Natural Methods for Improving Your Circulation

Yes, it is kind of fun when a part of your body “falls asleep,” and as much as those “pins and needles” hurt when it wakes up, you kind of enjoy their weird sensations too. If this happens only occasionally, you’re fine, but if you find that it happens more often, you should probably get your blood pressure and circulation checked out because your circulatory system could be losing its oomph. If you find that your blood pressure and circulation are getting worse, try not to panic. In addition to the medications you might be prescribed by your doctor (which are usually held off until absolutely warranted), there are a lot of natural and homeopathic methods you can use to improve your circulation. Here are a few of them.

Compression Wear

According to the Intermountain Vein Center of Utah, one of the best things you can do for poor circulation, varicose veins, etc. is to wear compression clothing. In one blog post they write in regards to varicose veins, “…when a compression stocking is worn, the vein walls compress together and essentially heal closed. The stockings also help keep blood moving through other veins to help reduce the risk of developing blood clots.” Compression wear is also very popular with athletes to help improve their circulation and muscles heal during and after a workout.

De-Stress

Stress is one of the leading factors in a whole host of physical ailments, poor circulation and high blood pressure among them. Take time to relax and to work on lowering your stress levels. Working out is one good way to do this. The workouts don’t necessarily need to be structured or physically intense. The goal is to get up, get moving, and increase your heart rate for 20 minutes or so per day.

Another great way to reduce your stress levels is to take up a hobby–especially a creative one. Coloring (yes, really! They even make coloring books for adults now!), knitting, drawing, woodworking, etc. are all great for helping you relax and de-stress.

Meditation and mindfulness are also quite helpful for people who have stressful lives (which is pretty much everybody these days). Mindfulness and meditation are skills that take time to develop, but once developed they are great at lowering stress levels and stopping stressful thoughts.

Change Your Diet

Yes, we all love our morning coffees and going out for a beer after work with our friends. If you have bad circulation, though, you’ll want to give up these beverages as well as other system stimulants. While alcohol slows down the system and can affect our digestion (which has a direct affect on our circulatory system), stimulants like caffeine, sugar and nicotine immediately affect your blood, which can lead to more problems later on. If you’re having problems with circulation, the first thing you should do is cut out alcohol and stimulative substances. Switch to water! It’s healthier for you, cuts your calorie intake and will help improve your circulation!

When it comes to food, you’ll want to start spicing things up. Spicy food is great for your circulation system (and clearing out your sinuses!). You’ll also want to introduce more root foods like ginger, garlic and onions into your diet. These foods act as anti-inflammatories and antimicrobal agents which help keep illness and bacteria out of your system.

You will also want to watch your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels can lead to angina and a number of other blood pressure-related issues including a heart attack! Work to keep your cholesterol levels as low as you can.

There are a lot of natural ways to lower your blood pressure and increase your circulation without relying upon chemicals–though if your doctor says you need them, it is best to follow your doctor’s advice. The natural remedies here are just the beginning. It’s amazing what nature can do!