BLOOD CLOTS

What is a Blood Clot?

When platelets, proteins, as well as a bunch of clotting substances mix together, a blood clot forms.  Blood clots form to prevent excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured or ruptured in some way.  Blood vessels to an injured area narrow when there is an injury.  They do this to reduce the flow of blood to the area.  A reduction in blood flow limits blood loss. Typically the body will dissolve the blood clot when the injury has healed.

Midwife Note:  When the placenta pulls away following childbirth, a wound forms.  Clotting factors in the blood prevent hemorrhage from this large wound.  Anemia or other lack of clotting capabilities results in hemorrhage.

The Formation of Clots

Unfortunately, the body’s innate ability to form blood clots goes awry.  When this happens, clots form on the inside of blood vessels inappropriately. Blood clots may form in veins or arteries simply because the flow of blood is slow for any of a variety of reasons.  Sticky little platelets, instead of moving along quickly as they should, continue to bump into each other in small spaces.  Eventually, a clot, or several clots, begin to form.

Embolisms

A blood clot may form anywhere that blood flows.  Because blood flows nearly everywhere in the body clots may form and then travel to just about anywhere. A blood clot, formed in a larger vein or artery, may break away.  It then travels through the circulatory system. Eventually, the clot will completely block a vein or an artery. This occurs most often in the lungs or in the brain.  A clot that blocks a vein or an artery is an embolism.

Potentially, these unwanted and unnecessary clots can create a great deal of trouble.  Blood clots that break loose and travel to places like the heart or the brain may become very serious very quickly. This sort of trouble usually requires immediate action.  Response to herbal type treatment should be immediate and thorough.  Otherwise, medical attention needs to be found very quickly.

Common Symptoms of Blood Clots

Blood clot symptoms vary according to where the clot is located.

Heart – There will be a heavy feeling or pain in the chest.  The person experiences shortness of breath and light-headedness.  There may be sweating, nausea, and discomfort in other areas of the upper body.

Brain –  Sudden and severe headache.  Dizziness will be an immediate symptoms.  Vision problems will accompany the headache.  Weakness of the face, arms or legs will also occur.

Lung – Sharp chest pain and shortness of breath are felt.  The heart races.  There will likely be fever and sweating.  These symptoms are similar to a clot in the heart. The coughing up of blood will occur if the clot is in the lungs.

Arm or Leg – There will be pain.  It may come on gradually or may occur quite suddenly.  The pain will be accompanied by swelling, tenderness, and heat.

Abdomen – As you would expect, there will be intense abdominal pain.  The pain will be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.

Types of Blood Clots

There are two major groupings when it comes to blood clots. They are (1) venous blood clots, and (2) arterial blood clots.  Artherosclerosis – hardening of the arteries – is often the cause of arterial blood clots.

(1) Venous Blood Clots

When abnormal clotting—a blood clot—occurs in a vein it will likely restrict the flow of the blood.  Blood will gather behind the clot.  Pain, swelling, and inflammation in the area of the blockage will be the result.

Causes

Venous blood clots sometimes develop in veins damaged by traumatic accidents or following certain types of surgery.  Lack of movement may cause restriction to blood flow.  Subsequently, blood clots are also likely to form.  Restrictions may occur on long trips or if you are confined to your bed for a period of time. Those with a family history that includes blood clots are also in a high risk category.

Certain medications have been linked to an increased risk of blood clots.  These medications include estrogen and progesterone based oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies.  These medications also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

There are many other factors that, statistically, increase the risk of blood clots. Some of these include: cancer, obesity, and age.  More people over 60 form blood clots than do younger people.  Smoking, inflammatory bowel disease, heart failure, and pregnancy also increase the risk of blood clots.

Cancer and Blood Clots

Research shows that having cancer is one of the most important risk factors for embolisms. Embolisms of this type are the second leading cause of death in patients hospitalized for cancer treatment.  Infections are the third most common cause. Statistically, death from the cancer itself occurs less often than death from blood clots or infections.

