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Alternative Treatments for Heart Disease

While following the prescribed treatment regimen of your physician is a must for those suffering from heart disease, investigating and trying out alternative forms of treatment is also worthwhile. Along with taking prescription medication, exercising and possibly getting heart surgery, those suffering from heart disease can take other measures that are proven to improve the heart health.

In this article, we will discuss some practices and supplements that have been proven to be effective alternative therapies for heart disease. While they aren’t meant to be cures, each of the suggestions below helps prevent or significantly halt the progression of heart disease.

Acupressure & Acupuncture for Heart Disease

Acupressure is the Chinese medicinal practice that uses massage and the application of localized pressure on specific areas of the body to treat physical ailments and promote optimal health. Similarly, acupuncture is the Chinese medicinal practice that involves inserting needles into specific pressure points or meridians to relieve pain or treat chronic disorders.

Alternative medicine practitioners use both acupressure and acupuncture to treat a variety of conditions, including heart disease. In an acupressure or acupuncture session geared toward preventing heart disease and promoting heart health, the practitioner applies pressure to or uses needles in the areas called the:

adjoining valley: Located in the fleshy area between the forefinger and the thumb on the palm, the "adjoining valley" aids in balancing the energy of the lower and upper body.
bigger rush: Located between the big and second toe on top of the foot, the "bigger rush" promotes liver health. In Chinese medicine, the liver is important to minimizing stress, a contributing factor of many heart problems.
inner gate: Located on the inner arm about an inch above the wrist crease (toward the elbow), the "inner gate" strengthens the heart while reducing chest pain.
mind door: Located on the wrist crease below the inside of your pinky finger, the "mind door" promotes general heart health.

While an acupressure or acupuncture practitioner may include more points in his practice, the above four are the main ones that not only promote heart health but also enhance proper circulation and reduce stress.

The Importance of Antioxidants in Heart Health

Antioxidants are chemical substances the body naturally produces to fight the damage done by "free-radicals," intensely reactive molecules that attack the body’s cells and cause disease and illness, namely heart disease. As plaque builds in the arteries' walls, a process known as oxidation, antioxidants help break it down, clearing up the passages to the heart to promote a healthy flow of blood throughout the body.

Although we naturally produce antioxidants, the foods we eat can also provide us with essential antioxidants. As a result, consuming antioxidants is another alternative treatment or preventative measure you can take against heart disease.

Foods rich in antioxidants include:

beans (such as black beans, kidney beans, etc.)
berries (such as blueberries, raspberries, etc.)
coffee (freshly ground, not freeze dried)
dark chocolate
dark, leafy vegetables (such as chard, spinach, etc.)
hot peppers (such as chili peppers, bell peppers, etc.)
nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, etc.)
red wine
soy products
tea
tomatoes
vegetable oils.

Vitamin E & Heart Disease

Recently, researchers have proved that vitamin E plays an important role in promoting heart health and preventing heart disease. In fact, a study performed in Cambridge, England in 2000 revealed that vitamin E reduced the potential of getting heart disease by 77 percent! A similar study in the United States discovered that consuming vitamin E reduced heart disease-related deaths by 47 percent. This is an especially significant finding, given the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Because our bodies don’t naturally produce vitamin E, taking vitamin supplements that include 100 percent of your body’s daily needs of vitamin E is essential. You can also incorporate vitamin E-rich foods in your diet by eating:

broccoli
fruits (such as apples, mangoes, grapes, etc.)
green leafy vegetables (such as arugula, spinach, etc.)
nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, etc.).

Although there are a variety of alternative treatments for heart disease, this is a solid start toward improving your heart health through the use of alternative medicine.

Resources

Free Online Health (2007). Risk Factors for Heart Disease (2007). Retrieved June 13, 2007 from: http://www.free-online-health.com/risk-factors-heart-disease.htm.

Texas Heart Institute (2007). Heart Disease Risk Factors (2007). Retrieved June 13, 2007 from: http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Topics/HSmart/riskfact.

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