Dr. Steele: Ever wonder what heart-healthy herbs are? Tune in to find out. My name is Dr. Erica Steele. I am a holistic doctor in family practice. I hold six degrees in my field, and they’re all in the natural healthcare space. And so, let’s talk about heart-healthy herbs. So several herbs have been used.
Eons to be able to support heart health. However, it’s important to note that more research is often needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety. In my practice, I use bio-individual data, meaning that when recommending something, I will take a baseline lab. Then, I will put the natural agent in place and do a follow-up lab.
And that way, it’s in real-time. I’m able to see and track the progress over time. There’s a huge need for more extensive studies and broader non-biased studies. We must get more information out there, and I’d like to help advance our field scientifically. It’s always good to consult a holistic health provider such as a naturopath or even some chiropractors trained in function.
Some MDs are also trained in functional medicine before taking herbs or supplements. It’s essential because they’re gonna have that medical training. A lot of us go through biochemistry. We go through the sciences and just go to an herbalist’s wall. They are very knowledgeable about herbs.
They need to know more about how this can impact them, putting them at greater risk. So now, let’s jump into these herbs. First, garlic. So garlic has been used for centuries to support heart health, and it’s believed to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and even reduce the risk of blood clots.
It’s also antimicrobial, meaning it’s helpful to reduce viruses, bacteria, and all kinds of different things. So it’s a natural heavy hitter. It’s used for a lot of other items for the body. Hawthorne that’s a commonly used herb. Been used to improve circulation and reduce symptoms of heart disease; it may even help to lower blood pressure and improve the strength of the heart muscle.
The third herb that we’re gonna talk about is an Ayurvedic herb. Hopefully, I don’t butcher it. It’s goo goo goo lu. And that’s been traditionally used to support heart health. It can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. So now we’ll jump into a couple supplements.
So fish oil. Fish oil is a naturally rich source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which has been shown to benefit heart health by reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the risk of blood clots. Five, coenzyme q10. Coq 10 is a natural antioxidant that’s found in every cell of the body.
It’s also a network antioxidant, one of the most potent antioxidants. I’ll do a video on network antioxidants if you’re interested. It’s been shown to benefit heart health by reducing the risk of heart disease and hypertension, and helping to decrease muscle damage, mainly caused by statin drugs.
Statin drugs. If you’re taking a statin to reduce cholesterol, statins actually take out half the body’s electron transport chain, the body’s ability to detoxify. So that’s why it’s essential that if you take a statin drug, you also use co, coenzyme 10. And so we can have another conversation about statin drugs.
But for now, that’s where I’ll leave that. Turmeric is also an excellent herb that contains curcumin which has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body and has multiple antioxidant properties. And it may also help to reduce the risk of heart disease by improving the function of the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels.
It’s important to note that herbs and supplements may interact with medications and can have side effects. It’s also important to note that your allopathic doctor, meaning your medical doctor, Is not trained in herbs or supplements. That is holistic. Doctors such as myself, and naturopathic doctors, we are the ones that are trained in this particular area.
So it’s essential to consult with a holistic healthcare provider such as a naturopath before taking any herbs and supplements so that we can advise you, based on your lab work, what you can and cannot have. Because there are so many different interactions, you want to ensure you’re.
Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Awesome. So go ahead and share and subscribe if you want to learn more.