This week we will be discussing the Heart, and the herb Hawthorne. We will be talking about the physical things we can do to keep our hearts in good working order as well as some of the things that are detrimental to its function. As I am learning in my studies there are emotional/spiritual aspects that come into play as well, but for this issue we will deal with the physical.

This information is not intended to replace or substitute for proper medical treatment. Its sole intention is to inform and educate. If you decide to use this information for self-treatment, please do so either with your physician’s knowledge or supervision. If your physician is unwilling to work with you in the area of alternatives, find a physician that will. Remember, it is your body and you are paying him for his services. Your wishes should be taken into consideration. It is also my recommendation that you do some research on your own. If you plan to use alternatives, make sure that the information you have is accurate. You will feel better about what you are doing if you have first hand knowledge and besides that, you just might learn something.

CONTENTS

The Heart

Interesting Facts

Hawthorne

 

 

The Heart

 The heart is the driving force behind the circulatory system. It is a muscular organ that is about the size of your fist and is located in the center of your chest, between the lungs and it tips toward the left. Its function is to supply the force to circulate blood throughout the body. The blood moves oxygen and nutrition to the cells of the body as well as carries waste and other substances away from the cells. On average the heart pumps about 6,000 quarts of blood per day.

We all know what it takes to keep your heart healthy; Exercise, proper diet, and finding ways to release our daily stress. This list is no where as long as the list of things that we do to our hearts that are detrimental to its proper function. Some of the things that are detrimental to heart health include salt, which can harden the arterial walls. Excess levels or imbalances of cholesterol (LDL or bad cholesterol) can corrode or narrow the inside of the arterial walls and this in turn restricts the flow of blood to the rest of the body. High blood pressure, over periods of time can weaken as well as enlarge the heart and can also weaken artery walls. Tobacco (smoking) causes blood vessels and arteries to constrict which makes the heart work harder in order to get the blood through the veins. Not getting enough oxygen to the lungs deprives all tissue, including the heart. Being overweight also makes the heart work much harder. And if let go too long, the strep germ can cause Rheumatic fever, which can enlarge as well as severely weaken the heart. This is in no way a complete list, but I’m sure you get the idea.

If you happen to fall into any of the above categories some of the things you might encounter as far as symptoms or other health conditions could include chest pains and or pain to the arms, especially the left arm, trouble breathing, becoming easily fatigued, swollen extremities, blue lips, fingernails, and skin. Fluid build-up in the abdominal area, distention of veins in the neck, retaining water in the legs from the knee down, and extremities falling asleep or feeling numb may all be symptoms of heart problems. Some conditions that are directly associated with heart health follow:

Enlarged Heart – This condition has both a good side and a bad side. The good side would be that the heart is enlarged because of proper exercise. The bad side would include things such as improper exercise habits, a bad diet, Rheumatic fever, or prolonged heart and circulatory disease.

Rheumatic Fever – This is a condition caused by the strep germ which involves serious inflammation of the heart and the joints. Children and young adults are most vulnerable.

Atherosclerosis – This is a general term for several diseases in which the walls of the artery become thicker and less elastic. It can effect the arteries in the brain, heart, kidneys, and other vital organs as well as the arms and legs. This disease is the leading killer in the United States and most other Western countries. It caused almost 1 million deaths in 1992, which is twice as many as cancer and 10 times as many as died in accidents.

Heart Failure – This condition is also called congestive heart failure. It is a condition in which the quantity of blood pumped by the heart each minute is not sufficient to meet the body's normal requirements for oxygen and nutrients. This condition does not necessarily mean that the heart has stopped beating. This problem is more common in the elderly as they are more likely to have the disease that causes it. This condition usually gets worse over time and some people live with this condition for years. About 70% of people diagnosed with heart failure die within ten years of the diagnoses.

Cardiomyopathy – This is a progressive disorder that alters the structure or impairs the function of the muscular wall of the lower chambers of the heart. Many known diseases can cause it or it may have no identifiable cause.

