Berries Ease Heart Problems & High Blood Pressure
The cause of death is a lack of oxygen to a vital part of the body like the brain or the heart. In fact, oxygen is so vital that if it is not sufficiently transported by the blood to different parts of the body it results in all sorts of ailments. All attempts to heal the body require clean, oxygenated blood flowing without obstruction. The famous 19th century German priest and water cure healer, Sebastian Kneipp, gave four goals to achieve for healing sickness:
- To dissolve the morbid matter in the blood
- To evacuate what is dissolved
- To make the cleansed blood circulate rightly again
- To strengthen the body for renewed activity
The heart pumps healthy blood carrying oxygen and nourishment to vitalize the body. Blood also collects impurities and transports them to the organs of elimination. The same blood is marvelously rejuvenated upon its return to the heart and is again pumped back into the system. Thus, any cure, either using natural or synthetic methods must assure the blood remains pure and free flowing to all parts of the body. For example, when blood does not reach the roots of hair, they eventually dry up and die. What hinders the blood from reaching the hair roots? One probable cause is the inflammation of the tendinous lining located on the crown of the head, called the galea. According to the late Dr. Lars Engstrand of Sweden, baldness is caused by a thickened galea that inhibits blood flow through the capillaries under the scalp.
We can summarize the process of healing as stimulation, elimination and nourishment. This simple process can be used to improve any health condition. Take, for example, cardiac problems. When a person experiences symptoms such as pain or tingling in the left thigh or lower leg, sharp pains in the left chest and left arm, palpitations of the heart beat, weakness and faintness, lack of mental concentration, he or she most likely has some blockage of oxygen to the heart. This blockage can be due to many causes: blocked arteries, poor circulation, damaged valve, impure blood, etc. A natural way to relieve such a potentially dangerous condition is to use herbs that ease passage of blood by dilating arteries, by increasing oxygen supply to the blood, by providing free radical scavengers like natural Vitamin C and bioflavonoids, by stopping collagen degradation, and by improving the heartbeat and strength of all the blood vessels.
There are many herbs that, among other benefits, can promote these improvements without any toxic side effects. Foremost is the Hawthorne berry, which contains significant amounts of vitamin C, B-complex, and bioflavonoids. The latter are water soluble, citrus-flavored compounds that give fruits and plants their beautiful deep red, blue, and purple colors. Bioflavonoids improve the body’s ability to absorb vitamin C. The natural form of bioflavonoids is easily assimilated by the body and, therefore, it is always wise to take vitamins in their natural form of vegetables, fruits, and herbs because of the powerful synergistic effect of these different phytonutrients. Bioflavonoids and vitamin C work together to maintain healthy blood vessels, and connective tissues (which are often deteriorated by arthritis and periodontal disease), prevent free radical damage, reduce inflammation and high blood pressure and improve the strength of the heartbeat.
In “The Healing Power of Herbs”, Michael T. Murray, N.D. has written that “Flavonoids contained in hawthorne extracts appear to offer significant prevention, as well as potential reversing effects, in the treatment of atherosclerosis processes, which are still the major causes of death in the United States” (page 207). Atherosclerosis is the build-up of fatty substances on the inside of the artery walls. This condition causes strokes, coronary disease and high blood pressure. Research on animals has demonstrated that hawthorne flavanoids reduce harmful cholesterol. This is possibly due to the flavanoid’ s ability to strengthen the collagen matrix of the arteries. It is believed that a weakening of the collagen matrix of the arteries results in cholesterol deposits.
Another important source of bioflavonoids is the blueberry, which contains a type of flavonoid called proanthocyanidin considered one of the most powerful class of antioxidants available. An antioxidant is a substance that will protect cells from losing oxygen and will also attack free radicals or groups of oxygen atoms that have at least one unpaired electron. The adversely affected oxygen becomes reactive as a result of losing one of its two electrons, thus making it incomplete until it can become whole again by “stealing” an electron from another source. This eventually destroys healthy cells. These damaged cells then start a chain reaction which creates more and more free radicals. If this process is not checked, then dramatic changes occur in the body such as aging, deterioration of connective tissues, heart damage, etc. The body produces its own antioxidants, but due to the stress of modern living with our exposure to thousands of toxic ingredients in our food, air, water, house, medicines, cosmetics, and household products, the body’s immune system is impaired and the free radicals cause havoc. Blueberries and many other deep-colored berries contain free radical scavengers that protect the body from degeneration. Modern research in France and Italy has also confirmed that blueberry fruit can reduce the tendency of blood clotting and the degradation of collagen, which is a factor associated with inflammatory conditions such as atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
One more herb that is easily available and potent is the rosehip, which is a powerhouse of Vitamin C and other phytonutrients. The Vitamin C in the rosehips is packaged with many other vitamins, bioflavonoids, rutin, various enzymes, and coenzymes plus a small amount of ascorbic acid. The modern standard for Vitamin C requires a maximum amount of ascorbic acid. However, ascorbic acid is only a fraction of the biologically utilizable natural vitamin C complex. In a recent article entitled “Why Natural Supplements?” Dr. Richard Freeman who runs the Institute for Human Potential in Dallas, Texas wrote: “It was found that rather than reduce free radicals which lead to cell damage, synthetic C supplements promoted free radical generation.” Dr. Freeman goes on to quote Dr. Victor Herbert, a professor of medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, on the subject of Vitamin C supplementation: “The vitamin C supplements mobilize harmless ferric iron stored in the body and convert it to harmful ferrous iron, which induces damage to the heart and other organs. Unlike the vitamin C naturally present in foods like orange juice, ascorbic acid as a vitamin C supplement is not an antioxidant, it’s a redox agent- an antioxidant in some circumstances and a pro-oxidant in others.” This demonstrates the vital importance of getting our vitamins from natural sources.
A mixture of dried berries such as, hawthorne, blueberry, cranberry, cherry, and rosehips can do wonders for persons suffering from cardiac problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, periodontal disease, capillary fragility, swollen ankles and other inflammatory conditions. An infusion of such berries should be patiently taken over a period of one to three months to notice an improvement in any such condition. These berries are non-toxic and can be used over a prolonged period. They also can be used in conjunction with other medication. My Latin teacher in high school always told us, “When in doubt, always do the right thing.” The right choice is always to try the wonderful gifts of God in the form of fruits, herbs and natural foods to ease our ailments.
Uncle Harry's Berry Infusion is made of bioflavonoid rich whole dried blueberries, hawthorne berries, rosehips, cherries, cranberries, and pineapple . These provide a natural way to promote passage of blood through the body by dilating arteries, stengthening capillaries, increasing oxygen supply, providing free radical scavengers like natural Vitamin C and bioflavonoids, and improving the strength of the heartbeat. Excellent for helping to reconstitute gums. Relax the body and provide a soothing feeling of well being by regular use.
References:- Murray, Michael T., N.D. The healing power of herbs. Prima Publishing. Rockin, CA. 1995.
- Freeman, Dr Richard. Why natural supplements? Cosmic Link. Summer 1999. (p35).
- http://www.all-natural.com/heart-1.html. You and your heart.
- Rosencrans, Joyce. Little berries, fresh or frozen, pack a nutritional punch. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Wednesday, August 11, 1999. Section D-1.
- Hendler, Sheldon Saul, M.D. The doctor’s vitamin and mineral encyclopedia. 1990.
- Balch, James F., M.D. and Phyllis A, C.N.C. Prescription for nutritional healing. 1990.