Blood Clots

Description

Blood clots, also known as thrombi, tend to form within major blood vessels, and are the main cause of many heart attacks, cerebral vascular accidents, and other cardiovascular disorders.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of blood clots are usually not apparent, and for this reason, diagnostic testing on a yearly basis is recommended.

Cause

Bloodstream solidification, or clotting, usually occurs as a healthy response within minutes after a cut on the skin occurs. A clot helps to “close off,” the damage. In this sense, clots are very important, however, blood clots can be very dangerous when they occur within healthy blood vessels. Harmful clotting can occur from platelets that become “activated” to heap together. This happens when platelets come in contact with damaged arterial walls, or because of nutrient deficiencies, poor nutritional habits, or genetic predisposition. Once platelets get tacky, their shape changes and they easily clot together.

Another component that can cause harmful blood clots may be the production of fibrin, which helps bind platelets together. Fibrin is the by-product of a cascade of coagulation (clumping) factors that occur with the activation of just one molecule. This, in turn, can result in the explosion of up to 30,000 molecules of fibrin at the site of damage on the arterial wall.

Factors that can result in a platelet and fibrin backup include, the use of birth control, late stages of pregnancy, nutrient deficiencies, smoking, free radicals (inadequate antioxidant nutrition), a high-cholesterol diet, low essential fatty acids, a diet high in saturated fat and low in vegetables and fish, and liver disease. Prolonged sitting, especially in cramped situations, can also increase the risk of developing lung thrombosis. Thrombus form within the legs or another main body part. After formation, they break loose from their original location and head towards the lungs. A few practical preventive steps include getting up and walking every hour, wearing loose comfortable clothing, regularly stretching the legs, flexing and working the leg muscles, and deep relaxed breathing.

Natural Remedies

Detoxification: If you take aspirin daily as a precautionary method, you may want to consider a stomach rejuvenation plan to promote a healthy digestive system. Aspirin is known to be rough on the stomach if taken on a daily basis but a bowel detoxification and restoration several times annually may offset potential damages. Consult your doctor for more information about the potential benefits and harm caused by daily aspirin use

Diet plan: Foods that decrease platelet stickiness and fibrin development include garlic, ginger, onions, and hot peppers. These foods have been shown to help ward off heart attacks and strokes. Whenever possible, use garlic as a regular cooking spice. Fish oils also help to reduce clots. Increase your intake of fresh-water fish to three times per week. Reduce your sugar intake because sugar increases platelet stickiness.

Exercise: Research conducted at Duke University shows that moderate exercise can help protect against cardiac arrest and strokes by improving the body’s natural mechanism for dissolving blood clots. In addition, Duke researchers found that the increased risks associated with oral birth control can be considerably reduced by exercise.

Herbal treatments: Hawthorne fruit is a very useful herb for helping to avoid blood clots.

Juice Therapy: Combine one garlic clove with a mixture of carrot, parsley, spinach, celery, and beet juice. Consume 8-12 ounces daily.

Nutritional Supplementation: Investigation in Japan has shown that nattokinase, a soy-based enzyme, can dissolve blood clots in as little as 2 hours, making it one of the most effective nutrients for preventing and reversing blood clots.

Additional useful nutrients include: Vitamin B6, garlic clove capsules, niacin (vitamin B3), lipotropic elements (nutrients helpful for liver metabolism of fat), omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, bromelain, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, as well as zinc.

Optional Professional Care

If your symptoms persist despite following the methods listed above, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional treatments have all demonstrated an ability to be useful for treating and relieving blood clots: Chelation Therapy, Energy Treatments, Environmental Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathy, and Air Therapy (See Glossary for descriptions of these alternative treatments.)