Boosting Your Circulatory System Back to Health

Circulation problems are often a symptom of other diseases like heart disease, "peripheral arterial disease" or diabetes, but they can also appear on their own. Symptoms often include cold extremities (hands and feet), dizziness and fatigue. The movement of blood through the vascular system can be hampered by clogged arteries, inflammation, dilated blood vessels or a weakened heart, among other factors. This is a very serious condition that is likely to be an indicator of an underlying disease, and you should consult your doctor before initiating any alternative treatment yourself. There are herbal remedies that you can try that may decrease inflammation, regulate the heart and increase blood flow. Your list of herbs follows.

Hawthorn
The berries, flowers and dried leaves of this herb all show benefits to the heart and circulation. Since it is high in "flavonoids," hawthorn may work by widening the arteries, thus improving the flow of blood-an action that is otherwise known as "dilation." That theory was backed up by the results of one study out of Germany. Because of its cardiovascular health benefits, hawthorn is one of the most prescribed natural remedies in Europe. Germans are really on top of this herb, as another study showed that hawthorn tended to mildly lower blood pressure in those who took it. Hawthorn acts as a "vasodilator" by opening blood vessels and increasing blood flow. It both relaxes the smooth muscles in artery walls and inhibits an enzyme that tends to constrict blood vessels.

Garlic
This herb is well known for its cardiovascular and circulation improving traits. A major journal by the American Heart Association reported that garlic can maintain the elasticity of aging blood vessels, which tend to lose their ability to stretch with time. Garlic helps widen blood vessels as a result of relaxing the muscles that surround the walls, which is why it's a major herb for hypertension. Garlic been studied extensively, including for "intermittent claudication," which is restricted blood flow in the leg. In the double blind trial, those who received garlic powder were able to walk significantly farther than others, the herb managing to allow greater blood flow to the leg and reduced pain.

Ginger
Researchers have found that ginger root may inhibit "prostaglandins" and "leukotrienes," which are involved in inflammation and pain. Thus, the spice is an antiinflammatory. In terms of arthritis-a condition where impeded blood flow is a problem-patients receiving ginger extract had fewer gastrointestinal side effects and needed far fewer pain killers. Ginger may work by reducing levels of "substance P." Herbalists in North America consider it to be an excellent circulatory stimulant, helping blood flow throughout the body.

Turmeric
What makes curry yellow may also treat inflammation. Turmeric is part of the ginger family, and it has been proven in animal studies to reduce inflammation-a belief that has been held for centuries in India. The spice, taken internally, may work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which are inflammatory chemicals. It reduces inflammation by lowering histamine levels and, perhaps, by boosting the production of "cortisone" by the adrenal glands. Its main ingredient, "curcumin," is primarily responsible for this histamine-lowering ability. The herb has been found to prevent platelets from clumping up, which guards against "atherosclerosis" and improves blood circulation.

Cayenne
Also known as "capsaicin," the spicy cayenne is well known for its benefits to the circulatory system. It's traditionally used as a central ingredient in circulatory tonic. It has the ability to open up capillaries, allowing blood to reach areas that were previously restricted because of poor circulation.

Boswellia
This Ayurvedic herb can defend against inflammation and restore blood vessels in connective tissue. It can improve circulation to the body, especially joints that are inflamed due to arthritis. It's the boswellic acid, in particular, that is thought to reduce inflammation. A review of unpublished studies into this herb found double-blind trials that deduced that it was effective in relieving rheumatoid-arthritis symptoms. A number of scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of boswellia. In a study of 175 people with arthritis, four weeks of boswellia treatment helped 122 of them reduce pain and stiffness.