Caring Medical
& Rehabilitation Services
715 Lake Street, Suite 600
Oak Park, Illinois 60301
708.848.7789 Phone
708.848.7763 Fax

Nutrition for better circulation

Natural medicine doctors are continually faced with patients with poor circulation due to some factor causing an excessive amount of blood clotting. The most common reason for this is a diet high in saturated fat and sugar. We typically recommend that these patients follow a higher protein (lean choices), low-carbohydrate diet (rich in vegetables). This will have a positive effect on the blood clotting parameters.

Another common cause of excessive blood clotting is infection. It is common when the bowels are tested in patients to find intestinal dysbiosis (overgrowth of many potentially harmful organisms such as parasites, fungi, or abnormal bacteria.)

This is treated by giving the person soil-based organisms such as acidophilus and bifidus, as well as medications directed toward the organism(s) in question. The most common medications we use are antifungals medications in conjunction with the above supplements.

An often overlooked cause of procoagulant activity is heavy metals. In one study, it was found that mercury caused a 56-fold increase in the rate of thrombin formation when platelets were subjected to it.

Heavy metal toxicity causing a coagulopathy would be one indication for chelation therapy. Chelation therapy involves the intravenous injection of an amino acid derivative, such as DMPS or EDTA.

Supplements: There are many different methods to decrease blood coagulopathies, including nutriceutical products, for example, cod liver oil, garlic, curcumin, horse chestnut, bromelain, pycnogenol, vitamin E, and many others.