In the hustle and bustle of modern life, optimal health is a priority for many, and the secret to optimal health is simpler than you think. It revolves around one of the body’s major systems: the circulatory system. The health of this system plays a pivotal role in ensuring all other systems and organs function at their best. 

Fortunately, nature provides us with a treasure trove of herbs known for optimizing blood flow and circulation. In this blog, we’ll highlight the 11 best herbs for circulation, explore why good circulation is important, and the risks of poor circulation. We’ll also share five activities to promote healthy circulation that you can easily include in your daily schedule.

We hope you’ll find this information helpful as you honor the wisdom of ancient practices and strive to live your most blissful life. Let’s get started!

Why Is Good Circulation Important? 

You could say that good circulation is the foundation of good health. It provides oxygen-rich blood to every part of the body, including vital organs like the heart and lungs. When your organs get the oxygen and nutrients they need, they’ll function more efficiently, helping you feel vibrant and rejuvenated. 

But what does it mean to have good circulation? Circulation is the process by which the heart pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and vital nutrients to the organs and cells. Good circulation allows the blood to flow freely through the veins and arteries, delivering oxygen-rich blood to organs and removing waste products. It is essential for energy and vitality. 

Some organs, like the liver and kidney, process waste materials. Proper circulation removes waste products and helps muscles, organs, and tissues work properly. Without good circulation, these waste products can become stuck, causing a multitude of health issues.

Good circulation benefits every system in the body, giving you more energy, better cognitive function, and healthier skin.  

Risks of Poor Circulation

One of the biggest risks of poor circulation is that cells don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need, and the waste they give off isn’t removed. Poor circulation can affect extremities, such as hands, fingers, feet, and toes, before affecting other parts of the body. When the delivery system malfunctions, blood flow may become slower, causing complications. Poor circulation can be caused by health issues that interfere with blood flow. This can be dangerous to your cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and the overall health of your organs.

Risks of poor circulation include:

• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor memory
• Taking longer to heal

The good news is that you can improve circulation with just a few simple lifestyle tweaks. All it takes is an ongoing commitment to participating in healthy activities, eating a wholesome diet, and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle filled with harmful habits. 

5 Activities for Healthy Circulation 

Making lifestyle choices that support healthy circulation is crucial, yet many underestimate its importance. Poor circulation won’t improve without your help, so incorporating a few activities into your daily health regimen can significantly help you achieve healthy circulation. 

One of the first activities to incorporate is regular exercise. This can look like adding a daily habit of low-impact movement. Exercise that compresses and decompresses your veins, especially in the legs, stimulates blood flow and moves stagnant fluid. Along with healthy movement, incorporating a daily tea ritual with a stress-relieving infusion and stopping smoking can also support healthy circulation.

These 5 activities for healthy circulation will give you a place to start: 

1. Doing Yoga

As little as 15 minutes of yoga a day can enhance circulation. Practicing yoga encourages deep breathing and dynamic stretches that boost blood flow. Start with a simple “asana” — yoga pose or posture — to build a solid foundation of balance and strength before moving on to more challenging postures. 

2. Walking

A brisk 30-minute walk five days a week can support heart health, promote circulation, and support healthy aging. If weather permits, take your walk outside and enjoy nature. If not, an indoor track or treadmill will do. Another option is to visit your local mall and walk laps while window shopping. 

3. Drinking Tea

Green and black teas are packed with antioxidants that support vascular health. Ginger and turmeric naturally widen blood vessels to enhance blood flow, so enjoy a cup or two daily for extra circulation support with teas and herbs for circulation.

4. Cycling

Whether riding outdoors or inside on a stationary bike, cycling for 20-30 minutes daily can improve heart health and boost blood flow. 

5. Smoking Cessation

Smoking is known to have a detrimental effect on circulation, but when you quit smoking, your body naturally starts to heal and correct the negative effects, improving circulation over time. 

Adding these 5 activities for circulation to your daily and weekly health regimen can give your body the boost it needs to encourage healthy circulation. But don’t limit yourself to just these. Think about other activities you love to do, find a workout partner, and have fun!