Blood Clots and Pregnancy

Venous blood clots are a major cause of maternal death during labor worldwide. Statistics show that both pregnant and laboring women experience a definite increase in risk.  This may be as much as 10%.

Medications

Certain medications increase the risk of blood clots.  These medications include estrogen and progesterone based oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies.  These medications also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Deep Vein Thrombois (DVT)

The term Deep Vein Thrombosis refers to a blood clot that forms in one of the major veins. These veins are located deep in the body. The majority of deep veins occur in the lower leg or thigh.  Besides these very large veins, there are some deep veins in the arms and the pelvis.  The symptoms of DVT include pain in the affected part.  The pain may be cramping or a general soreness in the area.  Frequently there will be redness or discolored skin over the area.   A feeling of undue warmth in the affected part is common. On the other hand, deep vein thrombosis can occur without noticeable symptoms at all.

Pulmonary Embolism

A blood clot that breaks away from the spot in which it originated is called an embolus. An embolus can travel just about anywhere.  Eventually it will move from larger veins or arteries to smaller ones.  A common place for a clot to lodge is in the lungs.  The clot blocks the critically necessary flow of blood.  This is a pulmonary embolism and is an extremely dangerous condition.

Warning Signs  

Warning signs of a pulmonary embolism include chest pain with shortness of breath.  The chest pain may be only discomfort that worsens with a deep breath or a cough.  The person may feel lightheaded or dizzy.  They may even faint.  There will usually be a rapid pulse, and coughing up blood. This is a serious, life-threatening condition.  Medical assistance should be sought immediately.

Preventative Measures

There are things that can be done to decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis.  Moving about as much as possible following surgery or when traveling is an important step.  Certainly do not make a habit of crossing your legs at those times.  If you must sit still, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you exercise your legs from time to time.  Begin by raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor. Follow this maneuver by raising your toes with your heels remaining on the floor. In addition, if you need to, lose weight and quit smoking. Remember that regular exercise dramatically lowers your risk of blood clots of all kinds.

(2) Arterial Blood Clots

Arteries are muscular blood vessels.  Carrying oxygen and nutrient rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body is the job of the arteries. Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) creates clots in the arteries. Clotting in the arteries creates a very different scenario than when clots occur in the veins.

When plaque, made up of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium and the clotting factor called fibrin, narrows the insides of a blood vessel the strong muscles of the arteries continue to force blood through the opening with a lot of pressure behind it. This pressure causes plaque to tear away from the vein wall. Even though the vein itself may not be ruptured, the body may react by forming a clot to repair the hole. The plaque that was thrown into the blood stream may also act as a clot and travel anywhere in the body.

Complete blockage of the artery

Complete blockage of an artery may result in tissues and organs no longer getting enough blood. Perhaps they may not get any blood at all. In either case, serious damage or death of the tissues or organs involved is the result. An arterial embolism of this sort is, undoubtedly, a medical emergency. Blood supply to the area or to the organ must be reestablished very quickly.

Even More Dangerous Blockages in Arteries

Blockage in the coronary arteries or inside the heart can cause a heart attack. If they occur in the blood vessels of the brain, they cause strokes. Blood clots like these are responsible for far to many deaths, especially in nations of the West.

Warning signs

Warning signs of an arterial embolism include coldness with tingling or numbness.  There will be pain and/or spasms in the muscles.  Pale skin and a feeling of weakness are other possible symptoms.  Even more importantly, there will often be lack of pulse to the area and lack of movement. These symptoms will likely appear only on the side of the body with the embolism. If the embolism is not treated or gets worse in spite of treatment, open sores may appear.  Eventually the skin may begin to shed off.  Tissue death follows these symptoms before much time has passed.  These kinds of clots may occur in the coronary arteries or in the heart itself and result in death very quickly.

