If you’re looking for a natural blood thinner, you may be able to find some effective options that work for you. However, even herbal supplements and over-the-counter picks can pose various side effects and health risks. Consult with a medical professional before adopting a natural treatment plan, especially if you have already been directed to daily take a prescription medication like Coumadin or Plavix or to take an over-the-counter pick like Aspirin.
Do natural blood thinners really work?
There If you have a serious risk of restricted blood flow, taking a natural blood thinner may not be effective enough to keep you safe and your doctor or healthcare practitioner satisfied.
Although it’s wonderful when natural alternatives can replace medication, some circumstances are serious enough to warrant taking pharmaceuticals. If your trusted medical professional advises you that taking a prescription option is necessary to minimize your risks of possibly fatal conditions, don’t dismiss that important and customized feedback.
If you don’t have an imminent danger, your healthcare professional may recommend or approve of a natural treatment plan to help thin your blood since there are a number of natural products that have been shown to deliver mild blood-thinning results. However, there is still a lack of medical research to identify what kind of dosing is optimal and necessary. Without a clear set of established usage directions, there may be unknown risks from taking a medicinal quantity of any natural substance for thinning your blood.
What kinds of foods and supplements demonstrate anticoagulant activity?
Water
|
Garlic
|
Ginger
|
Bromelain
|
Turmeric
Curcumin is an antioxidant that also fights free radicals and may possess additional cardiovascular benefits. However, conclusive research is sparse and the antioxidant is sometimes injected rather than digested in certain studies so it’s hard to definitively trust that turmeric can solve your blood-related problems. |
Feverfew
|
Water is nature’s answer to many health problems, blood clotting included. Drinking water and staying hydrated can help thin your blood and keep your cardiovascular system on course. Drink a big glass of water when you wake up and continue your consumption habits throughout the day.
Garlic is known for having blood-thinning properties and other possible protective powers that may help prevent the hardening of arteries and high blood pressure. Because of all these traits, garlic is considered one of the most heart-friendly herbs around. Parenthetically, garlic can interfere with the efficacy of antiviral drugs used to treat HIV so, if that fact is relevant to your situation, check with your doctor before including more garlic into your diet.
Ginger has great historical use in the world of alternative medicine, but is only more recently being researched for its anticoagulant properties. Initial studies indicate that ginger can help prevent blood clots and may even help lower cholesterol for added protection against heart disease. Although the research seems positive, the safety of taking medicinal amounts of ginger is fairly unknown. 
Because of the potential health benefits, bromelain, a group of enzymes found in pineapple, now comes in supplement form. Bromelain is considered to affect the blood’s ability to clot, showing blood thinning properties that some individuals may benefit from. However, the anticoagulant activity demonstrated by the enzymes is considered a side effect so not much is known about taking the supplement for the sole purpose of thinning your blood.
The beloved kitchen spice has been used for centuries to help fight infection, reduce inflammation and treat digestive issues. In studies, turmeric's active substance of curcumin has actually been shown to lower the possibilities of blood clots because the active substance plays a role in stopping the platelets from clumping together.
Feverfew is often recommended in the world of alternative medicine for treating migraines and alleviating rheumatoid arthritis pain, but the supplement may also be able to thin your blood. At this point, though, there isn’t a lot of scientific research evaluating the safety of taking feverfew for the purpose of thinning your blood. As desired, check with your healthcare professional if this type of option could be something you want to explore more. What are the risks of taking natural blood thinners?
Just like when you take prescription anticoagulants, you run the risk of having bleeding problems and associated disorders when you take any substance that thins your blood. Every bump, scrape and cut becomes a real concern when your blood is thin and won’t stop flowing. When self-medicating, you are especially in danger of taking unsafe amounts of a product that can harm you when consumed in excess. Other possible side effects from taking blood thinners include bruising, headaches, stomach ulcers, muscle pain and kidney failure.
Mixing and matching multiple blood thinners can also increase your risks of having bleeding issues and other unwanted symptoms since the supplements and medications can work together. Whenever you’re interested in taking more than one product that has the same effect on your body, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider to identify if the combined effects from the multiple products are safe. If you hope to decrease your intake of prescription medication while taking more of a natural substance, also detail this desire to your doctor.
Since herbal supplements are not regulated by any authoritative body, you’re also taking a risk of uncertainty when consuming such products. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because a supplement is sold on the shelf of your local health food store that it must be effective and safe. Supplements are not manufactured as actual medicinal drugs and, as you can likely read on any label, are “not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” Any claims or statements made by a company about the effectiveness of these products’ ability to prevent blood clots or strokes is not factually supported by an independently governing organization. Consequently, you also have to be cautious when it comes to the listed serving sizes since these amounts are not necessarily recommended by healthcare professionals.
Leave a Reply