cardiovascular disease

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dear all...

 

for the benefit of everyone on the list, here is a section on the

holistic treatment of cardiovascular disease, published as part of a

course manual called "Applied Phytotherapeutics: Dwelling in the

Heart," offered as part of the clinical herbalist diploma program at

Wild Rose College in Calgary, Canada.

 

The names of the herbs are given in their latin names, so those of you

not familiar with these names will want to have a herbal book by your

side to determine the common name, if needed. As you can see, the

approach is an admixture of Western, Ayurvedic and Chinese perspectives

and herbs.

 

please note that the material is copyrighted: I present it here for

educational purposes only

 

i recommend that those of you suffering from CVD and especially those

already on pharmaceuticals apply this regimen under the supervision of

a trained practitioner ONLY, Ayurvedic or otherwise

 

not everything in the protocol described below needs to be implemented

- only those which make sense in the particular circumstance

in the protocol i delineate the separate individual nutrients and

herbs: a series of good formulations however could reduce the number of

supplements to only 3 or 4 products daily, e.g. a b-complex w/ folic

acid and b-12, instead of taking them individually

 

the most important recommendations revolve around dietary changes and

nutritional supplementation

 

if you are on a statin (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors), it is highly

recommended that you start taking CoQ10, as these drugs shut down the

synthesis of this very important nutrient for the heart; further, if

you are taking calcium-channel blockers, be careful with magnesium,

because it has a similar activity (in this respect: magnesium is a Ca

antagonist)

 

and while it is a protocol that address the biomechanics of CVD, it can

be easily incorporated along with any spiritual regimen, particularly

those that open the heart, facilitate joy and overcomes emotional

obstructions such as anger, greed and fear

 

om shanti

 

****

 

Holistic Treatment of Atherosclerosis

by Todd Caldecott

 

"Generally speaking, the holistic perspective on the origin of

atherosclerosis is related to an underlying metabolic dysfunction

caused by alterations in diet and lifestyle. This idea is based on

sound epidemiological and anthropological research that indicates that

the incidence of atherosclerosis is for the most part a disease of

people that eat a highly refined modern diet, rich in carbohydrates,

plentiful in oxidizing and toxic compounds, and deficient in key

nutrients including minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, and

plant-based antioxidants. Concommitant factors include a sedentary

lifestyle (which promotes insulin resistance) and environmental

pollutants, e.g. cigarettes, air pollution etc., some of which are

easier to control (i.e. smoking, exercise) than others (i.e. air

pollution). The result this exposure to environmental toxins, a lack

of exercise, and a dusfunctional eating pattern are metabolic problems

such as chronic hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and

dyslipidemia, free radical production, and impaired detoxification.

Thus the focus in holistic treatment is to reduce the glycemic load of

the diet, and supplement with key nutrients that may be deficient and

can enhance antioxidant and detoxification pathways in the body.

 

While the atheroma is fingered as the causal agent of atherosclerosis,

and indeed, defines the nature of the condition, a holistic perspective

suggests that the atheroma develops as a transient response to

endothelial injury, to inhibit further endothelial injury by promoting

a local thickening of the endothelial wall: essentially, chewing gum

stuck in a crack of a dam about to burst. The transient and reversible

nature of the atheroma suggests that if correct measures are taken to

eliminate endothelial injury the atheroma will eventually be replaced

by normal endothelial tissue. If the factors that cause damage to the

endothelium are chronic however, the temporary method the body uses to

protect against further endothelial injury becomes a secondary source

of injury, narrowing the lumen of the vessels, placing stress on the

heart, and then eventually, occluding the vessel so as to promote

ischemia. The process of atherosclerosis is thus dependent upon

chronic, underlying factors that promote the continuance of the

atheroma, in much the same way that a scab that is constantly picked

will never heal, and will result in a much larger lesion than

originally sustained.

 

From a traditional herbal perspective, atherosclerosis can be seen as a

dysfunction of blood, specifically, in its constitution and its

movement. The constitution of the blood is in large part a

manifestation of digestive processes, and thus an assessment of

digestion should be carefully undertaken. Specifically, it is the job

of the liver build, replenish and filter the blood, and thus problems

relating to the constitution of blood (e.g. blood viscosity,

dyslipidemia etc.) demonstrates a need for upregulating liver function

with the use of cholagogues, e.g. Berberis, Curcuma, Taraxacum,

Buplerum, Chelidonium. In Chinese and Ayurvedic terms an increase in

blood viscosity or dyslipidemia relates to the accumulation of phlegm,

and thus phlegm-reducing (i.e. kaphahara) remedies such as Commiphora,

Zingiber, Capsicum, Rosmarinus, Zanthoxylum and Allium sativum can be

used in conjunction with cholagogue remedies.

