Anticoagulants

Some people call anticoagulants blood thinners. However, the blood is not actually made any thinner. Anticoagulants are medicines that prevent the blood from clotting as quickly or as effectively as normal. The main possible side-effect of anticoagulants is bleeding. Many synthetic anticoagulants interact with some other medicines and foods. If you are prescribed or buy any other medicine always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking an anticoagulant or before switching to an herbal.  Blood clots can block an artery or a vein (blood vessels), a blocked artery stops blood and oxygen from getting to a part of your body. The tissue supplied by a blocked artery becomes damaged, or dies, and this results in serious problems such as a stroke or heart attack.

      Some work by blocking vitamin K, which prevents blood clots forming so easily by increasing the time it takes to make fibrin. It usually takes two or three days for these medicines to work fully.

Anticoagulants are used to treat or help with;

·             Atrial fibrillation (fast irregular heartbeat). Having atrial fibrillation is one of the most common reasons for taking an anticoagulant.

·         A mechanical heart valve.

• Endocarditis (infection of the inside of the heart).
• Mitral stenosis (one of the valves in the heart does not fully open).
• Certain blood disorders that affect how your blood clots (inherited thrombophilia, antiphospholipid syndrome).
• Had surgery to replace a hip or knee.
  
    Aspirin has an effect of preventing clots by preventing platelets sticking together. However, it is classed as an antiplatelet agent rather than an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants interfere with chemicals needed to make clots or clotting factors. Some natural anticoagulants include; garlic, ginger, white willow, turmeric, feverfew and angelica.
         Using garlic is usually prescribed as supplements in two 200mg daily three times a day.
         Ginger is usually taken four times daily in 500mg doses.
         Like garlic turmeric is consumed three times daily in 200mg doses.
         White willow is consumed as a tea three to four times each day by steeping one or two teaspoons of dried bark in 8 ounces of hot water for a period of 15 minutes or 240 milligrams of this herb in capsule form daily.