Natural Blood Thinners

Blood thinners are key for managing health issues linked to blood clot formation. They help avoid severe problems like deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and heart attack. While blood thinners (unlike Pentoxifylline) don't actually thin or change the viscosity of blood, their ability to prevent clotting can help protect people from strokes and heart attacks. The Type of Blood thinners include Anticoagulants such as Coumadin (Warfarin), Heparin, oral anticoagulants like Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Apixaban; Antiplatelet drugs such as Clopidogrel, Aspirin, Dipyridamole; fibrinolytic drugs such as tissue plasminogen activators (tPAs), Streptokinase, Urokinase.

Side Effects of Blood Thinners 

Like all medicine, blood thinners may have side effects. These are listed below:

  • Dizziness 
  • Weakness in muscles 
  • Hair loss 
  • Skin rashes 
  • Excessive bleeding, externally or internally  
Natural Blood Thinners

Turmeric is a yellow spice used a lot in Asian food. It’s known for many potential healing traits, especially due to its curcumin content. Various studies have shown that curcumin acts as an anticoagulant. It does that by inhibiting clotting factors and stopping blood clots from forming. 

2. Ginger 
Ginger is a root related to turmeric. It holds salicylate, a natural chemical. This chemical acts like aspirin and stop blood clotting. Also ginger has something called gingerols. These show antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects in some research.

Cinnamon contains  coumarin known for its anticoagulant properties. There are two key types of cinnamon: Cassia and Ceylon. The first one has plenty of coumarin while the second does not. So, if you want it for its blood-thinning traits, pick Cassia over Ceylon. 

4. Cayenne peppers 
Cayenne peppers, with high levels of salicylates, also have blood thinner properties. They may also help in reducing blood pressure and stopping clotting. Capsaicin present gives cayenne peppers their spicy taste. It is proposed to have blood-thinning traits. It may promote circulation and reduce blood clotting.

5. Vitamin E 
Vitamin E has strong antioxidant qualities. It is proposed to act as a mild anticoagulant. Research suggests that vitamin E may stop platelet grouping and help fibrinolysis. These outcomes avoid blood clot creation. 

Garlic is an ingredient used worldwide. It is said to possess  mild antiplatelet traits. Allicin is found in garlic. It  proposed to stop platelet grouping in an unchangeable way. This disrupts clot formation. 

7. Ginkgo biloba 
Ginkgo biloba is a Chinese plant and  often-used herbal pill, may have effects on blood circulation. 
Research suggests that ginkgo biloba may be able to stop platelet grouping. It may act as a natural blood thinner, assisting overall blood circulation. 

8. Grape seed extract 
Grape seed extract is known for its potential antioxidant traits. It may act as a natural blood thinner too. Antioxidants in grape seed extract protect cells from damage caused by oxidation. This harm is a factor in heart disease. 

9. Bromelain 
Bromelain, sourced from pineapple, may have blood-thinning abilities. Studies show that bromelain may stop clot formation by hindering blood clotting protein production. 

10. Aloe vera 
Aloe vera holds many potential health benefits, including small blood-thinning ones. Aloe vera contains salicylates, like ginger and cayenne pepper. These chemicals in aloe vera may mildly act as anticoagulants and reduce blood clot  formation. 

11. Dong Quai 
Dong quai, a Chinese herb, is proposed to have mild blood-thinning abilities.Dong quai, or “female ginseng,” was used as a blood tonic in Chinese medicine. It has coumarin, known to have anticoagulant traits. 

13. Feverfew 
Feverfew, coming from the daisy family, is proposed to show  mild antiplatelet qualities. Feverfew is said to avoid platelet grouping and clot setting. 

14. Evening primrose 
Evening primrose oil is said to possess slight blood-thinning effects. Studies say that evening primrose oil may stop blood clotting. It doesn’t allow platelet grouping. 

