CIRCULATION

What is Poor Circulation?

In simple terms when not enough blood flows along the arteries and capillaries, then problems can happen. It is usually most noticeable in the extremities of the body such as the legs, feet, toes, hands and fingers.

What often happens is that a fatty substance called plaque builds up inside the vessels and makes them much narrower. This restricts the flow and makes it harder for the blood to travel around the body as it normally would.

There can be other reasons such as the blood being thicker than optimum or the heart not being as strong as possible. Both of these things can make the problem worse.

Reasons why reduced circulation can be harmful

Having good flow around your body is vitally important.

Your body is made up of millions and millions of tiny cells which all do different jobs in different parts of the body. There are nerve cells, muscle cells, brain, heart and blood cells and many other types of cells.

Each cell needs nutrition so that it gets the energy it needs to do its particular job. It also needs oxygen so that it can combine with nutrients to convert them to energy.

As well as this, each cell produces waste products including unused nutrients and also carbon dioxide.

The blood supply to and from the cells is what allows all of this to happen. If it is poor then the cells in that part of the body suffer and problems and diseases very often start to occur.

Hypertension problems

Circulatory disorders are quite common in middle-aged and elderly folk. Hypertension is one of them. It is caused by cholesterol plaque deposits along the walls of the arteries, making them harden and constrict.

Because the arteries are constricted, the blood exerts great force against the walls of the veins, arteries and tiny capillaries, causing pressure to rise. The vessels lose their elasticity and springiness. So if the body needs more energy such as walking up stairs or exercising, it can be difficult to get it.

Hardening of the Arteries

Hardening of the arteries is another consequence because the arteries narrow due to these same fatty deposits.

Buergers disease, common to those who smoke, is a chronic inflammation of the veins and arteries in the lower extremities. Raynauds disease is marked by constriction and spasm of the blood vessels in the extremities.

This very often includes the fingers, toes and tip of the nose. This disease if left untreated can lead to gangrene.

Varicose Veins

The word varicose means swollen, twisted and lengthened and this is what happens to the veins. They usually occur in the legs, but it can be elsewhere in the body. Having varicose veins can restrict the flow of blood in you legs. These develop because of a loss of elasticity in the walls of the veins. The resultant reduced circulation then compounds the problem and makes the varicose veins gradually worse.

These circulatory problems are quite common due to genetics or bad food or insufficient exercise or higher stress levels etc. This problem can be quite common in a single leg but more often in both legs.

Basically, veins have small valves inside them to stop blood from flowing back down the body due to gravity. These valves are meant to close as it is pumped through the vein. Then re-open to allow the next pump. But varicose veins have valves which do not close properly. Hence blood is able to fall back down. This creates bulges and makes the problem even worse.

How to improve blood circulation

It is possible to improve this condition throughout the body and also in specific areas. Here are some great tips for you:

Hot and Cold Treatments

Hot and cold Showers or Hydrotherapy is a good way of getting fluids moving around the body. This is something you can do every day, concentrating on the effected area.

When you get hot under a shower the blood rushes to the skin and feeds it. Then when you immediately put on the cold, it rushes to the internal organs. You shiver, but what is happening is that your blood is flushing out of your skin and leaving it oxygenated. Then, again using the hot shower setting, and it flows from your internal organs, flushing out waste and toxins from cells and flows back more to your skin.

Use common sense - not too hot!

Your circulation is increased just by the action of your blood being forced rapidly around your body. This hot and then cold water can be repeated up to 5 or 6 times for optimum results. Do not start straight away on very hot or very cold water. Gradually increase the temperature difference between the hot and cold water over a period of a few weeks so that it is not too much of a shock to the system. This single action can dramatically improve things over time.

You can also do this to a single body part. You don't just have to do this to the whole body. You can use it to improve a leg or a hand etc. Try it. It really can make a difference over time.

Leg pain and foot pain

Consider that if you spend most of the day on your feet, some of the potential health risks include cold hands, cold feet, varicose veins, swollen ankles and feet, swollen veins, skin discolouration, leg pain, foot pain, aching bones and joints.

