Herbs for the Heart

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Everywhere you’ve turned this month you’ve seen hearts, red, valentines, chocolates (yum), all to represent Valentine’s Day.  Since this month is all about love, renewal and matters of the heart, I thought I would write about a few of my favorite “Heart Healthy” herbs.

 Did you know that Roses, Rosacea spp. are not only beautiful flowers, but also herbs?  Roses are large or small shrubs, moderate to vigorous climbers and appear in numerous colors, scents and shapes.  I love Antique Roses as they grow the best in our environment, require less care than the Hybrid roses, are more disease resistant and produce more fragrance and better, more nutritious rose hips.  I have been harvesting rose hips this fall and winter and brewing teas.  Rose hips, the bulb shaped plant part that forms after the bloom fades away, are one of the highest sources of natural Vitamin C .  They are quite delicious, particularly when mixed with Lemon Balm or Chamomile or used in a Respiratory Tea for cedar fever or allergies.  The velvety soft Rose petals are high in mucilage.  Rose petals are often used in cosmetics for the face and body, as they are nourishing and moisturizing for the skin.  Roses are also “cooling” for fevers, and in addition are used as an astringent for infantile or childhood diarrhea. Not only a symbol of love, friendship and passion, but growing roses and using the flowers, leaves and hips may be rewarding for use in cosmetics and medicine. History informs us that Cleopatra had her servants gather rose petals to scatter in her boudoir to entice the affections of her chosen one.  Legends have it that the couple would stand knee deep within the deep fragrance of the blossoms, swooning from the erotic aroma.

 Another “Heart” herb is Hawthorn, Crataegus oxyacantha, a large shrub or tree that grows in many areas of the world.  Hawthorn is a cardiac tonic and may be used both preventively and for some acute situations.  Since both of my parents have had heart disease, I take a blend of Hawthorn flowers, leaves and berries as a preventative. Hawthorn is known to normalize blood pressure, to strengthen the age weakened heart muscles, helps nervous heart problems and irregular heart beat.  Try making a tea from the dried berries or take the blend as a tincture.  It has been used for many, many years as a safe, heart tonic and does not have any known contra-indications for use with allopathic medicines.

 Another one of my favorites is Motherwort, Leonaurus cardiaca.  This lovely, purple-flowering herb grows very easily in our central Texas gardens and will reseed itself readily. Once you have it, you have it!  Like Hawthorn, Motherwort has a tonic effect on the heart.  It is used to promote circulation, reduce rapid heartbeat, aide in the arrest of arteriosclerosis and assists in dissolving blood clots.  Motherwort also acts as a sedative for stress following childbirth and during menopause. Because of Motherwort’s ability to stimulate uterine contractions, it should not be used during pregnancy.  It is, however, used during actual labor to facilitate childbirth. As the famous 17^th Century Herbalist, Nicholas Culpepper wrote “Motherwort drives the melancholy vapors from the heart”.  Used as a sedative and heart tonic, Motherwort can ease depression and calm the nervous system.

 Now, when you think of “Heart” month and dream of chocolate and the love of your sweeties, also think about the herbs you may incorporate into your daily lives to keep that ever-lovin heart as healthy as possible.