Replied by Mama To Many (Tn) on 11/08/2018

Hi! I am assuming you mean you would take vitamin K to increase clotting, not to decrease it; because vitamin K should improve clotting.

Are you having symptoms of needing to increase clotting? (Like nosebleeds or easy bruising?)

Ideally the blood will clot at just the right amount. Too little clotting and you have too much bleeding, which is sometimes just a cosmetic issue, but can be a life threatening problem if you have an accident or injury.

Too much clotting and you risk stroke etc.

20 years ago I was taking ibuprofen pretty regularly for headaches. Then I had very serious bleeding complications with an emergency surgery. I have always wondered if the ibuprofen contributed to my complications since ibuprofen is an anti-platelet which would negatively affect clotting.

My concern about supplements would be quality and actually getting what you think you are getting. The amount of fraud seems to be increasing, not only in the supplements themselves, but in the reviews about them. It leaves me not sure what to think, although I do still use some supplements. But when you are dealing with your blood, I feel particularly fussy about making sure you aren't messing up the balance. (I may be extra paranoid due to my own medical history.)

I have used the herb alfalfa to improve blood clotting in my family since it is high in vitamin K, but I have not used Vitamin K as a stand alone supplement. (With herbs, I suppose there is also the issue of fraud, but I just stick with companies that I trust - Mountain Rose Herbs being my favorite source, other than my backyard when possible! :) )

So what do you think about using alfalfa as a source of vitamin K? Assuming you are not on medications that would make using foods high in vitamin K contraindicated (like warfarin.)

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Mama To Many (Tn) on 11/08/2018

Hi! I am assuming you mean you would take vitamin K to increase clotting, not to decrease it; because vitamin K should improve clotting.

Are you having symptoms of needing to increase clotting? (Like nosebleeds or easy bruising?)

Ideally the blood will clot at just the right amount. Too little clotting and you have too much bleeding, which is sometimes just a cosmetic issue, but can be a life threatening problem if you have an accident or injury.

Too much clotting and you risk stroke etc.

20 years ago I was taking ibuprofen pretty regularly for headaches. Then I had very serious bleeding complications with an emergency surgery. I have always wondered if the ibuprofen contributed to my complications since ibuprofen is an anti-platelet which would negatively affect clotting.

My concern about supplements would be quality and actually getting what you think you are getting. The amount of fraud seems to be increasing, not only in the supplements themselves, but in the reviews about them. It leaves me not sure what to think, although I do still use some supplements. But when you are dealing with your blood, I feel particularly fussy about making sure you aren't messing up the balance. (I may be extra paranoid due to my own medical history.)

I have used the herb alfalfa to improve blood clotting in my family since it is high in vitamin K, but I have not used Vitamin K as a stand alone supplement. (With herbs, I suppose there is also the issue of fraud, but I just stick with companies that I trust - Mountain Rose Herbs being my favorite source, other than my backyard when possible! :) )

So what do you think about using alfalfa as a source of vitamin K? Assuming you are not on medications that would make using foods high in vitamin K contraindicated (like warfarin.)

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Loraine (Fl) on 11/09/2018