Several other herbs including green tea, ginger, bilberry, peony, turmeric, rosemary, fenugreek and butchers broom have all been the subject of preliminary trials with some good results; however more studies need to be done to authenticate their effectiveness for use as circulation enhancers and cholesterol antioxidants. 1-11
1. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Dayasagar Rao V. Hypolipidaemic effect of fenugreek seeds. A clinical study. Phytother Res 1991;5:145–7.
2. Serafini M, Ghiselli A, Ferro-Luzzi A. In vivo antioxidant effect of green tea in man. Eur J Clin Nutr 1996;50:28–32.
3. van het Hof KH, de Boer HS, Wiseman SA, et al. Consumption of green or black tea does not increase resistance of low-density lipoprotein to oxidation in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:1125–32.
4. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraceum L) on blood lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease. Prostagland Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 1997;56:379–84.
5. Lumb AB. Effect of dried ginger on human platelet function. Thromb Haemost 1994;7:110–1.
6. Janssen PL, Meyboom S, van Staveren WA, et al. Consumption of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) does not affect ex vivo platelet thromboxane production in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr 1996;50:772–4.
7. Srivastava R, Dikshit M, Srimal RC, Dhawan BN. Anti-thrombotic action of curcumin. Throm Res 1985;404:413–7.
8. Srivastava KC, Bordia A, Verma SK. Curcumin, a major component of food spice turmeric (Curcuma longa) inhibits aggregation and alters eicosanoid metabolism in human blood platelets. Prost Leuk Essen Fat Acids. 1995;52:223–7.
9. Pulliero G, Montin S, et al. Ex vivo study of the inhibitory effects of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) anthocyanosides on human platelet aggregation. Fitoterapia 1989;60:69–75.
10. Liu J. Effect of Paeonia obovata 801 on metabolism of thromboxane B2 and arachidonic acid and on platelet aggregation in patients with coronary heart disease and cerebral thrombosis. Chin Med J 1983;63:477–81 [in Chinese].
11. Felix W, Schmidt Y, Nieberle J. Protective effect of Ruscus extract against injury of vascular endothelium and vascular smooth muscle caused by ethracrynic acid. Int Angiol 1983;3:77.
Garlic is at the top of the list for several good reasons. Studies reported that not only has garlic prevented atherosclerosis, it also lowers cholesterol levels and prevents platelet aggregation. Aged garlic extracts but not raw garlic stops oxidation of LDL cholesterol which is probably the first stage of plaquing. 1-4
1. Koscienlny J, Klüßendorf D, Latza R, et al. The anti-atherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum. Atherosclerosis 1999;144:237–49.
2. Neil HAW, Silagy CA, Lancaster T, et al. Garlic powder in the treatment of moderate hyperlipidaemia: A controlled trial and a meta-analysis. J R Coll Phys 1996;30:329–34.
3. Kiesewetter H, Jung F, Pindur G, et al. Effect of garlic on thrombocyte aggregation, microcirculation and other risk factors. Int J Pharm Ther Toxicol 1991;29(4):151–5.
4. Srivastava KC, Tyagi OD. Effect of a garlic derived principle (ajoene) on aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism in human blood platelets. Prostagl Leukotr Ess Fatty Acids 1993;49:587–95.
5. Munday JS, James KA, Fray LM, et al. Daily supplementation with aged garlic extract, but not raw garlic, protects low density lipoprotein against in vitro oxidation. Atherosclerosis 1999;143:399–404.
Gingko has been used for millennia to increase circulation to the brain however new research shows it is also good for increasing circulation to the arms and legs and reducing overall atherosclerosis by lowering the levels of PAF, a chemical created by the body which causes blood platelets to stick together which reduces over-activation of coagulation of blood cells. 1-4
1. Braquet P, Touqui L, Shen TS, Vargaftig BB. Perspectives in platelet activating factor research. Pharmacol Rev 1987;39:97–210.
2. Brown DJ. Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996, 119–28.
3. Kiesewetter H, Jung F, Mrowietz C, et al. Effects of garlic on blood fluidity and fibrinolytic activity: A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Br J Clin Pract Suppl 1990;69:24–9.
4. Jung F, Mrowietz C, Kiesewetter H, Wenzel E. Effect of Ginkgo biloba on fluidity of blood and peripheral microcirculation in volunteers. Arzneimittelforschung 1990;40:589–93.
This Ayurvedic herb lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels and prevents oxidation of LDL. One study reported it works as well as clofibrate, a common prescription drug used to reduce platelet aggregation.
The dose used in these trials was 1500 mg of extract per day however 75 mg per day is a common dose used. 58- 63