Increased risk

A variety of things, mostly lifestyle issues, can increase your risk of an arterial embolism. You may be living with increased risk if you smoke or have high blood pressure.  Heart issues such as arterial fibrillation’s or an abnormally fast heart rate certainly increase your risk of blood clots and embolisms.   Recent surgery certainly increases your risk greatly.  Likewise, being obese or living a sedentary lifestyle raises risk.  You are at risk if you have lived to a good old age.

Prevention of Blood Clots

Lifestyle Changes

Change your diet to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Dark green leafy vegetables and colorful vegetables are very important.  Fruits, legumes, whole grains, and omega-e foods will all improve cardiovascular health.   Avoid the foods that you know are harmful to your body.  We all know what these are.  Avoid artificial sweeteners found in diet products.  Replace unhealthy fats with delicious beneficial ones.  Eat real food instead of refined carbohydrates and sugar.

Exercise. Stay or get active.  Statistically, exercise is one of the most important elements in avoiding blood clots.  If your day consists of sitting for extended periods of time, take breaks in which you get moving. Move around, getting circulation going, several times throughout the day. A few good stretches, now and then, would also be a good idea.

Besides preventing blood clots, exercise and diet will reduce inflammation and improve blood sugar levels.

Quit smoking. Do not substitute electronic cigarettes or other tobacco products. This will do nothing to improve your odds of not getting a blood clot.

Medications

Remember that medications can increase your risk for blood clots. We already mentioned birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies. Drugs that control blood pressure can cause blood clots.  Cancer treatment drugs are also known to increase the risk of blood clots.

The Prevention and Treatment of Blood Clots

Common sense (sanity) requires that some things be said before we get started on this section.  Foremost is that the information provided here is not meant to be a substitute for medical care, if needed.

Blood Clots Can be Dangerous!

First, blood clots can be extremely dangerous!  The purpose of so much detail above was to make that point very clear.  Blood clots, both stationery and in motion, can kill and maim.  They have killed and maimed. Secondly, I hope we all remember that the early symptoms of a blood clot can to easily be explained away as being some other less dangerous thing.  Leaving proper treatment of a blood clot until it is too late is all to common.  This has happened to people who regularly go to doctors with their health concerns.  It has happened to knowledgeable people in the alternative worlds, also.   Please, don’t let it happen to you or someone you love.

Herbal or Medical as the Answer

I am herbal (homeopathic, essential oils, foot zone and other energy work, and so forth) to my very core.  It has been many years since my husband or I have consulted a doctor for ourselves.  Over the years in our family, we have handled many difficult situations alternatively.  These include severe burns, pneumonia, cardiovascular situations, and more serious accidents than I care to mention.  One of my children said years ago, “Don’t let Mom read any new books.  One of us will have to do something to ourselves so that she can practice on us.”  I think he was only half joking.  We have handled so many various situations at home using the knowledge that we have acquired – mostly by experience – over the years.  I consider my family, and myself, to be both knowledgeable and competent.  (I don’t believe that we are either over-competent or inclined to be stupid.)

With all of that said comes the question, “When do you treat the situation at home and when do you seek medical help?”  That is, simply, not something I can answer for you!  Life is full of hard questions and decisions.  For “herbal” people, that is one of the big ones.  

My Philosophy About Doctors

I try to stay connected to and in the good graces of the medical personnel in my area.  I consider several of them friends as well as valuable resources.  To the extent that I can, I maintain a working (and friendly) acquaintance with the staff at my local hospital. I would advise you to do the same, especially where a doctor or two is concerned.

I want to maintain relationships that makes their advice available to me should I want to ask a question or two.  Asking for their input does not in any way commit me to doing what they suggest.  It might, however, give me perspective that I would not otherwise have.  Perhaps, they will bring something to mind that I had forgotten.  There is a pretty good chance that I will learn something.  I have found myself in more than one situation, over the years, where the knowledge and expertise of the doctor I consulted was a blessing.  The input and support was also very appreciated.  I value those relationships.

