Home Remedies and Herbs for Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that affects about 800,000 people in the U.S. every year, making it the fifth leading cause of death in the country.¹ A stroke occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted. This may happen due to a blood clot--known as an ischemic stroke--or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing bleeding in the surrounding area--known as a hemorrhagic stroke.² A stroke causes brain cells to die, but taking immediate medical action can help minimize brain damage.³ Luckily, strokes can be prevented and treated through medical intervention or by taking stroke home remedies.

What Causes Stroke?

Strokes occur due to blood clots or burst blood vessels in the brain. However, the causes of these complications can vary. Some causes include:

• Atherosclerosis, or when plaque builds up in the arteries
• Lesions caused by atherosclerosis
• High blood pressure
• Carotid artery disease
• Heart conditions or blood disorders like atrial fibrillation
• High blood pressure
• Aneurysms
• Arteriovenous malformations⁴

Certain lifestyle and medical factors can increase your risk of stroke, including:

• Being overweight or obese
• Heavy binge drinking
• Low activity levels
• Use of drugs like cocaine
• Cigarette use
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea⁵

Many of these factors can be treated through herbs for stroke prevention or other lifestyle changes. However, risk factors that can’t be controlled include being over the age of 55 and having a personal family history of stroke. African-Americans are also at higher risk of stroke, and men are more likely to have a stroke than women are.⁵

Stroke Symptoms

Strokes are typically easy to spot if you’re aware of the symptoms. Stroke symptoms appear suddenly and may include:

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on a single side of the body
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Confusion, difficulty talking, or difficulty understanding speech
• Dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
• Severe headache with no apparent cause⁶

If you or someone you are with suddenly experiences these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately.

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Stroke

Although a stroke should be treated by medical professionals right away, there are stroke home remedies that can benefit victims or those people at high risk of stroke. Start with these herbs for stroke prevention and herbs for stroke recovery:

• Apple Cider Vinegar - Apple cider vinegar is among the beneficial herbs for stroke prevention. It helps thin the blood to reduce ischemic stroke risk. Take two tablespoons in a glass of warm water several times per day.
• Ginkgo Biloba - Ginkgo biloba is one of the herbs for stroke victims because it can help manage the aftermath of a stroke. Take in pill form twice per day with a glass of water.
• Turmeric - Stroke home remedies like turmeric help open the blood vessels to help prevent stroke. Take one teaspoon in warm water twice per day.
• Garlic - Garlic also opens the blood vessels to prevent stroke. You can eat it as whole cloves several times per week or take it as a pill three times per day.
• Rose Hips - Rose hips is among the herbs for stroke recovery that can help clear the brain. You can also drink it as tea to reduce stroke risk.

References

1. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/
2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/stroke
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/home/ovc-20117264
4. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/stroke/causes
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/dxc-20117265
6. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/detail_stroke.htm#1105_6