotonic herbs?
Name atleast 5
Hawthron berry, garlic, linden, yarrow, motherwort, ginkgo, grand cactus, coleus forskohlii, and guggul
What are cardioactive herbs?
Often increases efficiency of heart muscles without increasing their need for oxygen. Helps circulation and stimulate urine production, which lowers blood volume, lessening the load on the heart.
The presence of glycosides in these herbs enables the heart to increase contractibility and pump more blood throughout the body.
What are examples of cardioactive herbs?
Lily of the valley, purple foxglove, scotch broom and squill.
As it relates to cardioactive herbs
What is the downside to cardiac glycosides?
They are often toxic and because of this, foxglove and come other herbs are no longer available for general consumption.
Definition
Cardiovascular stimulants:
Increases the movement of blood and stimulate the cardiovascular system using heating herbs such as cayenne, ginger, and cinnamon.
Definition
Vasodilators:
Widen the blood vessels to decrease constriction and restriction.
Herb example: prickly ash and ginkgo.
Definition
Hypertensives:
Work to decrease overall blood pressure but seem to focus on diastolic pressure, reducing the heavy burden on heart and vessels.
Example herb: garlic, linden, mistletoe, olive leaf, and rauwolfia.
Definition
Diuretics:
Increases kidney action to flush fluids that can reduce total blood volume, easing a heavy heart load.
Example herbs: Corn silk, dandelion leaf, and parsley leaf.
Definition
Vascular Tonics:
Tone and support vascular health and are helpful for treating varicose or spider veins.
Example herbs: butcher’s broom, collinsonia, ginkgo, and horse chestnut.
Definition
Nervines
Often calm stress and reduce heart palpitations. May be helpful if heart disease worsens as a result of negative emotions.
Example Herbs: motherwort, skullcap, oatstraw, and linden have an affinity or asociation with the heart.