Supposed Contra-indications of Alternate Remedies and Real Foods

The medical world makes many claims that alternative remedies are dangerous.  They especially don’t like alternative remedies taken with medications.  This attitude is particularly prevalent where blood clots are concerned.  That is understandable.  Blood clots can be very dangerous.  I want to state, emphatically, that herbs DO NOT cause over-dose situations unless the person really, really, rashly and against all advice goes way over-board in their use.  Herbs and whole foods return the body to a state of stasis.  Stasis is a state of balance and good health.  Good food and herbs DO NOT cause the blood to become to thin.  Neither do they cause the blood to fail to coagulate when clotting is needed to stop bleeding.

Perhaps, when used with medications, they contribute to such situations.  It is not that the herb is bad!  It is because the herb, or food, is doing what nature and nature’s God created it to do.  The drug is no longer needed.  Because the drug is still in play, problems may arise.  (I hope you will pardon me.  This is a theme I address more than once in this article.  I do this because I consider it such an important thing to understand!)

Alternative Modalities and Blood Clots

Some definitions are necessary before we proceed with this discussion of herbs and essential oils.

Anti-platelet  potentially most effective for arterial blood clot prevention
Anti-coagulant  potentially most effective for venous clot prevention
Fibrinolytic  aids in dissolving clots, potentially both arterial and venous

Salicylates (acetyl-salicylic acid)  are naturally occurring compounds found in some foods, herbs, and essential oils.  This compound can be isolated and extracted as a drug.  It is the “active ingredient” in aspirin that  makes aspirin effective for blood thinning and clot prevention.

Coumarin  Coumarin is a sweet smelling, natural compound found in some plants.   Please do not confuse this plant compound with the drug Warfarin.  Warfarin is a synthetic chemical derived from courmarol.  Coumarin has been used as both a food additive and as an ingredient in perfume because of its sweet and aromatic odor.  When ingested, it has anticoagulant properties, but only in the face of certain types of fungi.  Some in the medical world believe that the courmarin in plants can be toxic at high doses.  My opinion, for whatever it is worth, is that foods like cinnamon are only a problem when combined with certain drugs (or perhaps with certain fungi).  There are essential oils that contain courmarin.  Pure essential oils are very concentrated.  Perhaps, courmarin content is another good reason not to ingest pure essential oils!

Alternative Suggestions for the Prevention and Treatment of  Blood Clots

Foods

Eat whole foods!

Vitamins E can inhibit platelet aggregation.  It also helps balance and regulate the clotting effects of Vitamin K, should that be necessary. Vitamin K allows the body to use calcium.  Calcium then assists the vitamin K’s blood clotting capabilities.  I could go on and on.  Perhaps, the foregoing is sufficient to illustrate the point I am trying to make.  The point being –  foods (and herbs) in a natural and complete state contain loads of vitamins and minerals!  They nourish the body.  Moreover, they assist each other in making those nutrients available for absorption.

A Bit About Vitamin K

Dark green vegetables contain vitamin K.  Swiss chard, parsley, and broccoli (even when cooked) contain the highest amounts.  This is surprising to me.  Kale is absolutely off the charts for vitamin K!  These foods, other than broccoli, are best consumed raw.

It is claimed that if you are on blood thinners or anti-coagulants, consuming these foods can mess up your meds.  If  so, this can be interpreted as proof that Vitamin K actually does improve blood.  How so?  When you eat them, your blood performs better.  The need for meds decreases.  Unfortunately, your dosage remains the same.  Medications are man-made chemicals.  The bodies recognizes them as poisons.  Poison can only be dumped at once without trashing your kidneys.  Dumping is factored into dosage and your body can do no more than it is doing.  The result?  The herb and the meds are both acting as  blood thinners or anti-coagulants.  The body prefers the food but cannot dump any more of the meds.  You simply have too much blood thinning or anti-coagulating going on.  The doctor blames the food or the herb, also.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate has many health benefits.  According to scientific tests, dark chocolate prevents platelets from clumping together inappropriately.  White chocolate and milk chocolate do not have such an effect on platelets.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Blackstrap Molasses

