Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor; I'm an esthetician, herbalist, and wellness enthusiast. Nothing that I discuss is meant to be taken as medical advice. It is information that I am excited to share with you to spark your curiosity and give you something to explore further on your wellness journey. You must look into anything that you consume to be aware of the contraindications. Just because it is a plant doesn't mean it is benign and it doesn't mean it's meant for everyone's body or every situation. I never want to contribute to health anxiety; rather, I want to remind you of your innate power. It's your right and responsibility to discern what is appropriate for your individual health needs and consult with your inner knowing so that you can take what resonates and leave the rest.
As we approach Valentine's Day, I thought this topic would be appropriate. It's also the heavenly birthday of my soul dog, who I lost the Christmas before last, and so for me, it's a time when my grief over that bears itself very fresh in my heart again. But I also know Valentine’s day can bring up some mixed feelings for lots of people. But more than that, it's always a time to care for our physical and our energetic heart. Before I get into the herbs today, I want to briefly talk about how they can be accessible to you because I know it can feel intimidating. Because it isn't talked about, there aren't commercials for it - which I think is great because it keeps plants sacred, but I do want to break down the intellectual and physical barriers. I recommend the book "The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual" by James Green or the Modern Herbal Dispensary: A Medicine Making Guide by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne. You can also consider:
Growing it yourself
Local apothecary
Local herb farms
Mountain Rose Herbs
Pacific Botanicals
When I went to herb school in 2020, one of my favorite things that we learned about was "heart medicine."
This wasn't referring to a stent or medication but rather herbs that evoke feelings of warmth, love, compassion, and emotional openness. These herbs may be used to alleviate stress, anxiety, and grief or to promote feelings of love, joy, and inner peace.
In yoga, heart-opening postures are ones that physically and energetically expand and open the chest area where the physical heart sits, and where the heart chakra also is positioned.
Interestingly, most often, when an herb is supportive to the emotional heart, it is also an herb that is supportive to the physical heart.
It makes sense that the energetic and emotional heart overlaps the physical heart.
The heart is not just a mechanical pump. The physical heart experiences the effects of emotions through a combination of neural, hormonal, and biochemical pathways that influence its health and functioning over time. When we experience emotions such as love, compassion, or sadness, our brain sends signals to the heart through the autonomic nervous system. For example, feelings of love and compassion can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a decrease in heart rate and a sense of calmness and relaxation. Conversely, emotions like fear or anxiety can activate the sympathetic nervous system, causing the heart to beat faster and blood pressure to rise in preparation for a fight-or-flight response. Over time, chronic stress, unresolved emotions, or traumatic experiences can have a cumulative effect on the physical heart. Additionally, research suggests that emotions can directly impact the functioning of the heart muscle cells and the electrical signals that regulate heart rhythm. So it makes a lot of sense that heart-opening, emotional heart-supporting herbs would impact the physical heart.
There is a concept in herbalism called the Doctrine of Signatures: this states that nature provides clues or "signatures" to humans about the potential uses of plants for healing purposes. According to the Doctrine of Signatures, plants exhibit physical characteristics, such as color, shape, texture, or growth habits, that correspond to the organs or bodily systems they are believed to benefit.
Signatures for the heart and circulatory system include:
Plants with heart-shaped leaves or flowers, like Hawthorn (Crataegus), which is beneficial for heart health.
Red-Colored Plants: Plants with red-colored fruits, flowers, or roots have historically been associated with blood and circulation. Examples include red berries like raspberries and strawberries, red root vegetables like beets, and herbs like hibiscus and red clover.
Vascular-Like Patterns: Some plants have intricate vascular-like patterns in their leaves or stems, which have been interpreted as signatures for supporting the circulatory system. For example, Ginkgo biloba leaves have a distinctive vein pattern and are traditionally used to improve circulation.
Thorny or Spiky Plants: Plants with thorns or spiky leaves have sometimes been associated with stimulating circulation or breaking up stagnation. Hawthorn (Crataegus), for example, has thorns and is known for its historical use in supporting heart health.
Plants Growing Near Water: Some traditional herbalists believe that plants growing near water sources may have a connection to fluid balance and circulation. Examples include water-loving plants like watercress and water lilies.