14. Melatonin 
Melatonin, a sleep-regulating hormone produced by the body, it is proposed to reduce blood clots with its antiplatelet effects. Research suggests that melatonin may have mild anticoagulant traits. It stops platelet grouping and aids overall blood circulation. 

15. Fish Oil
Fish oil such as Cod Liver Oil also possesses mild anticoagulant properties, especially when consumed in very high amounts, due to its Omega-3 content.

16.Natto
Natto is made from boiled soybeans that have been fermented with a type of bacteria. It contains Nattokinase, which may thin the blood and help break up blood clots.  

17. Licorice 
Licorice root extract  is now also noted to inhibit blood clotting in addition to exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects. 

18. Chamomile 
It has been shown to interact with warfarin as it contains compounds that antagonize vitamin K in a similar fashion. Studies support these findings, revealing its potent antiplatelet activities, which are complemented by powerful anti-inflammatory effects. 

19. Green Tea Extract
The main constituent of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is often sold as an extract for general health promotion. While it can prevent thrombin from successfully going on to form blood clots, EGCG’s main blood thinning actions extend towards platelet deactivation, restoration of protein C levels and vasodilation. 

20. Quercetin 
In a review, quercetin proved to have one of the highest antithrombotic actions when compared to other flavonoids. It may additionally inactivate factor Xa and directly inhibit fibrin formation. Large-dose quercetin is also known to inhibit tyrosine kinase, which may lower platelet activation through several mechanisms. Food sources of Quercetin include citrus fruits, apples, onions, parsley, sage, tea, and red wine. Olive oil, grapes, dark cherries, and dark berries such as blueberries, blackberries, and bilberries are also high in quercetin and other flavonoids.

is known to regulate platelet activation, reduce calcium’s involvement in coagulation and promote apoptosis (cell death) in platelets, thereby removing them from blood clots. It appears to mimic the actions of thrombomodulin, capable of binding to thrombin and neutralizing its effects.

Other Vitamins and Minerals that May Promote Blood Thinning Effects

Selenium: Selenium directly promotes blood thinning through increasing plasminogen conversion. It primarily exerts these effects through its interactions with enzymes required to create clotting factors and those that inhibit plasminogen.

Magnesium: Magnesium is referred to as a natural blood thinning agent due to its potent ability to reduce blood pressure, lower platelet aggregation, decrease inflammation, inhibit fibrin formation.

Others: Very high doses of vitamin D3, vitamin A, vitamin B3 and vitamin C have all been shown to promote blood thinning and negatively interact with some patients on prescribed blood thinners. Similar results can be seen for Co-Q10 and the amino acid Arginine. 

Foods that May Reduce the Actions of Blood Thinners

Vitamin K-rich food may interact with some blood-thinning medicines as vitamin K is needed by the liver to produce proteins called clotting factors (II, VII, IX, and X) without which blood cannot form clots. Therefore these foods may reduce the actions of blood thinners.  

Foods rich in vitamin K 

1. Green leafy vegetables 
Green vegetables like kale, spinach, and collard greens hold much vitamin K. 

2. Fruits 
Some fruits, like avocados, kiwis, and blackberries, have good amounts of vitamin K too. 

CAUTION: Using natural blood thinners along with prescribed ones, needs close watch by a healthcare provider. Only this can ensure a safe yet powerful management plan that answers any possible interactions between medications and the natural choices.

Conclusion: Natural blood thinners like turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon, may offer possible health benefits. Viewing them as an alternative support for heart health is great. But, solely banking on these may not give you ample protection like prescribed blood thinners. Hence, it is vital to always ask your healthcare provider before considering natural blood thinners for your management plan. 

Sources:

[1] https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/70/2/107/1896192
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482253/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7354275/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539745/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6524877/
[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12970121/
[7] https://myacare.com/blog/10-supplements-that-can-affect-blood-clotting

Disclaimer: Please note that this blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided is not intended to replace the care or advice of a qualified health care professional.

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