Conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels are collectively referred to as cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the UK, but according to the NHS, it is frequently avoidable by living a healthy lifestyle. We’ve compiled some of the best advice for encouraging heart health, as well as how aromatherapy massage and essential oils can be beneficial!
Essential oils to support heart health
Numerous essential oils are listed by Patricia Davis (1995) as cardiac tonics, or as having a strengthening effect on the heart muscle. These include Rosemary, Lavender, Marjoram, Peppermint, and Rose.
Lavender, Marjoram, Neroli, and Ylang Ylang are all beneficial for high blood pressure, with Ylang Ylang being especially beneficial for excessively rapid breathing or palpitations.
Frankincense, Rose, Bergamot, and Chamomile are additional oils that may be helpful for their uplifting, anti-depressant, and relaxing effects. It is always important to pay attention to both the physical and emotional state of the person.
Certain essential oils can aid in the detoxification process if losing weight is one of the lifestyle changes needed. These include lemon, fennel, and juniper.
Stimulating oils like peppermint, black pepper, or rosemary can be helpful if blood pressure is low, but they shouldn’t be used excessively. A quick, vigorous massage can be beneficial as well.
Some Wholesome heart health advice
By making wholesome, proactive lifestyle changes, we can naturally reinforce healthy heart function in a variety of ways.
Consider adopting a diet similar to the one found in the Mediterranean region, which includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, beans, lentils, whole grains, fish, white meat, nuts, and seeds, as well as some low-fat dairy products and fat from unsaturated sources like olive oil. It has been demonstrated that eating this way can lower your risk of developing health issues like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol.
Increasing your intake of garlic can be an effective way to improve heart health because it lowers cholesterol. Increase your consumption of green vegetables because they are high in chlorophyll, which can improve the quality of your blood because it is molecularly similar to hemoglobin in your blood.
limiting or eliminating stimulants like caffeine (reduce slowly if intake is high), alcohol, and chocolate while maintaining a low salt intake.
Be aware of your weight. Your risk of developing heart and circulatory conditions, diabetes, and several types of cancer increases if you carry too much fat.
Regular exercise, even if it’s only mild exercise, is very important for heart health. Did you know that your heart’s muscle tone directly reflects your overall muscle tone? Ideal options include yoga, tai chi, chi gong, and pilates because they are powerful yet gentle, deeply calming, and stress-relieving.
How using aromatherapy can help maintain heart health?
Additionally, aromatherapy provides secure and beneficial assistance through the use of essential oils in the home in burners and diffusers, the bath, and for self-massage. You can create your own naturally therapeutic skincare products by combining essential oils with fragrance-free cosmetic bases or making atmosphere sprays.
Numerous studies have shown how beneficial essential oils can be for overall health and for high blood pressure. This is one of the most prevalent conditions that, if it persists, can put strain on the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys.
One study published in the European Journal of Cardiology showed how inhaling 100% pure Bergamot essential oil for a brief period of time significantly reduced blood pressure and heart rate. In a study with 100 young, healthy spa employees, after 45 minutes of breathing the oils, heart rate decreased by an average of 2.21 beats per minute and blood pressure decreased by 2.10 mm Hg. It’s interesting that the only exposure that was beneficial was brief (15 to 60 minutes). The blood pressure and heart rate seemed to rise after more than 60 minutes.
Another study with 52 patients with essential hypertension (high blood pressure) found that inhaling a mixture of lavender, ylang ylang, and bergamot essential oils daily for four weeks reduced blood pressure, pulse, subjective stress, state anxiety, and serum cortisol levels in a statistically significant way. This suggests that this treatment may be useful for people with high blood pressure. In a different study, the effects of transdermal application of just Ylang Ylang essential oil were examined, and it was discovered that this significantly reduced blood pressure and increased relaxation.
Another Japanese study revealed that breathing in Yuzu essential oil for 10 minutes significantly reduced heart rate and elevated high frequency power of heart rate variability (HRV)
A thorough overview of the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy massage is provided by Salvo (1999). The lymphatic and blood circulation are both positively impacted. Blood pressure is decreased, circulation is enhanced, and venous return is stimulated. The immune system is strengthened, the lymphatic detoxification rate is increased, and the red blood cells’ ability to carry oxygen is improved. Additionally, it’s believed that after receiving a massage, dopamine and serotonin levels rise, which slows down breathing and improves stress relief and relaxation.
According to Harvard University researchers, chronic stress may now be just as important a risk factor for heart and circulatory disease as smoking or high blood pressure.
It’s interesting to note that people with high blood pressure frequently struggle to unwind and experience high levels of stress.