Standing all day at work may also increase hypertension. Hypertension is also associated with standing for long hours at a time and people who have to do this, need to ensure they take regular breaks and change their body position by sitting down.

Some recent studies have suggested that standing is good for you compared with sitting. This makes some sense, but the key thing is the length of time in either position.

Whether you stand up a lot or sit down a lot, you should change your position regularly and stretch your legs a bit every hour or two. The human body doesn't cope well with being in the same position hour after hour.

Prolonged sitting can also cause circulation problems

Prolonged sitting can bring with it just as many potential health risks as prolonged standing. Here are some of the more well-known symptoms of prolonged sitting. Most of us have experienced these on a long train or bus or plane journey, but for those people who have to sit in pretty much the same position for long periods of time, they may well be more familiar with these:

Restricted flows to extremities resulting in poor circulation in hands and feet.

Cold feet/cold hands due to restricted blood flow.

Muscular aches, strains and cramps.

Pins and needles.

Tingling in the hands and feet is called paresthesia which literally means Greek para meaning "beside" or abnormal and aisthesia, meaning sensation.

One of the first things you may notice as the circulation starts to dimish to a body part is a tingling sensation. Paresthesia is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of a person's skin with no apparent long-term physical effect. It is also called ‘pins and needles’ or the feeling of a limb going to sleep. The feeling of having a foot "fall asleep" is a familiar one. This same combination of numbness and tingling can occur in any region of the body and may be caused by a wide variety of disorders.

Other types of paresthesia include feelings of cold, warmth, burning, itching, and skin crawling. Paresthesia occurs when an area of the body loses its normal sensation to touch.

Usually paresthesia is short-lived and can occur when sustained pressure has been applied to a nerve, which inhibits its function. Removing the pressure from the limb returns sensation to the body part where paresthesia has occurred.

Most common parts of the body to get affected

While numbness can occur anywhere on the body, it’s most common in the arms, hands, legs and feet. Numbness can also be accompanied by tingling, pins and needles, and burning skin sensations. Numbness in the arms and legs can be caused by remaining in one position, whether this is standing, sitting or lying down for a long time.

This can be due to work or if you are unwell and bed-bound for a period of time or if there is pressure on a nerve from a resultant injury. For example, some back injuries can cause numbness in the legs or feet, and a neck injury can cause numbness in the arms and hands. Pressure on the spinal nerves can cause limb numbness.

Sometimes one’s arms or legs feel numb to the touch. It may also feel like it has been frozen with anaesthesia. This numb patch may be small or encompass many parts of the body such as part of your arm or the whole arm, part of your foot or the whole leg.

Thrombosis and blood clots

One of the more extreme problems related to this is called thrombosis. Lack of movement in certain areas can result in blood clots which can become serious. These clots are also known as thrombosis, from the Greek word from ‘thrombos’ meaning a clot. Exercise helps to stimulate the muscles which in turn causes the fluids in the vessels to move more and faster. Sitting down with one’s legs bent for long periods of time can increase the chances of thrombosis.

For example, when travelling in airplanes, especially on long-haul flights, it is advisable to drink plenty of water, wear loose garments and also get up from your seat from time to time to exercise – also consider doing some gentle leg and feet exercises or stretches to stimulate flow. Walking on the spot or flexing one’s feet even under the seat, may help.

Circulation formula

Probably the ultimate and most potent herbal combination to help beat poor circulation is Cayenne and Ginkgo Biloba, with added Ginger and Garlic

This is made up of the four herbs Ginger, Garlic, Ginkgo & Cayenne. Each one is highly regarded as a circulation boost in its own right.

Ginger

It has a warming effect on the body and this is excellent for circulatory problems and it helps alleviate cold hands and feet. Ginger is also well known for its anti-inflammatory properties and hence its treatment for joints and connective tissues.

Garlic

It is well known as a herb that helps strengthen the heart. But that is not all. Studies have shown that it can help promote a stronger immune system and help to cleanse the blood of a range of infections.

It has often been called a natural anti-biotic, but it also helps maintain healthy bacteria in the gut, tending to act only on invasive elements.