11 Herbs for Circulation

The bounty of nature offers an array of herbal remedies to help support you as you strive to live a healthy life. Let’s explore 11 powerful herbs for circulation and support heart health.  

Ginger

Ginger is a robust culinary and medicinal spice known in Ayurveda for its ability to assist digestion. But did you know it also warms the body to help maintain healthy circulation? Ginger contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, and zinc—minerals that help blood flow. Ginger has cardio-protective properties that support healthy blood pressure by relaxing the arteries. 

Turmeric

Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine have used turmeric, the golden spice, for centuries to support healthy blood flow through the veins. Curcumin, the naturally occurring active compound in turmeric, gives it its yellow color and is responsible for supplying the cardio-protective benefits. Turmeric is a staple in Ayurvedic medicine, but modern science has performed over 7000 studies examining its benefits. 

Black Pepper

Black pepper, or Piper nigrum, contains piperine, which bolsters circulation by expanding blood vessels and stimulating the circulatory system. It also enhances bioavailability, or nutrient absorption, the body’s ability to absorb beneficial nutrients from herbs and foods.

Pippali

Another traditional Ayurvedic herb known for its rejuvenating effects on the circulatory system is Pippali or long pepper. One of the best herbs for circulation, it enhances vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels, and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. 

Ceylon Cinnamon

Cinnamon is more than just a deliciously sweet spice that adds flavor to your favorite foods, it is also a powerful circulatory stimulant. It helps support healthy blood flow by dilating the blood vessels. ORGANIC INDIA’s Ceylon Cinnamon supplement provides a healthy dose of antioxidants along with digestive support for a convenient way to reap the benefits of an age-old remedy. 

Bacopa

Bacopa, known in India as Brahmi, is another herb with abundant saponins and flavonoids—organic chemicals that encourage healthy veins. In Ayurvedic traditions, Bacopa was used as a memory enhancer or a Medhya Rasayana, a “rejuvenator of the intellect.” 

Today, it is believed Bacopa supports cognitive function by promoting better blood flow and circulation in the brain. ORGANIC INDIA’S Memory supplement supports mental clarity and cognitive function, providing stress relief and rejuvenation. 

Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola, an herb of the parsley family, has been found to be particularly beneficial in supporting healthy leg circulation and proper fluid movement. It contains active organic chemicals called saponins and triterpenoids that seem to positively affect vascular tissue, such as the walls of the veins. In Ayurveda, Gotu Kola is revered as a “pharmacy in one herb” and is treasured for brain and memory support. 

Garlic

Well-known for its cardiovascular benefits, garlic helps maintain already healthy blood pressure and supports healthy circulation. Studies show that people who eat a generous amount of garlic may have more efficient blood flow. That’s because garlic contains sulfur, which helps blood vessels relax. 

Ginkgo 

Ginkgo biloba is most known for its potential ability to keep your mind sharp. But studies show that Ginkgo may positively affect blood circulation by opening up the blood vessels and making blood less viscous, or syrupy. 

Rosemary

Rosemary, a member of the mint family, is an earthy herb that adds notes of pepper, lemon, and mint to your savory dishes. It is rich in antioxidants and compounds that help boost circulation. When applied topically to the scalp, rosemary essential oil may help maintain healthy circulation to the hair follicles, enhancing hair growth. 

Hawthorn

In traditional Chinese medicine, hawthorn is a powerful heart tonic. The plant’s flowers, berries, and leaves contain flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that may dilate blood vessels, which support healthy circulation. The compounds are also thought to promote healthy blood vessels and protect them from damage. 

Incorporating Herbs for Circulation Into Your Lifestyle

As you can see, maintaining good circulation is fundamental to sustaining optimal health throughout your life. You can effectively support your circulatory system by incorporating these eleven herbs for circulation into your daily health regimen. 

For thousands of years, traditional Ayurvedic practitioners have included these herbs in their health practices. Today, we can embrace their wisdom and additional healthy activities for optimal circulation to enjoy a vibrant life filled with vitality. Whether adding cinnamon to your dishes or enjoying a warm cup of ginger-infused tea, even small changes can make a big difference.