Because I am an esthetician, I would be remiss to not cover how circulatory plants support skin health.
Improved Blood Flow: Circulatory plants are believed to improve blood circulation throughout the body, including to the skin. Enhanced blood flow can help deliver oxygen and nutrients to skin cells, promoting their health and vitality. This increased circulation can also facilitate the removal of waste products and toxins from the skin, supporting its detoxification processes.
Enhanced Nutrient Delivery: Many circulatory plants contain compounds that support the integrity of blood vessels and capillaries, helping to ensure efficient nutrient delivery to the skin. For example, herbs rich in flavonoids like bilberry and horse chestnut can strengthen blood vessel walls, reducing leakage and improving nutrient transport.
Anti-inflammatory Effects: Some circulatory plants have anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate skin conditions characterized by inflammation, such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis. By reducing inflammation, these plants may help soothe irritated skin and promote healing.
Antioxidant Protection: Circulatory plants often contain antioxidants that help protect skin cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. This protection can help prevent premature aging of the skin, including wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots.
Wound Healing: Certain circulatory plants have been traditionally used for their wound-healing properties. By promoting circulation and providing nourishment to damaged skin tissues, these plants can support the natural healing process and facilitate the repair of wounds, cuts, and abrasions.
10 Heart-Opening Herbs To Try Out:
Rose: Plants in the rose family are considered heart-opening. Roses often have petals that resemble the shape of a heart. This heart-shaped appearance has led to the belief that roses are beneficial for heart health and emotional well-being, symbolizing love, compassion, and emotional openness. Rose can be interacted with by drinking a tea with rose petals in it. My favorite way is to apply rose essential oil over the heart during times of grief. Rose flower essence and rose hydrosol are also beneficial. Rose hips, the fruit of the rose plant, can be incorporated into tea, or rose hip seed oil is a lovely vitamin C-rich skincare ingredient. Plants in the rose family are rich in flavonoids, which have antioxidant, cooling, and anti-inflammatory actions, making them excellent tonic medicine for healthy hearts.
Hawthorn: Hawthorn is rich with herbal folklore. Druids believed that hawthorn trees housed fairies, and the white blossoms were seen as portals through which fairies could enter and exit the human world. Hawthorn trees were also associated with love and fertility, serving as symbols of protection and blessings for marriages and family life. Hawthorn supports heart health and is often used in herbalism for its cardiovascular benefits.
Wild Cherry Bark: Indigenous populations have long used wild cherry bark for various ailments, including coughs, colds, fevers, headaches, bronchitis, and sore throats. In Chinese medicine, supporting the lungs can help release grief, making wild cherry bark a potentially heart-supportive herb.
Damiana: Damiana is used in traditional Mexican medicine as a heart opener and mood lifter. It supports heart health by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and improving circulation. Its yellow flowers symbolize emotional upliftment and warmth associated with heart-opening herbs.
Cacao: Cacao has been revered in Mesoamerican cultures as the food of the gods. It improves blood flow, reduces blood clotting, and strengthens venous tissue, benefiting heart health. Consuming raw cacao offers several potential benefits for heart health and the vascular system due to its flavenoid content.
Linden: Linden induces feelings of joy and happiness and contains quercetin, which reduces inflammation, especially in the heart and cardiovascular system. It's often considered a hug in a mug and supports cardiovascular health.
Tulsi (Holy Basil): Tulsi is an adaptogenic herb that supports resilience in the face of stress. It regulates blood sugar and blood pressure, fosters feelings of love, compassion, and spiritual growth, and is considered sacred in Hindu culture.
Motherwort: Motherwort, known as "lion-hearted" in Latin, calms the heart, nurtures, and grounds. It has a tonic effect on the cardiovascular system, regulating heart rhythm and circulation. Motherwort is often consumed in tincture form due to its bitterness.
These herbs offer a holistic approach to heart health, supporting not only physical well-being but also emotional and spiritual balance. Incorporating them into your wellness routine can provide nourishment and support for your heart and overall well-being.
Heart Opening Plants For When You Feel Bitter, Numb, Grief, or Apathy