15 Herbs to Save Money on Medical Bills
(Page 3 of 6)
April/May 2009
By Kim Erickson
Maintain a Healthy Heart
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Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States—it kills more people each year than cancer, diabetes or accidents. Fortunately, many of these risk factors can be prevented or controlled by combining a healthy diet and exercise with heart-helping herbs.
4. Garlic (Allium sativum): This pungent herb lowers blood pressure and improves the elasticity of blood vessel walls. Garlic also reduces cholesterol and acts as a natural blood thinner. It’s so effective that one trial showed that people taking 600 mg of garlic daily slashed their risk of dying from heart disease over a 10-year period. The same study found that taking 300 mg of supplemental garlic daily prevented the development of atherosclerosis.
5. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.): If you could rely on just one herb for heart disease, this would be it. Hawthorn contains large amounts of flavonoids that stabilize capillaries and strengthen weak blood vessels. Researchers at the University of Chicago note that antioxidant-rich hawthorn significantly reduces blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Clinical trials also have confirmed that hawthorn extract helps people with early-stage congestive heart failure (CHF). In one study, patients with CHF taking hawthorn extract for eight weeks showed improved quality of life, including a greater ability to exercise without shortness of breath and exhaustion. The recommended dose is 100 mg taken in two or three divided doses daily.
The Question of Digestion
Heartburn, indigestion and nausea definitely can cramp your style. But two herbs can provide fast relief.
6. Ginger (Zingiber officinale): It doesn’t matter whether you suffer from motion sickness or morning sickness—ginger offers a safe way to soothe nausea. Researchers at the University of Southern California also discovered that this aromatic herb helps avert postoperative nausea and vomiting. While ginger is available in capsule form, the best way to ease nausea is with a cup of ginger tea.
7. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Long before Tums burst onto the scene, herbalists relied on plants to treat indigestion. The most effective and well-known herb was licorice. But not any licorice will do. Licorice contains a chemical called glycyrrhiza that can raise blood pressure. Fortunately, this dangerous compound can be removed and the resulting deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) tablets are safe and effective. Popping a couple of DGL tablets before meals not only helps prevent heartburn, it’s reputed to soothe and heal the esophageal tissue by decreasing inflammation and ulceration. And unlike other forms of licorice, DGL is safe for people with high blood pressure. Most herbalists recommend chewing the equivalent of 760 mg (2 tablets) three times a day with meals.
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