These two items acts as natural blood thinners, as does cayenne.  Blood clots cause the death or permanent impairment of far too many pregnant and laboring women.  Midwives advise women to make and drink HVC (Honey, Vinegar, and Cayenne in warm water).  In my midwife practice, HVC was part of every labor (for the mother and the midwives).  Besides being a blood thinner, molasses builds the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.  In other words, blackstrap molasses prevents and cures anemia.  Ginger is also useful here for some women, and settles nausea.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin E

In supplemental form or as foods, omega-e fatty acids prevent blood platelets from sticking together.  The also keep the lining of the arteries smooth and damage free.  Vitamin E inhibits platelet aggregation.  Please take only vitamin E supplement that are d-alpha tocopherols.  Avoid (like the plague they are) dl- alphas (note the “l”).  The “l” tells you that it is a man-made, synthetic version of the real thing.  They are not only worthless as a remedy, they are harmful.  They clog cellular receptor sites and prevent the uptake of natural vitamin e.   

Salicylate Containing Foods  (please see above definition)

Most fruits contain this compound.  Salicylates remain after the fruit has been dried.  There are some fruits that are particularly high in salicylates.  These include blueberries, cranberries, grapes, cherries and strawberries.  The citrus fruits such as nectarines, tangerines and oranges also make this list. Pineapple, apple cider vinegar, and honey also contain salicylates.  Chicory and horseradish also contain salicylates.

The following is a list of spices that contain salicylates.  Cinnamon, the cassia variety is highest.  Curry powder, ginger, paprika, turmeric, cayenne, and garam masala contain small amounts.  Others are aniseed, oregano, peppermint, thyme, and dill.

A particular compound always exists in a wide variety of foods and herbs.  I find this amazing.  It is important what compounds are found in which herbs.  It is just as important which compounds are traveling together in an herb.  Herbs keep as many of the compounds that are present together.  Drugs deliberately isolate the compounds.  This isolation eliminates the synergy of the herb or food as God created it!  The result is – always – side effects.

Coumarin Containing Foods  (please see above definition)

Cinnamon with the cassia variety having the most.  If courmarin content worries you, the ceylon variety has less courmarin.  Cherries, apricots, and strawberries also contain courmarin.  Besides cinnamon, there are many courmarin containing herbs.

Herbs

Many herbs affect the cardiovascular system.  Some strengthen the veins.  Others inhibit blood clot formation by providing compounds that keep platelets from sticking together.  Still others dissolve clots that have already formed.

Cayenne

Of all of the wonderful herbs in nature for blood and cardiovascular health, cayenne leads the pack.  Cayenne acts as a anti-platelet, anti-coagulant, and fibinolytic. (Please see definitions above.)  The capsaicin in cayenne clears away artery-narrowing deposits.  It also dilates arteries and blood vessels, preventing clots from causing blockages.  Prickly Ash acts in the same way as cayenne.  Some sufferers prefer it because it is milder on the stomach.  Prickly Ash has proven itself very effective.

Turmeric

Curcumin is the most well known of the active components in turmeric.  Turmeric acts on blood platelets to prevent clots.  This herb helps reduce the pain and inflammation caused by clot formation. Turmeric also strengthens veins and arteries.  Turmeric acts as an anti-inflammatory.  Whenever inflammation decreases, healing occurs and pain is reduced.  Turmeric is renowned in the prevention of and recovery from strokes.