Mitral Valve Regurgitation – This condition involves leakage back through the mitral valve each time the left ventricle contracts. This increases the volume of blood as well as the pressure in the left atrium. What happens then is the blood pressure raises in the blood vessels leading from the lungs to the heart. What this causes is a fluid build up (congestion) in the lungs.

Mitral Valve Prolapse – With this condition, the valve leaflets bulge into the left atrium during ventricular contraction, sometimes allowing leakage (regurgitation) of small amounts of blood into the atrium. Approximately 2-5% of the population has this condition, but it rarely causes any serious heart problems.

Endocarditis – This is inflammation of the smooth interior lining of the heart (the endocardium), and most often results from a bacterial infection. People with normal heart valves, no harm is done by this bacteria because the body’s white blood cells destroy this bacteria. Damaged heart valves, however, can trap the bacteria, which then lodge on the endocardium and start to multiply.

Low Blood Pressure – (Hypotension) This is blood pressure low enough to cause symptoms such as dizziness and fainting. If this condition is too low the blood cannot supply the body with enough oxygen and nutrition or to properly remove waste.

Shock – This is a life threatening condition in which the blood pressure is too low to sustain life.

High Blood Pressure – (Hypertension) This is normally a symptomless condition in which abnormally high pressure in the arteries increases the risks of problems such as strokes, aneurysm, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney damage. Hypertension to many means excessive tension, nervousness, or stress. In medical terms it refers to elevated blood pressure. It usually has no symptoms until a vital organ is damaged and has been called "the silent killer."

Coronary Artery Disease – A condition in which fatty deposits accumulate in the cells lining the wall of a coronary artery and obstruct the blood flow. These deposits build up gradually and are scattered in the large branches of the two main coronary arteries; which encircle the heart and supply it with blood.

Angina – This condition is also called angina pectoris. It is temporary chest pain or a sensation of pressure that occurs while the heart muscle isn’t receiving enough oxygen. Oxygen needs for the heart are determined by how hard it has to work. When the arteries are blocked or narrowed and the heart has to work harder, due to exercise or other factors, the blood flow to the heart muscle can’t increase to meet its need for more oxygen. Ischemia (poor blood supply to an organ) may then occur, causing pain.

Heart Attack – This is a medical emergency in which some of the hearts blood supply is suddenly severely restricted or cut off, causing the heart muscle to die from lack of oxygen. Damage to the heart will be directly related to which artery is clogged or blocked.

 

Location of the Heart in Different Modalities:

Kinesiology:
Slightly left of center of the chest, between the lungs. Can test for the aorta, all four chambers and valves.

Iridology:
If there is a problem in the Heart it will appear at 3:00 in the left eye. It sometimes appears as a diamond shaped lesion. Venous congestion and poor circulation may also be an indication of a weakened heart.

Reflexology:
On the left foot only, just before the ball of the foot down from the toe next to the pinky.

Some Additional Comments:

Excess in salt, alcohol, or eating weakens the system, including the heart.

Eating right before you go to bed is very hard on the heart.

There are many health professionals that counsel people to take an aspirin a day. Short term use of aspirin helps thin the blood and is a mild anticoagulant (anti-clotting agent), but studies are beginning to show that long term use causes a homeostasis (body rebalancing mechanism) effect where the body will actually overcompensate and the blood will actually start to thicken.

A great pulse rate is 60 – 70 beats per minute.

The minerals Magnesium/Calcium and Potassium are what cause the heart to contract and relax. These minerals have to be in balance for the heart to beat effectively. If you get charley horses you may want to increase your potassium intake, a fluttering heart or chocolate craving may be Magnesium, and irregular heartbeat could be calcium. CAUTION: If these minerals are isolated, they can be dangerous if you mega dose.

The ideal blood pressure is around 120/80.

Red flush on the face could indicate high blood pressure.

Body signs are bluish legs, lips, and nail beds, and creases on the ears.

Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, and other Supplements traditionally used for the Heart:

Vitamins:
A, B complex, B-1, C, D, and E.

Minerals:
Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Natural sodium, Manganese, and Iron.

Herbs:

Gingko – strengthens the heart and aids circulation.

