Alternate Solutions for Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is an ailment in which the affected gets severe cramping whenever participating in activity, sometimes as simple as walking. The constant building up of plaque around arteries and veins causes the disease, and as more builds up, the disease gets worse. It's rare for young people to have PAD because it takes awhile for enough plaque to build up to actually have an effect, and that is why the disease plagues mostly the people over fifty, and the chances of contracting it get exponentially higher with age. Luckily, there are several medical and natural treatments that are used to treat PAD. The natural treatments should be used early, as they halt the disease and reverse it slowly, but if it's advanced, there are several medical options. First, you are usually given blood viscosity reducing drugs, but there are several surgical options available as well. One frequently used method is angioplasty, a technique which widens the blood vessels to allow more blood through. Remember, the problem which causes PAD is poor circulation, so anything that enables better circulation can relieve the symptoms and effects of the disease.

There are also several natural remedies available. One is gingko biloba, which is usually used on patients with dementia (including Alzheimer's) and cerebral insufficiency. However, in recent trials conducted by doctors, and in which all possible variables were removed, the use of the herbal remedy increased walking distance and relieved pain in patients.

Another extremely beneficial herb is cayenne. Cayenne purifies blood and improves overall circulation. Besides the extremely powerful effects it has on the heart and blood system, it also beneficially affects the whole digestive system as well. It helps with physical healing, and stops infections from viruses and bacteria. And when used in conjunction with other herbs, it enhances their effects. It is also chock full of vitamins, containing high amounts of vitamin A, B, and C, as well as the minerals calcium and potassium.

A type of berry, the hawthorn berry, supports the heart and circulatory system. It has been around for a long time, in fact, it was used back in the Middle Ages. Today, they are used to treat heart failure and circulatory disorders. Hawthorn increases blood flow to both the heart and brain, enhances the strength of the heart's contractions (which will make you live longer if you don't have any diseases or disorders), and even reduces blood pressure. It also prevents angina, a disease caused by the heart not getting enough oxygen. Hawthorn also has compounds that dilate and relax the arteries, which makes it easier for the heart to pump blood. This lowers blood pressure and reduces stress to the heart. Most importantly for PAD, this berry removes cholesterol and plaque from blood lining, which as stated, causes PAD.