Arjuna Bark . Arjuna, comes from Terminalia arjuna, a 60-to 90-foot deciduous tree that grows throughout India. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine physicians use this medicine for cardiovascular conditions including cardiac failure, hypertension, angina, endocarditis, pericarditis, and edema. It is virtually a panacea for the heart and circulation, a cardiac "tonic" that holds a position in Ayurveda very similar to that of hawthorn in European herbalism.

A typical dose of dried arjuna bark is one to three grams per day, in capsules. For congestive heart failure, 500 mg of extract four times per day has been used in studies. You may brew the bulk shredded bark into a tea with a pleasant red hue. It's a bit tart, so you might add other herbs, such as ginger, for flavor.

Garlic Bulb . According to published research, garlic (Allium sativum) appears to reduce blood pressure levels by about five to ten percent. This may not seem like much, but every bit counts when you're reducing the total chronic damage from hypertension. Clinical herbalists using garlic usually claim to see larger reductions with higher doses. At least 12 studies have researched the effects of garlic on blood pressure.

Garlic is often given in a dosage of 900 mg daily of powdered extract standardized to contain 1.3 percent alliin. Since garlic is essentially a food, larger doses should not hurt, and you might experience better results if you're willing to include more in your diet. Garlic is generally regarded as safe; however, because it appears to this the blood, avoid taking it with prescription anticoagulants.

Guggul Gum. This resin, called guggul in Sanskrit, is a standby in Ayurvedic medicine for the management of lipids. Particularly valuable in lowering cholesterol, guggul rivals any natural substance. Without dietary adjustments, guggul has lowered total cholesterol by more than 20 percent, while increasing good HDL cholesterol by 36 percent.

Like its effect on blood lipids, guggul can assist in managing overall body fat. Guggul (Commiphora mukul) seems to exert its effect partially through the thyroid, which could account for its fat-loss benefit. Guggul can be taken in a dose of 1,500 mg, three times daily.

Hawthorn Berry. Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata, C. oxyacantha, or C. monogyna) is widely regarded in modern Europe as a safe and effective treatment for a variety of heart and circulatory disorders. The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn contain an assortment of antioxidant, bioflavonoid-like complexes that seem to be mainly responsible for the actions of this herbal medicine.

Several studies have shown that hawthorn extracts have benefit for lowering blodd pressure. The action is suitable for mild hypertension, but you may have to wait for two to four weeks before the herb takes effect. Look for standardized extracts with total bioflavonoid content (often 2.2 percent) or oligomeric procyanidins (usually 18.75 percent). A usual dose is 80 to 300 mg of the extract in capsules, two to three times per day. You may also use a tincture of four to five milliliters three times daily. If you are using the berry in capsules, tea, or even jelly, the recommendation is at least fourt to five grams per day.

Ashwaganda Root. Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera), an ancient herb, is little known here, but that's about to change. The scientific literature includes more than 87 studies on this herb, with 34 of them emerging since 2000.

Modern clinicians are most likely to employ it for chronic heart and vascular disorders, often combining it with arjuna bark, especially for congestive heart failure. Ashwaganda shows a variety of benefits for cardiovascular functions, including significant increase in coagulation time (blood thinning).

A typical dose of ashwaganda is about a gram per day, taken over long periods, up to many years, as a rejuvenator. But since ashwaganda is very safe, larger quantities are often used in Ayurveda for short-term action. In India, ashwaganda is given with pungent, heating herbs (ginger, pepper) to increase its tonic effects.

Clearly, you have multiple options when it comes to improving and extending your life. Using good judgment and consistent awareness, you can increase your chances of avoiding or surviving heart disease by a tremendous degree.

You deserve a healthy and happy life, and that means a healthy and happy heart. As a kindness to yourself, use these powerful herbs and experience the power of a heart that keeps pumping.