Garlic – dissolves cholesterol and opens the blood vessels.

Ephedra – strengthens the heartbeat while slowing it. This herb can raise blood pressure and should not be used with caffeine or when pregnant.

Blessed Thistle – strengthens the heart.

Gotu Kola – strengthens the heart and helps to lower blood pressure.

Rosemary – heart tonic.

Cornsilk – natural diuretic.

Capsicum – blood pressure and blood vessel health.

Kelp – helps clean out the arteries.

Mistletoe – constricts blood vessels and stimulates heartbeat. CAUTION: In both the American mistletoe and the European mistletoe, the berries are poisonous, and large doses of mistletoe have a detrimental effect on heart action. Please use with care and only under medical supervision.

Myrrh Extract – quickens the heart action.

Hawthorne Berries – strengthens the heart muscle. It is used for rapid and feeble heart, and is also used for valve defects.

Guggul Lipid – cardiac tonic. Clears cholesterol from veins and arteries, lowers triglycerides, breaks up hardening and stagnation.

Herbal Combinations: (Nature’s Sunshine Products)

Gingko/Hawthorne – builds and nourishes the heart.

Gingko/Gotu Kola – builds and helps circulation.

Capsicum & Garlic w/Parsley – help for high blood pressure.

Stress Relief, Chinese – helps a stressed heart. Takes tension out of the chest.

HS II – stimulates the heart and strengthens the circulatory system.

Other Supplements or Combinations: (Nature’s Sunshine Products)

L-Carnitine and L-Taurine – Low L-Taurine levels has been associated with heart weakness. Free amino acids can help.

Calcium & Magnesium – controls the heartbeat

Omega 3 EPA – helps lower triglyceride levels in the blood, improves circulation with less platelet stickiness, and reduces blood pressure.

Lecithin – helps to reverse hardening of the arteries and helps to reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

Mega-Chel – an oral supplement to help promote an effective gradual chelation process.

CoQ10 – regulates heartbeat and keeps oxygen in the cells longer.

INTERESTING FACTS

A study tested whether behaviors such as discarding obvious fat on meat, cessation of smoking, avoidance of passive smoking, habitual use of low fat milk, prudent consumption of alcohol, and regular but moderate physical exercise are associated with a reduction of cardiovascular risk. A study consisted of 336 men aged 27 – 64 years who had a first heart attack during the period 1992 – 1993 in Australia, and who survived at least 28 days. This and the control group completed the same questionnaire. The results showed that simple measures such as participation in non-vigorous exercise, and avoidance of additional salt are associated with significant and important protection from a second heart attack. This demonstrates that after 25 years of falling mortality in Australia, lifestyles can still be significantly improved to reduce heart disease even further. International Journal of Epidemiology, 1999, Vol. 28, Iss. 5, pp. 846-852

Atherosclerosis has classically been attributed to high blood cholesterol. Recently, it has been found that reduced blood levels of folic acid, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 are related to the cause of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. These deficiencies lead to inadequate production of S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe), creating a condition of low methylation. It is hypothesized that this causes low methylation of the DNA in cells in the lining of the arteries resulting in mutation and proliferation of smooth-muscle cells. This leads to the formation of lipid deposits in the arteries. It is further hypothesized that such action can be reversed by megadoses of these three vitamins to reduce or remove existing lipid deposits. Therefore, it is recommended that all people suffering from atherosclerosis and having deficiencies of any of these three vitamins and/or an elevation of blood homocysteine, receive supplementation to prevent worsening of their condition. Medical Hypotheses, 1999, Vol.53, Iss. 5, pp. 421-424

Recent reports indicate that supplemental Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is moderately effective as a treatment for hypertension. CoQ10 seems to have a direct impact on the vascular wall and is associated with a lowering of peripheral resistance. A reason for this may be that CoQ10 is either scavenging or suppressing the synthesis of superoxide (an oxygen free radical, toxic to cells). CoQ10 seems to improve the mechanisms that transfer high-energy electrons from the cytoplasm of the cell to the mitochondria (the principal energy source of the cell which contain the enzymes of electron transport), and thus CoQ10 may decrease NADH levels in the cytoplasm. (NADH binds as a coenzyme to proteins in respiratory metabolism). This thereby diminishes the power that drives the creation of superoxide in tissue. If CoQ10 therapy does indeed lower superoxide levels, it can be expected to decrease the risk of cardiovascular blood clots associated with hypertension. Medical Hypotheses, 1999, Vol. 53, Iss. 4, pp. 300-304

