Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
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While your blood naturally clots to heal wounds, too much clotting could be dangerous and put you at a higher risk for heart disease. If you are prone to clotting, then taking steps to thin your blood can reduce your risk of forming dangerous clots. This is definitely not safe for everyone, though, so only try it if your doctor tells you it's necessary. Doctors usually recommend blood-thinning medications like warfarin to prevent clots. However, some natural compounds could also thin your blood. If you’d like to try these for yourself, then first ask your doctor to make sure this is safe. After that, take some dietary and lifestyle steps to reduce your risk of forming clots.
Steps
A few natural herbs and supplements do actually thin your blood. This is why some of them come with warnings that you shouldn’t use them if you’re on blood thinners, because these herbs could increase the medication’s effects. Try adding these herbs and supplements into your diet to try and thin your blood. Always ask your doctor first to make sure this is safe.
Add garlic to your diet. Garlic is a known blood-thinner, so try adding more to your food. You could also take supplements for a more concentrated dose. Garlic could also improve your overall cardiovascular health.[1]- Studies showed that having 25-120 mg of garlic extract per day is safe and successfully thins blood.
Take curcumin supplements. Curcumin is a compound in turmeric, and it's effective for thinning blood. Try including a daily curcumin supplement in your routine to see if it helps you.[2]- A standard curcumin dose is 500 mg per day in tablet form. However, this isn't the dosage specifically to thin your blood, so talk to your doctor about the right dosage.[3]
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Spice your food with turmeric. Turmeric naturally contains curcumin, so you can also include this Asian spice in your food to get a curcumin dose and thin your blood. As an added bonus, it adds a nice, earthy flavor to your food.[4]- Turmeric is safe in high amounts, even up to 3 g daily. However, remember that you might experience an upset stomach or diarrhea if you eat too much of it regularly.[5]
Try ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo can stop your blood from coagulating too much and prevent blood clots. A a concentration of 25 mg/ml, ginkgo had a strong blood-thinning effect. Take a daily supplement to see if this works.[6]
Improve blood flow with grape seed extract. Grape seed extract is a popular natural remedy that could thin blood and improve blood flow. It might even help lower blood pressure.[7]- The dosage for grape seed extract varies widely and ranges from 150 to 2,000 mg per day. If you're specifically trying to use it to thin your blood, talk to your doctor for the right dose.[8]
Besides including some herbs in your diet, other foods and simple lifestyle changes could also help thin your blood naturally. These tips are all safe, so you generally don’t have to check with your doctor before trying them. However, if you’re on blood thinners, then ask first to make sure none of these changes will interfere with the medication.
Get more vitamin E in your diet. Vitamin E prevents your platelets from clumping together and can stop blood clots from forming. Try to get at least 15 mg per day from your daily diet to avoid clotting problems.[9]- Good sources of vitamin E include nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, beans, soy, and leafy green vegetables.
Eat plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients also prevent platelets from clumping together and forming clots.[10] Try to get 1.1-1.6 g of omega-3s each day for the best results.[11]- The most popular source for omega-3s is fish, especially oily fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines. You can also get it from nuts, seeds, legumes, and beans.
Don’t eat too much vitamin K. Vitamin K helps your blood clot, so having too much could be harmful. You should only get 90-120 mcg of vitamin K per day to prevent your blood from clotting too much.[12]- Vitamin K comes from leafy green vegetables, red meat, poultry, dairy products, and eggs.
- Do not cut out vitamin K entirely. You still need it to stay healthy. It’s unlikely you’ll get too much from your regular diet, so you don’t have to make big dietary changes.
Stay hydrated so your blood flows smoothly. Dehydration could make your blood pool and put you at a higher risk for developing clots. Drink enough water each day to stay well-hydrated and keep your blood flowing.[13]- You may have heard the advice to drink 8 glasses of water per day. This is a good goal, but it’s better to let your body tell you if you need more water. If you feel thirsty or your urine is dark yellow, then drink more.[14]
Drink red wine in moderation. It’s a common belief that red wine thins your blood and helps prevent clots. This is partially true, and moderate wine drinking seems linked to better heart and blood health. If you drink, stick with a limit of 1 glass per day for the best results.[15]- If you don’t drink already, then don’t start just because you just want to thin your blood. There are other ways to do this, and not drinking at all is better than drinking.
Medical Takeaways
While doctors usually recommend medications to prevent blood clots, some natural compounds might help as well. They probably aren’t as effective as medications but could complement other medical treatments. As long as your doctor says it’s safe, then you can try these for yourself to see if any of them work. If not, then talk to your doctor for further treatment options.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionIs oil of oregano a blood thinner?
Zora Degrandpre, NDDr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
Natural Health DoctorOregano oil can act to slow down clotting. In this sense, it may have some similarities with commonly prescribed blood thinners like warfarin, aspirin, Pradaxa and others. If you are using a blood thinner, make sure you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about using oil of oregano.
Tips
Warnings
- If you’re trying to thin your blood, always monitor yourself for easy bruising or excessive bleeding. This could mean your blood is too thin and isn't clotting properly.Thanks
- Never stop taking medication unless your doctor tells you to.Thanks
References
- ↑ http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.880.8797&rep=rep1&type=pdf
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22531131/
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/npp/turmeric.html
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22531131/
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/npp/turmeric.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716226/
- ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/grape-seed-extract
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/npp/grape-seed.html
- ↑ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17290-omega-3-fatty-acids
- ↑ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/
- ↑ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminK-HealthProfessional/
- ↑ https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/staying-hydrated-staying-healthy
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281?pg=2
About This Article
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
You can thin your blood naturally by making changes to your diet and taking supplements. Try to incorporate more fatty fish into your diet. Fish contains omega 3 fatty acids that can help thin blood. You should also try to use olive oil in your cooking, since it contains anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant properties. Try drinking kombucha too, a drink produced by fermenting tea with bacteria, which may help thin blood. Alongside these dietary changes, take between 100 and 300 milligrams of nattikonase each day, which is a supplement that helps break down clots. If you experience any symptoms of blood clots, like lightheadedness or coughing up blood, seek medical attention immediately. For tips from our Medical co-author on how to get tested for a clotting disorder, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"I am on aspirin, but I bruise so much and a cut will bleed forever, so I need to stop taking them and have a natural supplement, This has helped a lot and I will use this as a guide. Thank you."..." more
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