Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies. David Hoffmann
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the mixture. If tension or anxiety is present, use the following:
| Balm | 1 part |
| Lime Blossom |
1 part  |
This tea should also be drunk three times a day or as often as needed.
If this does not prove strong enough, use Skullcap and Valerian instead, as described in the chapter on the nervous system.
Palpitations
Quite separate from any organic heart disease, racing of the heart beat can occur and can be caused by a whole range of factors from menopause and allergies to fear and sexual excitement.
Apart from doing something about the specific cause whenever it is appropriate, there are a number of effective remedies that will reduce erratic and fast heart beats without affecting the heart in an adverse way. In addition to the remedies described for normalising heart activity, Broom, Bugleweed, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Passion Flower and Valerian are indicated.
A common occurrence is the speeding up of the heart rate due to anxiety and stress, which has been given the label ‘nervous tachycardia’. An excellent basic mixture for this problem is the following:
| Motherwort | 2 parts |
| Mistletoe | 1 part |
| Valerian |
1 part |
This should be drunk three times a day or as needed.
If there is any suggestion of heightened blood pressure or heart problems, Hawthorn Berries should be added.
Angina pectoris
This painful and distressing condition is brought about when the blood supply to the heart itself is deficient and leads to a lack of usable oxygen in the heart tissue, often brought about by physical exertion or emotional stress. This problem can be treated effectively and reversed if the treatment is spread over an adequate period of time. The aim of the therapy is to bring more blood, rich in oxygen, to the heart via the coronary arteries. A two-fold process has to bring this about. Initially the vessels can be dilated to allow more blood to flow through, but as a long term treatment, any blockage that is present in the vessels has also to be cleared. The key to this is the use of Hawthorn Berries, which will do both, given enough time and taken regularly.
An addition of Lime Blossom leads to excellent results, as it has the unique ability to clear any cholesterol deposits in vessels and guard against any further build up. A basic mixture:
| Hawthorn Berries | 3 parts |
| Motherwort | 2 parts |
| Lime Blossom | 2 parts |
| Lily of the Valley |
1 part |
This tea should be drunk three times a day over a long period; it will not immediately relieve the pain of an attack.
If there is an additional problem with high blood pressure, Mistletoe should be added to the mixture.
Angina has to be treated within the context of the complete state of health; the individual must be treated as a whole being and any other problem should also be taken into account. The state of the nervous system should be considered and treated appropriately. Further, the condition of the digestive system can have a profound effect. Constipation has to be treated as a priority, as any chronic constipation can put unnecessary pressure on the heart.
The guidelines at the beginning of the chapter regarding prevention should be taken into account, particularly the dietary limitations, which are vital, as is the recognition of stress. Exercise has to be moderate and gentle until the condition has been brought under control, otherwise an attack might be triggered off even though herbal medicine is taken. Raw Garlic in the diet can be most helpful in this problem as in all cardiovascular conditions.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a very common problem in our society. It can be caused by a range of primarily physical problems, in which case these must be seen to as appropriate, but it may also occur without any clear cause. It is this so-called ‘essential hypertension’ that will be discussed here. Whilst no specific cause is found with this very common variety of heightened blood pressure, there are some easily identifiable contributing factors. There is often a genetic disposition, stemming from a hereditary gift from one’s parents, but this tendency need not actually manifest physically if steps for its prevention are taken.
Stress and anxiety play a large part in this condition. Emotional problems, work pressure, and the state of the world (especially the state of the world!) can all contribute to a state of mind that is reflected in the body in a pattern of tension, inflexibility and constriction, a tightening of the whole being, so raising the blood pressure. There is a direct relationship mediated through the nerves, leading to a constriction of the peripheral blood vessels and influencing the heart beat. Relaxation therapy and bodywork techniques such as massage are very valuable in such cases, as they ease up the body. (See section on Relaxation in Nervous System chapter.)
Dietary factors can also be involved in two ways. When the diet is too rich in fats and carbohydrates, there is a strong chance that some of the extra fat is deposited on the walls of the blood vessels. This atheroma, the fatty deposit, will directly raise the blood pressure. High blood pressure can also be caused by an allergy to certain foods. Whereas sometimes the allergy may be obvious and overt, in many cases it is subclinical and not easy to detect. Such mild reactions often show themselves through an elevation of blood pressure. A common cause is an allergy to dairy products. This can easily be checked by withdrawing all milk products for one to two weeks, and seeing what happens, then reintroducing them and comparing blood pressures as well as any subjective impressions.
The level of blood pressure in the body is maintained by a complex mechanism. Complex as it is, we can draw valuable conclusions by comparing it to basic hydraulics: if there is an increase of fluid in the system the pressure will go up as through water retention; similarly if the volume decreases by constriction of vessels or ‘furring’ by deposits; or if the force of the pumping goes up if there are heart problems.
There are a number of herbs that will dilate the peripheral blood vessels, thereby increasing the total volume of the system. Similarly, there are herbs that will help the kidneys to pass more water, thus reducing the amount of fluid in the system. There are others to normalise the activity of the heart, safely decreasing the force with which the blood is pumped through the body. The most important remedies are Buckwheat, Cramp Bark, Garlic, Hawthorn Berries, Lime Blossom, Mistletoe and Yarrow.
As always, the actual approach to each individual will vary according to their unique needs. As a basic guide, this mixture is effective: