The 11 Best Herbs for Circulation

A healthy circulatory system supports the entire body with blood and oxygen and is essential for long-term health.  Research shows that poor circulation can lead to heart disease. Using natural …

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Written by: Siobhan Mendicino
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Medical Review by: Daniel Powers, MS
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A healthy circulatory system supports the entire body with blood and oxygen and is essential for long-term health. 

Research shows that poor circulation can lead to heart disease. Using natural herbs for circulation may help to improve blood flow and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This article gives a review of the most significant clinical research behind the best herbs for circulation.

the nine best herbs for circulation

Overview:

Blood circulation and heart health go hand-in-hand. Most diseases that develop from poor circulation affect the heart. Nearly 17% of cardiovascular diseases in the US occur from a stroke, and 100,000 people in the US die from blood clots each year. 

Narrowed blood vessels, blood clots, and plaque buildup are all major causes of poor circulation. These causes are often the result of high blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol levels. 

Having high blood pressure, or hypertension, can cause stress on the heart and the arterial walls to harden, which prevents adequate blood flow throughout the body. Conversely, low blood pressure, or hypotension, can also cause an imbalance in blood flow causing a shortage of oxygen and nutrients in cells, tissues, and organs.

High LDL cholesterol levels, or hypercholesterolemia, cause fat to stick and harden to artery and vein walls. Over time, it hardens into plaque causing a blockage in the blood vessel and the consequent prevention of blood flow. This blockage is what may cause a stroke.  

Reducing blood lipid levels and relaxing the arteries are two of the primary ways to improve circulation.

The Best Herbs for Circulation:

Below are the best research-backed herbs for improving circulation. These herbs have been known to benefit the circulatory and cardiovascular systems in a variety of ways. 

1. Olive Leaf

Clinical research shows that olive leaf extract may help to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure between heartbeats and systolic blood pressure measures how m