Historic uses have also been to use garlic to help cleanse wounds and cuts in battles, such is its antiseptic powers. Any body defence building program should include garlic, either raw, or including a supplement to ensure positive action is maintained towards better health.

Modern research shows that a regular intake of Garlic lowers cholesterol levels. Garlic can help cleanse many of your internal systems, tones the heart and circulatory system and helps prevent heart disease. It helps with high blood pressure and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis*.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is another all-round booster. It is most widely know for its ability to improve memory, due to its ability to increase blood flow through the brain. In Germany, Gingko is used by physicians to treat varicose veins.

Ginkgo, like cayenne, improves flow and strengthens vessels. It is also anti-inflammatory, relaxes the lungs, stimulates flow to the heart and lessens coronary demand for oxygen - reducing shortness of breath and is helpful in asthma. It has often been used to assist thrombosis, varicose veins, cramp, and spontaneous bruising.

The leaves are used to treat poor circulation and the resulting effects of this. Ginkgo, improves blood flow and can actually strengthen blood vessels. It is recommended for anyone with poor circulation

Cayenne

This is a magical herb and has numerous external and internal uses. Internally cayenne is considered one of the best circulatory stimulants. It stimulates all parts and systems involved with blood flow. Its stimulating properties also extend to the digestive system, by stimulating the flow of saliva and stomach secretions.

Cayenne can be used internally or externally. It can be used on unbroken chilblains and pains associated with arthritis or lumbago. Capsicum based creams, liniments, and infused oils can be rubbed onto the skin. Avoid the eyes and other sensitive area of the body.

Internally cayenne stimulates the heart, regulating the blood flow and strengthening the arteries and capillaries. If you want to get things flowing, take cayenne. It can be taken as powder in a capsule or as a liquid tincture. It will not only get things pumped around your body, but it will strengthen your heart, clear your arteries, and research has shown that hot herbs raise your metabolic rate by as much as 25%, so will assist in weight loss. Cayenne is a wonderful herb for a healthy life.

The Heart muscle.

Tips to make it stronger:

The heart has the hardest working muscles in the human body - these are the cardiac muscles. Without doubt it is one of the three most important organs in the body along with the brain and lungs. It has been proven that it can be affected by what we eat and so it is vital to eat as healthily as possible.

The human heart continuously pumps the red stuff through our body to provide oxygen and nutrients to all organs, tissues and cells. It also removes carbon dioxide and other wastes. On average, the it beats 72 times per minute or 4,320 times per hour which is approximately 103,680 per day. This is a phenomenally hard working muscle, pumping approximately 7,200 litres of blood through our body each day.

We have about 650 muscles in our body and these make up approximately half of our body weight.

Cardiac muscle only exists in our hearts and works automatically and constantly. It gets its oxygen and nutrients from blood flowing through the coronary arteries located within the heart muscle itself.

The Heart itself needs its own oxygen!

Just like other organs or muscles of the body, the heart muscle itself needs oxygen and nutrients to live and function properly. Surprisingly, it does not get much of its oxygen and other nutrients from the blood flowing inside it. In fact, it gets most of its nutrients from the main arteries which include the left coronary artery and right coronary artery. These arteries receive blood from the aorta.

A common problem that is becoming more well known about is that when the body starts lacking essential vitamins, minerals and other compounds, it leads to our blood vessels becoming more fragile. This is a vicious circle and makes things worse. It is important that we get sufficient antioxidants from fresh produce, oily fish and whole grains. These help reduce toxic build ups in the entire body.

Certain foods can keep your heart healthy

Omega-3 fatty acids – fish oils are known for lowering the amount of harmful cholesterol that can build up inside artery walls. Good sources of omega 3 fatty acids include flaxseed oil and oily fish such as mackerel and sardines.

Vitamins A, C, E - these highly beneficial antioxidant vitamins all have the ability to prevent the build up of deposits, including fats, sticking to artery walls and can help to prevent damage to the arterial linking caused by free radicals. Best sources of A are fish oil, egg yolk, liver; C is richest in citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries, red peppers, peas; E in avocados, chickpeas, almonds, tuna, sunflower oil and muesli.