Gingko Biloba

Gingko lowers the concentration of the protein, fibrin, in the blood.  It other words, Gingko acts as a sort of  fibrinolytic agent.  The formation of blood clots requires fibrin.  The destruction of fibrin dissolves blood clots.  In addition, Gingko strengthens veins and arteries.  Gingko is a true food herb.  It works because of its nutritive factors.  As such, results may not be instantaneous.  If you are very nutrient deficient, it may take some time for Gingko to bring nutrition levels up to where they should be.  Gingko is a heart and brain tonic herb.  Bioflavonoids are the key to gingkos usefulness.

Garlic

There are many, many other good reasons to make garlic a part of your diet.  Garlic is a tonic for the immune, respiratory, and digestive systems.  A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association tells us that the therapeutic roles of garlic have been described in more than 1,000 scientific studies.  This report was published in 1990.  One of the health benefits reported was preventing the formation of blood clots.  Garlic melts blood clots because it contain sulphur compounds.  Garlic also strengthens veins and arteries, according to these studies.  Onions melt clots also but are not as strong in this as garlic.  In addition, nature provides a perfect antibiotic in Garlic.   Garlic has been used for this purpose for centuries.  The book. Butterfly Miracles with Herbal Medicine, discusses garlic in much more detail.

Berberine Containing Herbs

Plants containing berberine, to name just two of my favorites, are goldenseal and Oregon grape.  Medical sites and people will tell you to avoid these herbs if you are taking certain blood thinning or diabetic medications.  Why?  Because these herbs thin the blood and stabilize blood sugar.  Why take the medications, with their known side-effects when there are nutritious herbs that will accomplish the same thing?

Coconut Oil and Black Seed Oil

Both of these foods (and they are foods rather than supplements because they nourish the body) prevent clots from forming.  Real foods, rather than man-made synthetics, bring the body toward stasis.  These oils DO NOT cause the body to suddenly stop forming clots when they are needed.  Man-made synthetics may do that (I believe that they do) but real foods do not.  At least, they do not when consumed in anything even close to reasonable quantities.

Arnica

Arnica’s usefulness with blood clots lies in its ability to reduce bruising and swelling.  Arnica oil, applied to areas where a Deep Vein Thrombosis has caused swelling, bruising, and pain, will often bring much needed relief.  Homeopathic arnica, administered internally, helps reduce swelling in the brain or lungs should a clot become lodged there.

Yarrow

Several paragraphs could be written about the effects of yarrow on blood.  As a matter of fact, yarrow is discussed in detail in several of the books I have written and the classes that I teach.  Yarrow not only stops bleeding but it moves stagnant blood along.  This is just another way of saying that yarrow prevents clots from forming.  Yarrow also strengthens blood vessels.  Yarrow is useful for so many things that it is, absolutely, one of my most often reached for remedies in any form.

Other Anti-platelet Aggregation Herbs

White pine bark, ginkgo biloba, nettles, bilberry, and chamomile all come to mind.

Essential Oils

Essential oils act very powerfully on the blood.  They are the life blood of the plant.  As such, they have a profound effect on the life blood of our bodies.  Much could be said about everyone of the essential oils, single and blends, that are listed below.  As my dear friend Sharon has so often been heard to say about essential oils, “Just do something, anything, and it will help.”

A basic, very basic, list:  Helichrysum, cypress, frankincense, yarrow, basil, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, and cistus are among the many oils that affect blood health.  In addition, lemon myrtle, manuka, mountain savory, and melissa affect blood and the cardiovascular system.  Some Butterfly blends that have proven useful include ^LeIntensity, ^LeDeliverance, ^LeSpiceC, ^LeBountiful, ^LeSimplicity, ^LeAboutFace, ^LeLivN, ^LeMelaPlus, ^LeTurmoil, and ^LeEternity.

Helichrysum and Frankincense

These two essential oils deserve special mention where blood health and blood clots are concerned. Many Butterfly blends contain Helichrysum.  Of note among them for this application is ^LeTurmoil.  ^LeTurmoil also contains frankincense.  ^LeAboutFace contains three different varieties of frankincense.

