| Circulation of the blood, and | | | | especially during the winter. One study found that |
| the oxygen and nutrients that it carries, is | | | | magnesium levels were significantly lower in |
| absolutely essential to life. Any problem in the | | | | women with Raynaud’s disease who were |
| circulation can therefore lead to serious health | | | | exposed to cold temperatures than women who |
| problems. There are a number of different | | | | didn’t have the disease (2). Vitamin C is an |
| circulatory problems that can affect a person. | | | | excellent supplement to help circulation. It helps |
| One of the most common circulatory problems is | | | | strengthen arteries (3), is a cleaner and detoxifier, |
| arteriosclerosis, which is strongly related to heart | | | | and it helps combat oxidation. It also can help |
| disease. Arteriosclerosis, the hardening of the | | | | lower blood pressure (4) and cholesterol |
| arteries, is discussed in the article Heart Disease | | | | modestly. |
| and Metabolism. Other serious circulatory problems | | | | Below is some general advice |
| include blood clots (arterial embolisms), aneurysms, | | | | before starting any plan to help increase |
| thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, circulation-related | | | | circulation. Consult your physician before beginning |
| skin ulcers, Raynaud’s disease, and | | | | any exercise program to increase blood circulation. |
| Buerger’s disease. These will be discussed in | | | | Certain high blood pressure drugs, including calcium |
| more detail below. | | | | channel blockers and alpha- or beta-adrenergic |
| How do blood and nutrients | | | | blockers, can mimic Raynaud’s disease |
| circulate through the body? There are two | | | | symptoms. If you are on these medications, talk |
| circulatory loops in the body. One is to bring | | | | to your physician about alternative medications |
| oxygen from the lungs to the heart, and to | | | | for your high blood pressure. There are also |
| dispose of carbon dioxide in the blood by pumping | | | | natural therapies for helping to control blood |
| it from the heart to the lungs. The other loop is | | | | pressure; Dr. Jensen can provide more information |
| the heart pumping blood containing oxygen and | | | | on how to control high blood pressure naturally. |
| nutrients to the rest of the body through the | | | | There are a lot of different |
| arteries. Later, carbon dioxide and other waste | | | | supplements that supposedly help to increase |
| products are returned to the heart through veins, | | | | circulation. Some may help and some may not, |
| and then they cross over to the other circulatory | | | | but if you decide to try some of the supplements |
| loop for exhalation by the lungs. | | | | below, then it’s important that you |
| Blood clots are one of the | | | | understand the potential side effects and drug |
| most common, and serious, circulation disorders. | | | | interactions of each one. Pregnant and nursing |
| There are two types of blood clots---a thrombus | | | | mothers should not take the supplements below. |
| and an embolus. A thrombus is a blood clot that | | | | Always notify your physician before taking any |
| does not move from its location in the blood | | | | supplement. |
| vessel. An embolus is a blood clot that has broken | | | | Accessory supplements for circulation problems |
| away from its original position in the vessel and | | | | should not be taken with aspirin, NSAIDS (ex. |
| now blocks blood flow downstream from its | | | | Ibuprofen), Warfarin, or other blood-thinning drugs. |
| original site. An aneurysm is a weakening and | | | | Uses of the circulation-enhancing supplements |
| widening of a blood vessel. If a blood clot in a vein | | | | below are not recommended, and any serious |
| causes inflammation, it’s known as | | | | side effects are noted. |
| thrombophlebitis. | | | | Inositol Hexaniacinate: relatively few side effects |
| Varicose veins are usually visible | | | | Ginko Biloba can cause seizures, serious skin |
| on the legs and ankles. They are caused by small | | | | disorders, internal bleeding |
| valves in the veins becoming weak and unable to | | | | Evening Primrose oil: may cause seizures in |
| close, which makes the blood back up in the veins. | | | | susceptible persons |
| There are two types of circulation-related skin | | | | Fish Oil: none serious; however, fish oil contains |
| ulcers. Skin ulcers caused by veins are basically | | | | trace amounts of mercury, which is a neurotoxin. |
| varicose veins that have worsened, and the blood | | | | This makes fish oil questionable as a supplement, |
| eventually makes it to the skin’s surface. | | | | since the drawbacks of ingesting a |
| These particular types of ulcers are called venous | | | | mercury-containing substance may outweigh any |
| ulcers. Ischemic ulcers are from circulation | | | | benefits from the fish oil itself. Flaxseed oil may |
| problems in the arteries, and are the cause of | | | | be a better alternative |
| intermittent claudication. Buerger’s disease is | | | | Feverfew: relatively safe |
| associated with smoking. It is a disease of the | | | | Garlic: can cause serious allergic reactions, skin |
| extremities caused from blood vessel blockages | | | | burns, internal bleeding, liver toxicity |
| that supply oxygen and nutrients to the hands | | | | Flaxseed oil: relatively safe |
| and feet. | | | | Vitamin E: do not supplement with more than 200 |
| Raynaud’s disease is a | | | | IU/day unless directed by your physician |
| special circulatory condition that usually occurs | | | | L-Carnitine: may rarely cause seizures |
| when emotional distress or cold temperatures | | | | Chlorophyll: relatively safe, but no convincing |
| cause an exaggerated an abnormal blood vessel | | | | evidence for helping circulation problems |
| constriction. Extremities (hands and feet) can lose | | | | Chondroitin sulfate (Shark cartilage): can inhibit |
| circulation and turn blue. People may not have full | | | | blood formation; not a good supplement for |
| use of their hands and feet during this time, which | | | | people with circulation problems |
| can be a serious problem. People with | | | | Black Cohosh: relatively safe |
| Raynaud’s disease may want to restrict or | | | | References: |
| eliminate coffee, since it constricts blood vessels. | | | | 1. The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and |
| Raynaud’s disease may be an imbalance in | | | | Herbs. Pleasantville, NY: Reader’s Digest |
| the autonomic nervous system. People with | | | | Association, 1999. |
| Raynaud’s may have a strong sympathetic | | | | 2. Leppert, J., et. al. (1990). Lower magnesium |
| nervous system, which is responsible for | | | | levels after exposure to cold in women with |
| constricting blood vessels. | | | | primary Raynaud’s phenomenon. Journal of |
| There are a number of natural | | | | Internal Medicine, 228: 235-239. |
| supplements that can help increase blood | | | | 3. Pauling, L. (1974). Are Recommended Daily |
| circulation. Vitamin E may help circulatory | | | | Allowances for Vitamin C Adequate? Proceedings |
| disorders, since it thins the blood; as you have | | | | of the National Academy of Sciences, Nov., Vol. |
| read above, the main circulatory problems involve | | | | 71, No. 11, pp. 4442-4446. |
| blood clotting or vessel constriction. Inositol | | | | 4. Ettarh, R., Odigie, I., &Adigun, S. (2002). |
| Hexaniacinate (or Nicotinate) enhances blood flow | | | | Vitamin C lowers blood pressure and alters |
| to the hands and feet (1). Magnesium may be | | | | vascular responsiveness in salt-induced |
| helpful for Raynaud’s disease, since it can | | | | hypertension. Canadian Journal of Physiology and |
| relax constricted blood vessels (1). Magnesium | | | | Pharmacology, Dec, 80(12): 1199-1202. |
| may also be beneficial for circulation problems, | | | | |