 

HAWTHORN BERRIES
TONIC FOR THE HEART

Scientific Name: Crataegus oxycanthia

Common Names: Mayblossom, Mayflower, Whitehorn, and Hagthorn.

Description: Hawthorn grows either as a bushy, spiny shrub or as a tree which can reach a height of up to ten meters. In May the plant produces lovely white and sometimes pinkish blossoms—earning hawthorn the folk names "mayblossom" and "moonflower"—with clusters of small, red fruit appearing in the fall. Hawthorn is native to East Asia, Europe, and Eastern North America.

History: Hawthorn was well-known in ancient times. It symbolized hope and fertility to the Greeks, and Romans placed the leaves in babies’ cribs to ward off threatening spirits. The plant’s image was somewhat tarnished; however, by the Christian tradition that held that the crown of thorns worn by Christ was fashioned from hawthorn twigs and by beliefs that the herb was associated with the bubonic plague.

By the sixteenth century the plant had shed much of its unfortunate reputation and began to be recognized by herbalists for its effectiveness in treating weaknesses of the heart. In the late eighteenth century the herb began to be prescribed for a variety of heart and circulatory ailments such as high and low blood pressure, rapid pulse, arrhythmic heartbeat, and as a temporary reliever of angina pain. Today Hawthorn is widely regarded as the world’s best cardiotonic.

Modern Uses: Hawthorn is a cardiotonic used to prevent degradation of the cardiovascular system. Hawthorn may be preferred over its prescription drug counterpart as most digitalis derivatives are not only addictive, but may also cause some patients to experience symptoms of poisoning. In over a hundred years of clinical use, and even when tested at higher than recommended levels, there have been no reports of toxicity among hawthorn users.

Hawthorn lessens anginal attacks by improving coronary blood supply. Use of hawthorn also tends to normalize both low and high blood pressure. The plant has also been found to decrease free fatty acid and lactate buildup while increasing triglyceride concentrations, which suggests an anabolic (or upbuilding) effect on metabolism. Hawthorn has been clinically shown to destroy experimentally-induced blockades of anaerobic glycolysis, a condition that typifies some forms of heart disease.

Recommendations: The healthful effects of hawthorn are gradual, and are best realized through extended, moderate use. Preparations generally combine the leaves and the flowers. Capsules should be taken in the amount of two capsules, twice daily, with meals. Liquid extracts are generally taken twice daily in ½ tsp. doses, with water. Since hawthorn is an active cardiotonic agent, users should consult a physician when combining this herb with other cardiac drugs.

Sources:

Chinese Herbal Remedies by Albert Y. Leung (New York: Universe Books, 1984).
"Hawthorn" in Herbalgram (Spring, 1990).
Herbal Tonic Therapies by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D. (New Canaan, Connecticutt: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1993).
Herbs That Heal by Michael A. Weiner, Ph.D. and Janet Weiner (Mill Valley, California: Quantum Books, 1994).
Left for Dead by Dick Quinn (Minneapolis: R.F. Quinn publishing Co., 1992).
Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pederson (Warsaw, Indiana: Wendell W. Whitman Company, 1994).
The Book of Herbs by Dorothy Hall (London: Pan Books, 1972).
The Energetics of Western Herbs by Peter Holmes (Boulder, Colorado: Artemis Press, 1989).
The Healing Herbs by Michael Castleman (Emmanus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, 1991).
The Wild Rose Scientific Herbal by Terry Willard, Ph.D. (Calgary, Alberta: Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, 1991).

For educational purposes only
This handout was prepared by Nature’s Field
P.O. Box 425, Springville, UT 84663
It may be copied and distributed provided
It is not altered in any way.