5 Herbs for Healthy Circulation
January 30, 2024
Has anyone ever shaken your hand and exclaimed, “Your hands are freezing. You must have poor circulation!” I know I’ve shaken many hands over the years and have encountered this myself. Sometimes having cold hands is merely a symptom of a cold environment and they warm up quickly, but other times it’s indicative of an underlying circulation issue.
In this Healthy Insight:
- Why is circulation important?
- Our 5 herbs for healthy circulation
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Bilberry
- Butcher’s Broom
- Cayenne
- Ginkgo Biloba
Why is circulation important?
Your circulatory system of arteries, veins and capillaries is a 60,000-mile super highway in which your blood hauls nutrients, water and oxygen to every single cell in your body…and it carries waste products out. If the road becomes blocked or narrows, traffic can back up or even grind to a halt.
Besides cold hands and feet, poor circulation affects every organ in your body because each depends on a rich supply of oxygen and nutrients to thrive. The good news is that there are herbs for healthy circulation that have helped others and may help you too.
Our 5 Herbs for Healthy Circulation
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Bilberry
- Butcher’s Broom
- Cayenne
- Ginkgo Biloba
Olive Leaf Extract
Olive Leaf Extract has been studied for its effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which in turn may foster healthy blood flow to the extremities. The antioxidant properties of the herb can help to protect the circulation and the heart from damage caused by free radicals.
Bilberry
This popular herb grows over much of Europe and is a distant cousin of the American blueberry. The leaves and berries have been used in traditional herbal medicine for hundreds of years. Although bilberry Although bilberry is best known for its vision benefits, it also works to enhance general circulation due to its active component, anthocyanidin flavonoids that function as antioxidants. These antioxidants protect and work to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries.
Butcher’s Broom
Also known as ruscus aculeatus, butcher’s broom is a classic circulatory herb that herbalists recommend to ease swelling, especially in the legs. The active ingredient in butcher’s broom is ruscogenin, which is believed to help tone the venous system and foster constriction of blood vessels. Butcher’s broom has been prized for centuries for its ability to support various health issues, but it was in the 1950s its circulation benefits came to light.
Cayenne
If you’ve bitten into an unexpectedly hot chili pepper, you’ve experienced the spice of cayenne first-hand with a warm hot feeling, watery eyes and a runny nose. This is a direct result of enhanced blood flow, and it happens quickly, usually within seconds! When ingested in a capsule, cayenne helps get the blood pumped up around your body and promotes a healthy heart and arteries. It’s a fantastic herb for healthy circulation.
Ginkgo Biloba
While you may think of it as the “memory herb,” it’s ginkgo’s ability to foster blood flow in your body, including your brain, that makes this herb a top pick for blood circulation in general. Like cayenne, it supports healthy blood flow and vessels. I highly recommend ginkgo for circulation, especially for cold hands and feet.
The longevity of these “circulation” herbs speaks for itself. Today millions depend on them for natural support. If you have circulation concerns, you owe it to yourself to give these herbs, or a blend of these herbs, a try.
