Medicinal Herbs and More

Nathaniel Whitmore

Hawthorn is one of the best-known herbs for the heart. It lowers blood pressure (or raises it if needed), tones the blood vessels, reduces cholesterol, and so much more. It, along with many others like motherwort, scullcap, and self-heal (all local wild plants), also has the ability to calm and strengthen the nervous system, which addresses one of the main contributors to hypertension- stress. Oyster mushrooms seem to help lower cholesterol. Other mushrooms, especially reishi, are also used for a spectrum of heart problems.

The heart is the seat of emotions. The effect of the mind and emotions on the anatomical heart is profound. Even modern medicine admits this when it acknowledges that stress is a major contributor of heart disease. Diet and exercise level are two of the other most significant factors of heart disease. This means that diet, lifestyle, and mental/emotional health factors (along with other factors, like smoking) control America’s leading cause of death. Imagine the amount and variety of pharmaceuticals used to control heart disease in this country. Imagine the use and interest in medicinal herbs for heart problems.

Both drugs and herbs have their problems, though. Drug interactions are very significant. Most of the strongest acting herbs are no longer in common use because of their danger. The herbs that were traditionally used for serious heart problems, like foxglove, hellebore, and lily-of-the-valley, are all listed as “poisonous” in the field guides and rarely employed by today’s herbalist. The other herbs (such as those listed at the start of this article) used for heart problems are slow acting. They gradually strengthen, tone, and cleanse, but usually do not perform miracles (though, on occasion they seem to). More important than these issues is the basic fact that symptomatic medicines do not address the cause.

Since we can clearly understand the general causes that lead to heart disease, it is relatively easy to address these root factors. For one thing, aerobic exercise is key. It strengthens the heart and burns calories and otherwise infinitely benefits the body and mind. Diet is also important where whole foods such as grains, beans, and vegetables nourish a strong and healthy heart. Heavy fatty foods clog and congest the heart, and those foods that are too yin (such as stimulants) weaken the heart. Such foods should therefore be avoided. Food is also important because of its effect on the mind. You cannot expect to be free of stress on a mental or emotional level if your body is stressed out on a physical level.

The heart is proof that the body and mind are one. Exercise has obvious physical benefit. It also calms the mind, reducing the emotional turmoil that creates the stress that leads to heart disease. Diet must be balanced for a healthy body and mind. Deep breathing exercises, yoga, and chi gung all benefit blood pressure. The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems have a direct influence on the heart.

It is not just in the heart, however, that we find the mind/body connection. I choose to focus on this organ because of its relevance regarding America’s health, the connection between the mental and physical factors is easy to see, and the most advanced science has been forced (over and over again) to admit that physical and mental factors are interconnected. Herbs are great for treating heart problems because they have the ability to address the broad range of factors. (We already discussed how they can address stress, heart strength, and cholesterol.) We must still consider the underlying cause. Why do we end up with the poor eating habits and lifestyles that lead to heart disease, or other diseases? Is it because we are exposed more to the marketing of foods for profit than we are educated on proper foods? Is it because we do not have the time to cook? Or exercise? Why don’t we have the time anyway?- Oh, yeah! It is the stressful jobs that we have no choice but to sustain; the jobs that we must work at while our dreams sit on the back burner, or are simply tossed out of the window. Life dreams are those heartfelt aspirations that give life meaning and joy. Could heart disease be the result of not living one’s dream, a deep sort of heartbreak or regret? How can we expect herbs or drugs to fix that? Or even diet and exercise?

When you are put on a drug for a heart problem, you become dependent on the drug. Take away the drug and the problem returns. That means that the problem is still there. How can one’s condition be changed deeply and completely?

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