Millions of people have suffered from a blood clot. The good news is that blood clots are totally preventable and there are natural solutions for long term treatment as well.
This post will discuss:
The main function of blood is to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body and carry away the waste to be disposed.
Blood travels in arteries and veins. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body and veins bring it back.
When trauma occurs, or we cut ourselves, the blood stream carries proteins (called factors) to the damaged area to seal it from further blood loss.
There is a delicate balance between too much and too little clotting factors. Too little and we continue to bleed. Usually this is from pharmaceuticals like aspirin and Coumadin, but may be from genetic disorders, cancer, and nutritional deficiencies.
The clotting process gone haywire can be catastrophic, leading to deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the legs and pulmonary embolism (PE) in the lungs.
In short, all unhealthy lifestyle behaviors will increase the risk of a blood clot such as DVT and PE.
Here are some common risk factors:
Of note, varicose veins and spider veins on the skin are not dangerous. They are a cosmetic issue but may also be a sign of unhealthy liver or kidney function. They do not require further testing and often respond well to our Vein Support product.
The most common symptoms are pain or swelling one leg compared to another in the case of a DVT.
PE may present as chest pain, but most likely shortness of breath.
Ultrasound of the legs is the diagnostic modality of choice. A CT scan may confirm if a clot traveled to the lungs.
Two major categories here. Vitamin K antagonists (warfarin/Coumadin) or the non-vitamin K anticoagulants like Pradaxa, Xarelto, and Eliquis.
My preference is for Eliquis started immediately for 3 months. This does not require concomitant parenteral anticoagulation (heparin, Lovenox, or similar).
If the clot in the legs is significant enough and the risk of severe pulmonary embolism is high, an IVC filter may be recommended.
Aspirin also has some efficacy in recurrent DVT prevention.
Green leafy vegetables such as arugula, spinach, and kale are loaded with nitrates that get converted to nitric oxide. Another superstar in this category is beetroot. The nitric oxide boost opens up blood vessels and increases blood flow. The faster blood flows, the less likely a clot happens. Beetroot also contains phytonutrients that are like natural aspirins, making platelets less sticky.
Seafood is next on the list of superstar foods to prevent blood clots. All of those omega-3’s as EPA and DHA assist in healthy blood flow and prevent sticky blood. Don’t worry. Omega-3’s do not increase bleeding risk.
Other foods known to have natural blood thinning ability include garlic, onions.
We are only scratching the surface understanding how essential the sun is to our health. Those people with the highest levels of vitamin D have the lowest clotting risk (and everything else). Not only is vitamin D a blood thinner, but the sun charges up the exclusion zone, otherwise known as the EZ. Google Gerald Pollack PhD if you are interested in more information on the EZ. Otherwise take my word for it. The sun makes blood vessels thick. Do I think sunshine to your legs prevents DVT? I do.
Common sense tells us that being active is very important for healthy blood flow. Walk, run, hike, and bike your way to DVT prevention. Muscle building also serves to boost nitric oxide and keep our pipes slick.
You have likely heard that 99% of the molecules in our body are water molecules. Blood is no different. Feed your body healthy water to prevent dehydration and sludge developing in our vessels.
The blood vessels and therefore blood flow is controlled by the brain’s autonomic nervous system. Chiropractic is key to the healthy autonomic tone of the blood vessels and the body. Get adjusted regularly.
Our ancestors went to sleep with the sundown and awoke with the sunrise. Repair of the liver and other body tissues (blood vessels) happens when we sleep. Poor sleep habits increase your risk of everything bad, DVT being one of them.
We have not mentioned this yet, but inflammation is linked to DVT and PE. Stress does some nasty stuff to the body, including inflammation. Do your best to reduce/eliminate stress from your life.
The electromagnetic field of the early allows bird and butterflies to migrate. We are tuned in to the Earth’s frequencies as well. But living in houses and wearing rubber-soled shoes insulates us from the magnetism we need. Get outside barefoot often. Beach is the best.
Modern society is undoubtedly taking its toll on our health. Wi-Fi, cellular, computers, TV and artificial lighting is undoubtedly interfering with our clotting cascade on so many levels. Unplug often and certainly at night. Want to cringe? Search for WiFi on your cell phone and look how many signals are detected. If you are detecting more than one (your own), you are in trouble.
Air pollution and other environmental toxins are linked to heart disease, cancer, lung problems, and dementia. Could they increase DVT/PE risk? The answer should be obvious. Heal your environment. If you are bringing something into your house or office, ask yourself, “Is this toxic?” If so, don’t bring it in. Get an air purifier from Austin Air or similar.
After 3-6 months on heavy duty blood thinners, you may consider a natural approach to healthy blood vessels. Remember, to discuss with your holistic provider (or schedule with me to discuss).
Supplements to Supplement the Above
Here is a link to another blog, Top 10 Blood Thinner Supplements
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