I get a lot of phone calls and emails from people asking about herbs that help maintain or improve the health of their heart. Of course we all know that we need to eat right and exercise to keep our heart healthy, but there are herbs that can help, too.

Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) is an important over all tonic for the circulatory system. It aids circulation and helps rid the blood of toxin. Cayenne is also an anti-inflammatory herb.

Garlic is easily my favorite all around herb. It has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasite, and anti-viral properties. As if that wasn't enough, garlic reduces blood pressure and lowers bad cholesterol. 

Siberian Ginseng (Elutherococcus senticosus) has been used in Asia for centuries as a tonic to promote longevity. We know Ginseng is effective as a remedy against high blood pressure and stress. 

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is known for it's relaxation and sleep promoting effects. But, did you know it's also useful in treating an irregular or rapid heartbeat, and is used for high blood pressure? Valerian is also a good herb to use in order to relax, strengthen and tone the heart. 

Motherwart (Leonurus cardiaca) is used for all heart conditions caused by anxiety and/or stress. Many herbalists have found Motherwart helpful in cases of tachycardia or rapid heartbeat.

That's all for now. I will share some more heart helping herbs with you another time. 

And remember: Never treat a heart condition on your own. Always consult a qualified health provider of your preferred method. Nothing on this website is intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or condition. I am not a doctor. If you think you have a medical condition, see your medical professional. 

Did you know inflammation causes or contributes to most of the diseases that effect Americans? That’s right– Heart disease, stroke, arthritis, asthma, migraine, type 2 diabetes, allergies, ADHD, multiple sclerosis, fibroneuralgia, and gingivitis are all diseases of inflammation. In fact, the majority of conditions ending in the suffix “itis” are caused by inflammation. Now, that doesn’t mean that if you control inflammation your MS will just go away. But it’s a good bet that the pain, stiffness and possibly even some balance problems will be significantly reduced.There are several ways to reduce inflammation. You could, of course take a pill designed for just that purpose. NSAIDS are popular pain relievers, and they work primarily by reducing inflammation. But, they can be dangerous. Did you know that more people die of side effects of NSAIDS than of HIV? Additionally, over half a million people a year develop some sort of complication from the use of NSAIDS.A better way to control inflammation is to watch what you eat and take supplements of those substances known to reduce inflammation in the body.Omega 3 oils found in deep sea fish. I include mercury tested salmon in my diet 3 – 5 times a week.Cayenne pepper- I take 3 cayenne pepper caps with each meal. Some people have to take this between meals because it upsets their stomach or makes  food taste bad. Don’t be afraid to experiment to find when it works best for you.Saint John’s Wart – In addition to being  great for MS related depression, St Johns also helps reduce inflammation.Switch from vegetable oil to olive. Yes, it’s more expensive. but most vegetable oils convert to an inflammation causing chemical when broken down by the body.Eat more green leafy veggies, nut butters, avocados and macadamia nuts they all have anti-inflammatory abilities.With simple dietary changes, we can manage our MS and make our lives just a bit easier.

If you're like many health conscience people, you probably avoid saturated fats in order to control your weight and help keep "bad" cholesterol levels down. 

But, an new study proves coconut oil increases "good" cholesterol, lowers the "bad" and plays a role in reducing the amount of belly fat your body hangs on to.

Here's the link, so you can read for yourself. The Amazing Oil that Trims Women's Waistlines by Dr Mercola.

While you're reading Dr. Mercola's article think about substituting coconut oil in your next recipe.

A lot of people use statin drugs to manage cholesterol. But, did you know that while statin drugs effectively lower cholesterol, they do not address the underlying cause of your high ch9lesterol. These potentially dangerous medications just cover up the problem.

On the other hand, Vitamin C works to lower cholesterol in the *exact same way* as statin drugs, and also works to repair damage to blood vessels so the body needs to produce less cholesterol.

Check out this slide show from the WHA for more information.