 

Given the obstructive nature of atherosclerosis the movement of blood

is an extremely important consideration, and the nature of the

treatment can be implemented based on the presenting signs and

symptoms. Generally speaking, it is always wise to include stimulants

such as Zingiber, Capsicum and Allium sativum in any therapy directed

to atherosclerosis to enhance the processing of blood via the liver,

and to dispel the archetypal accumulation of phlegm that underlies the

obstructive nature of the atheroma. In many cases however the

atherosclerotic patient will present with a substantial deficiency, qi

deficiency in Chinese terms, or an increase in vata in Ayuervedic

terms. Besides typical symptoms of cold hands and feet, there will be

chronic fatigue, poor digestion, and weak pulse. Treatment is

orientated to building up the vital essence and restoring the natural

heat of the body with nutritive, blood-moving herbs such as Angelica

sinensis, Astragalus, Commiphora, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Withania, Panax,

Atractylodes, prepared Aconitum carmichaeli and the non-toxic Indian

species Aconitum heterophyllum.

 

Besides the condition and movement of the blood, attention must also be

directed to the integrity of the vessel walls. In Chinese medicine the

vessels are said to be regulated by the Spleen, and thus in chronic

Spleen qi deficiency the vessels are weak and become susceptible to

damage and rupture. Once again, qi-restorative herbs such as those

described above are similarly appropriate. Attention should also be

directed to using botanicals that have a trophorestorative function on

the endothelium. Many of these botanicals are particularly rich in

polyphenols such as flavonoids and tannins (e.g. ellagitannins,

proanthocyanidins) including Ginkgo, Vaccinium, Terminalia arjuna,

Phyllanthus emblica, Curcuma, Centella, Achillea and Vitis vinifera

seed.

 

Overall, the holistic approach in the treatment of atherosclerosis is

as follows:

 

1. Reduce the glycemic load of the diet. Adopt a low-carbohydrate

diet, and eliminate all refined carbohydrates including sugar, candy,

soda pop, cookies, deserts, baked goods and pasta for a minimum period

of three months. After which time, whole-grain carbohydrates (e.g.

rice, barley, quinoa) can be rotated back into the diet.

 

2. Eliminate toxic foods from the diet. Including hydrogenated and

trans-fats (e.g. margarine, deep-fried foods), feed-lot meat and farmed

salmon, dairy, etc.

 

3. Supplement for deficient nutrients.

•vitamin B complex, 100 mg daily

•folic acid, 1 g daily

•cobalamin, 1000 mcg daily

•vitamin C, 1-5 g bid-tid, to bowel tolerance

•vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), 400-800 IU daily, increase dose

gradually

•EPA/DHA, 1000-2000 mg each daily

•magnesium, 800 mg daily, in divided doses, with meals

•chromium, 200-300 mcg daily, in divided doses, with meals

•selenium, 100 mcg daily

•chelated multimineral, taken with the above minerals; or high quality

kelp (seaweed) supplement (5-15 g daily)

•CoQ10, 50 mg daily

•flavonoids (mixed, e.g. quercitin, rutin, anthocyanidins), 3-5 g daily

 

4. Support liver, enhance detoxification: Berberis, Curcuma, Taraxacum,

Buplerum, Chelidonium etc.

 

5. Promote circulation and blood flow, reduce blood viscosity (i.e.

phlegm, kapha): Commiphora, Zingiber, Capsicum, Rosmarinus,

Zanthoxylum, Allium sativum, Piper longum etc.

 

6. Cardiovascular trophorestoration: Ginkgo, Vaccinium, Terminalia

arjuna, Phyllanthus emblica, Curcuma, Centella, Achillea etc.

 

7. Rebuild the vital essence (i.e. qi, ojas): e.g. Angelica sinensis,

Astragalus, Commiphora, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Withania, Panax,

Atractylodes etc.

 

8. Exercise: in particular, anaerobic exercise (muscle-building) is

more effective than aerobic exercise (jumping, running) to reduce

insulin resistance, e.g. calesthenics (e.g. pushups, lunges, chin ups

etc.), walking or bicycling uphill, hiking, martial arts,

weight-lifting; note that any exercise regimen should be implemented

gradually"

Caldecott

phyto

http://www.wrc.net/phyto