Nature has offered the wonderful gift to mankind as medicinal plants and herbs to promote healthy, happy and disease free life. Being a holistic physician, I always love to explore the therapeutic properties of natural substances. Indeed, natural foods, herbs, spices have amazing healing properties and could be used as an effective alternative treatment for various diseases and troubling aliments.
Recently, I had explored some interesting information about “natural blood thinners”, which I wish to share through this post.
What is blood thinner medication?
As the name suggested the blood thinner is a drug that helps in the prevention of formation of a clot. Even though the body has a self-defence mechanism that helps in the formation of blood clots, whenever we suffer from bleeding due to any reason. But there are times when blood clots could be dangerous and can put your life at risk. If you have certain conditions like an irregular heart rhythm or congenital heart defects or had a heart surgery (due to any reason like heart valve surgery ), these conditions and the surgery increases the chance of threatening blood clots and these clots may cause a heart attack or stroke. Blood thinner medication lowers the chances of heart attack and stroke by reducing the chance of forming blood clots.
When the “blood thinner medication” is prescribed?
Your doctor may recommend you to take these blood thinner medications when a person is at risk of stroke or heart disease. Or you had certain procedures like heart valve surgery or angioplasty. These medications lower the chance of heart attack and stroke by lessening the chance that blood clots form. This medication helps in maintaining a proper blood flow to vital organs. There are 2 types of blood thinners. One is anticoagulant and other is anti-platelet drugs.
- · Anticoagulant drugs can prevent clots formation. Common example of anticoagulant drug are heparin, warfarin
- · Anti-platelet drugs like aspirin prevent blood cells called platelet from clumping together to form a clot.
Fortunately there are some natural foods that can work like a natural blood thinner and you can use them to reduce the formation of blood clots and heart stroke. What are these substances and how to use them? Read on to know more.
If you are suffering from any kind of heart or blood vessel disease and already taking prescription medicines, it is very important to take a professional medical advice before making any significant changes to your diet.
Here are the lists of 5 superfoods that can work like a natural blood thinner and can play a major role in the prevention of threatening heart diseases.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a well-known spice that helps in fighting infections, reduce inflammation and treat digestive problems. According to University Of Maryland Medical Center, turmeric may help prevent atherosclerosis and keeps bad cholesterol level under control. Though more scientific evidence needed, it is believed that turmeric stops platelets from clumping together and also prevents blood clots from building up along the wall of arteries.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E proved to be a bust for preventing heart diseases and have anti-cancer properties. According to WebMD, some trials suggested the role of Vitamin E in reducing the risk of life-threatening blood clots, but researchers warn that the finding must be confirmed. According to Harvard Medical School, Professor of Medicine Robert J Glynn PhD “Vitamin E shows promise for preventing the potentially deadly clots in high-risk patients who are on prescription blood thinners like warfarin.”
Garlic
Garlic has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. According to University of Maryland Medical Center, garlic has a great role in the prevention of heart disease. Some studies suggested it may slow down atherosclerosis and lower the blood pressure a little between 5% to 8%. Apart from preventing blood clots, garlic has significant antioxidant activity and protects the blood vessels and heart from the harmful effects of free radicals.
Foods that can contain Omega 3 fatty acid
Foods that contain omega 3 fatty acid have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. They had a capacity to thin the blood. Studies suggested that it also help in reduce arterial inflammation, improve endothelial function and promote healthier circulation and clotting. But apart from these usual benefits, you have to be very careful while consuming it with other blood thinning medication. According to Mayo Clinic, omega 3 may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with herbs and supplements that are believed to increase the risk of bleeding. Multiple cases of bleeding have been reported with the use of Ginkgo biloba and fewer cases with garlic and saw palmetto.
Ginger
Ginger has been a popular herb for thousands of years because of its amazing therapeutic properties for treating various elements. Studies suggested that ginger may lower cholesterol and help prevent blood from blood clotting, that can help treat heart diseases where blood vessels can become blocked and lead to heart attack. Gingerol is a chemical that naturally occurs in ginger and has been shown to prevent blood cells and platelets from clotting and clumping.
Apart from this:
- · Some vegetables like tomato, broccoli, lettuce, beetroot and onion can thin the blood.
- · Cayenne paper contains a high amount of salicylate and can have a powerful blood thinning effect on your body.
- · Some fruits like pineapple contain an enzyme bromelain that is responsible for its blood thinning properties.
- · Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that can help in thinning the blood.
- · Red wine is also considered to have a protective effect against atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
- · Some nuts like wall nut, almonds and Brazil nut can help thin the blood.
Word of caution
No doubt these natural products have amazing healing properties, but they may interfere with your prescription medication. It is very important to no get started with any of these before taking your doctor’s advice. Always speak to your doctor before making any changes in your diet and prescribed medication, otherwise, it could have a negative impact on your health. Did you have tried any natural foods to cure any disease aliments? What was your experience? Please share!
This post is for #writebravely #writeproblogger
I am taking part in the Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge
Thanks for sharing this very informative post. Tumeric garlic and ginger are truly magic herbs
ReplyDeletethanks Suzy for commenting. I am glad that you find it informative.
DeleteHey, that gives a ton of health info. Lots and lots of people are trying to incorporate turmeric, ginger and garlic into their cooking is for a good reason.
ReplyDeleteThanks Prasannaji,I am glad you liked the post. and you are absolutely right, these routine kitchen ingredients really had amazing therapeutic properties and can help a lot to deal with various disease aliments.
DeleteInformative post. Good to know about blood thinners and their benefits.
ReplyDeleteThanks deepa reading the post.
DeleteNot only are all those things natural, they are also all GOOD for you!! These are awesome health tips!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie reading the post and sharing your thoughts.
DeleteTurmeric has now become a hipster thing, hasn't it? Even though historically it has always been really good for us. Thanks for the informative post :)
ReplyDeleteYes! Sanch turmeric is a magic spice and do wonders in various elements. thanks for reading the post and sharing your thoughts.
DeleteActually a need post for me these days. My father in law suffering from same problem. He has minor clotting in his brain. Needs these tips for him. But still have to consult his doctor before giving any of this. Still very informative post. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteOh! I am really sorry to hear about your father in law. my father also had heart attack 5 years ago, and he used some of these natural substance after taking a medical advice. thanks a lot for reading the post and sharing your thoughts.
DeleteAn informative post. I've always believed that the remedy to most of our health problems is there in our kitchen itself be it in the form of ingredients or cooking style. We need to really learn a lot from our elders who are way healthier than us even at the age of 80s.
ReplyDeleteYes! Geeta agreed with you, we had to learn a lot from our elders. they had no dietary restrictions and still had a great immune system. and no doubt our kitchen has amazing ingredients that helps greatly in natural healing.
DeleteSuch an informative post. Not many would know about natural blood thinners. I hardly had any idea
ReplyDeleteVery informative. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery nice… I really like your blog… Natural blood thinners
ReplyDelete