The Herbal Library

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Browse every herb in the database by name, category, or the body system it's traditionally associated with.

All categories Aromatic Culinary Medicinal

Filtered by body system:CardiovascularClear

Heart and blood vessel problems can be serious. These herbs are listed because people have traditionally used them or researchers have studied them, not because they're proven treatments. Don't use them in place of medicine your doctor prescribed, and check with your doctor or pharmacist first: several can interact with heart, blood pressure and blood-thinning medicines.

Results

17 herbs

No. 001Culinary

Beetroot

Beta vulgaris

A root vegetable whose juice is rich in nitrate. In short trials, beetroot juice lowered the top number of blood pressure by about 4 points.

High Blood Pressure

No. 002Culinary

Bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus

Dried bilberries are a traditional EU herbal medicine for mild diarrhea and mouth inflammation. Trials of supplements for blood sugar and heart health are small and inconclusive.

High Cholesterol

No. 003Culinary

Black Garlic

Allium sativum

Garlic bulbs aged with gentle heat for weeks until the cloves turn black, soft and sweet, long eaten in Korea, Japan and Thailand. A few small trials suggest it may slightly improve some blood fat and blood pressure measures.

High Cholesterol · High Blood Pressure

No. 004Culinary

Cardamom

Elettaria cardamomum

A spice from the ginger family. Reviews of small trials found it lowered some blood fats, inflammation markers and blood pressure slightly.

High Cholesterol · High Blood Pressure

No. 005Culinary

Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

A fresh, citrusy kitchen herb. Its seeds, sold as coriander, are traditionally used to support digestion.

High Blood Pressure

No. 006Culinary

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum

A warm kitchen spice made from tree bark, traditionally used for digestive complaints. Research on its effects on blood sugar and cholesterol is mixed.

High Cholesterol

No. 007Culinary

Cocoa

Theobroma cacao

The bean behind chocolate. Flavanol-rich cocoa lowered blood pressure slightly in a Cochrane review, and a large trial found fewer heart-related deaths.

High Blood Pressure

No. 008Culinary

Flaxseed

Linum usitatissimum

Small seeds rich in fiber and the omega-3 fat ALA, eaten whole, ground or as oil. Research suggests flaxseed may lower blood pressure and cholesterol slightly.

High Cholesterol · High Blood Pressure

No. 009Culinary

Garlic

Allium sativum

A pungent kitchen bulb traditionally used for heart and circulation health. Research suggests garlic supplements may lower blood pressure and cholesterol a little.

High Cholesterol · High Blood Pressure

No. 010Culinary

Goji Berry

Lycium barbarum

Small red berries known in China for over 2,000 years as a tonic, now a popular health food. Small trials suggest they may slightly lower triglycerides and raise "good" cholesterol.

High Cholesterol

No. 011Culinary

Macadamia Nut

Macadamia integrifolia

An Australian nut. The FDA allows a limited claim that eating 1.5 ounces a day may reduce heart disease risk, as part of a diet low in saturated fat.

High Cholesterol

No. 012Culinary

Mauby Bark

Colubrina arborescens

The bark used to make mauby, a bitter Caribbean drink and folk remedy. A very small study suggested it may lower blood pressure in some people.

High Blood Pressure

No. 013Culinary

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

A versatile, mild kitchen herb used as both a garnish and a flavor base.

High Blood Pressure

No. 014Culinary

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

A Middle Eastern fruit whose juice may help lower blood pressure and blood sugar slightly. The root, stem and peel may be unsafe in large amounts.

High Blood Pressure

No. 015Culinary

Purslane

Portulaca oleracea

A leafy plant eaten as a vegetable and used as a folk medicine, called pussley in Trinidad. Reviews of trials found it may lower fasting blood sugar a little and improve cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.

High Cholesterol

No. 016Culinary

Soybean

Glycine max

A bean long grown in Asia and eaten as tofu, miso, tempeh, edamame and soy milk. Soy protein may lower cholesterol slightly, and isoflavones may ease hot flashes a little.

High Cholesterol · High Blood Pressure

No. 017Culinary

Susumber

Solanum torvum

Turkey berry, a small berry from the nightshade family cooked in Jamaican dishes and used in traditional medicine in Asia, Africa and South America. Some batches of berries have caused serious poisoning.

High Blood Pressure