^LeDeliverance, ^LeIntensity, ^LeSpice C, and ^LeBountiful

These are receiving special mention because so many of the single essential oils listed are part of their ingredients.  In my opinion, the synergy of blends is almost always better than the best single essential oil.  All of these blends contain both cinnamon bark and clove.  ^LeBountiful contains cassia, a form of cinnamon that contains higher proportions of salicylates.  The addition of orange to ^LeSpiceC and ^LeBountiful improves both the synergy and the aroma.  ^LeDeliverance and ^LeSpiceC also contain lemon myrtle.  Lemon Myrtle is a relative newcomer in the world of essential oils.  It is coming on strong because it is a great oils for so many body systems.  Lemon myrtle is very antibacterial and germicidal – a truly great essential oil. ^LeIntensity re-establishing good blood supply to tissues, reducing inflammation, and promoting healing.  ^LeIntensity contains many of the single oils mentioned.

Cypress

Arteries, as has been pointed out, are muscles.  Cypress acts very strongly on the type of muscles of which arteries are made.  In addition, cypress stops bleeding because it promotes the clotting of blood and acts as a powerful astringent.

Salicylate Containing Essential Oils  (please see above definition)

The book, the Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple, mentions only birch and wintergreen as containing salicylic acid.   Ginger, turmeric, and cayenne (capsicum), as spices, contain small amounts of salicylates.  It stands to reason, to me anyway, that the essential oils must also contain it but in higher concentration.  However, I am not enough of a chemist to say for certain.  They are effective for blood related disorders, however.

Homeopathics/Blessed Waters

I was pleasantly surprised by the number and variety of homeopathic remedies for blood disorders.

Ferr

Ferrum, also is iron.  Naturally, ferrum acts on the blood in a variety of ways.  This remedy profoundly thickens and darkens pale and watery blood.  In homeopathy, as with all alternative remedies, the remedy also affects blood that is too thick and clots too easily.  Another listing says that Ferr is for blood vessels throbbing violently all over the body.  Delicate blood vessels rupture.

Kali-m

Schussler introduced cells salts to the world.  He also introduced Kali-m into the homeopathic world.  He said, “it is contained in nearly all the cells and is chemically related to fibrin.”  Interesting.  I wish we had a clearer picture of what that means! Blood clotting too easily is listed as a condition for which Kali-m is effective.   Blood forms embolisms and hard swellings.  This sounds like an old-fashioned description of a Deep Vein Thrombosis to me.  Hemorrhoids improve with Kali-m.  Some homeopathic practitioners report that Kali-m dissolves blood clots.

Quebracho Aspidosperma

This is a remedy with which I was previously unfamiliar.  It is also a remedy  Butterfly will be looking to obtain very soon.  This remedy of often referred to as aspidosperma with the Quebracho not added in.

Quebracho is described as the digitalis of the lungs. (Hale) Pulmonary stenosis. Thrombosis of pulmonary artery.  An effective remedy in many cases of asthma. It stimulates the respiratory centers. Increases the oxygen in the blood. “Want of breath” during exertion is the guiding symptom.

Merc

Clots form too easily. Redness and swelling with edema.  Shortness of breath on going upstairs.  The mental of Merc include the ups and downs of mercury in a thermometer.

Dig

Digitalis profoundly affects the heart.  As such, it must be considered for blood disorders, also.

Cean

This remedy is an active hemostatic.  It reduces the time needed for blood clots to form.  Dramatically affects any blood disorders that are the result of problems in the liver or the spleen.

Crat

Crataegus oxyacantha is the Latin name for hawthorn berries.  Hawthorn berries, as a herbal remedy, act very strongly on the blood, the blood vessels, and the heart.

Gink

Ginkgo Biloba, in both herbal and homeopathic form, thins the blood.  It prevents platelets from sticking together in unhealthy ways.  Ginkgo absorbs blood clots – according to available literature.  This remedy is indicated for circulation, especially to the brain.  It improves cerebral blood flow.

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