The heart is the energetic center of the body. It’s where love lives. It emits electromagnetic radiation far beyond the confines of the physical body and can affect other people’s energy around you. Some say the energy of the heart can be felt from across a room, or even across great distances. I believe this to be true. I am sure I don’t have to explain why keeping this organ healthy is important, and as an energy healer and clinical herbalist, I can give you tools to do just that.
THE leading cause of death in the US is coronary heart disease (CHD). Over 650,000 people each year die of issues with the heart. It’s no wonder. The juxtaposition of the digital world connects us across vast distances, but we couldn’t be more disconnected from each other than we are today. Even with the advent of ‘modern medicine’ it seems to have had no affect on heart health. My focus is on prevention and balancing the emotions of the heart, helping people resolve stuck trauma, with much of it centered around how we love, and how we allow love into our lives. Men are more apt to have heart problems, and I find this fact interesting since men are taught at very young ages to suppress their feelings, falsely pushed as a sign of weakness.
Diet plays an important roll here. Many equate fat and salt consumption to poor heart health, but on the contrary sugar is the main culprit. Over consumption of sugar can lead to Type II Diabetes, and subsequently to poor fat metabolism and high inflammation. Fats in general in the diet are anti-inflammatory, but of course moderation is key. And choosing the right fat is important. Dump the hydrogenated (trans) fats and opt for coconut oil, olive oil, and real butter for cooking. Do not buy the canola oils in clear plastic containers. Liquid oils should be in a light-blocking container (can or dark glass). Many of the oils on the market in these clear plastic containers are rancid and full of detergents. This leads to inflammation.
Stress plays another important role in heart health. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol (and others) chronically circulating in the blood, can cause inflammation. This inflammation leads to the thickening of the arterial walls, or the build-up of fat on the arterial walls, which can lead to blockages. The is called arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis, respectively.
Being overweight is also a risk to poor heart health as this puts stress on the heart to work harder. Being overweight also increases your risk of metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes) and Type II diabetes.
So besides reducing stress, changing up your diet to eat half fruits and veggies daily, and losing some weight, herbal interventions can support this organ too. I have many favorites, but I’ll only mention two here today; for the rest you will need to come see me at the shop in Meredith.
Hawthorn - Crataegus spp - several varieties of this tree are common in the NH forests and contains plant compounds that reduce inflammation in the circulatory system, reduce high blood pressure, and support this muscle. I have used it for all sorts of imbalances of the heart and circulatory system, and is very safe. It’s considered a tonic herb, which basically means FOOD. Taken daily in tea, extracts, encapsulations, powders, and even jams, it serves as a vitamin for the heart. We use the flowers, leaves and berries; the berries of which can be harvested in the late Summer and used to make jam.
Linden Flowers - Tilia spp - this is also a common tree in this area, being planted by municipalities in cemeteries and along downtown areas, you can smell the flowers before you see the tree. Heady and delicious, the flowers can be harvested in late June/July and used in tea, extract, encapsulations, and powders to reduce high blood pressure as well as reduce the stress response. I love linden in oil too as it heals sunburnt skin……it reduces inflammation inside and out. I often pair this with hawthorn, nettle root, and yarrow to help reduce high blood pressure.
Show your heart and the hearts of others around you what it is to love and be loved. Reach for an apple instead of a cookie, practice mindful meditations, yoga, or just sit in quiet space for 5 minutes a day focusing on your heart health and your breathing. Tell people you love them. Express the emotion that this organ represents, and stop denying the love you deserve!