Interested in the most popular Chinese heart medicines? Find out about the herbs that are most popularly used in order to promote good heart health.
When it comes to treating heart diseases Chinese medicine identifies two constituents in herbs as being highly effective. These are flavonoids and triterpenes. The fact that these substances are non toxic makes it extremely safe to ingest them in high quantities on a daily basis. There are many different Chinese herbs that are rich in these substances and are primary ingredients in the most popular Chinese heart medicines.
The main Chinese herbs that are rich in flavonoids are:
Ginko
Ginko has been one of the oldest herbs used for medicinal purposes in China. It has bundles of medicinal benefits including the ability to stabilize cell membranes, enhance oxygen, improving blood circulation and reducing free radical damage. It finds the ability to do this because of the flavonoids that are present in it. Ginko serves as a prominent ingredient in herbal medicines developed for the purpose of treating heart diseases because it is can work wonders for the blood vessels and nerves. The herb also helps to promote blood circulation in the body and can effectively treat the hardening of arteries which may lead to a heart attack if left untreated.
Hawthorn fruit
The leaves and flowers of this plant are used in many Chinese herbal remedies for the heart. It is especially powerful for congestive heart failures and other cardiac problems such as cardiac arrhythmia, angina, atherosclerosis and hypertension. The leaves, flowers and berries of hawthorn fruit are rich in a wide variety of bioflavonoids that are most beneficial against cardiac diseases.
The use of this herb in Chinese medicines helps to increase coronary blood flow while decreasing the arterial blood pressure and increasing skeletal muscle blood flow. It also helps to prevent heart diseases by altering the heart rate vivo, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.
Hawthrhorn flavonoid polymers are low in toxicity and have a profound hypotensive activity. They are strong in nature and act as a long lasting cardiac tonic along with having some detoxifying properties.
Other flavonoid rich Chinese herbs include green tea, red grapes and soybeans.
Rhodiola rosea
This remarkable herb has been used throughout history for a wide variety of purposes. It is known for its ability to strengthen the nervous system, enhance the immune system, memory, weight loss, sexual functions and energy. Due to its main active ingredient being triterpenes it has been used to promote good heart health in Chinese medicine. Amongst other things it has also been prescribed for TB and cancer.
It helps to resolve cardiac problems that develop due to stress. It does this by reducing the amount of catecholamines along with the corticosteroids that are released by the adrenal glands when the individual is under stress. This eventually leads to cardiac problems which the use of Rhodiola rosea can help against.
Gynostemma
This powerful herb is more commonly famous as JiaoGulan is known to work as an adaptogen and a tonic. It helps to maintain a healthy immune system and promotes over all well being. With its active ingredient being triterpenes it helps to maintain a healthy cardiovascular function which is why it is used in the most popular Chinese herbal medicines for the heart.