There are a number of natural blood thinners (anticoagulants) that can often help prevent deep vein thrombosis or blood clots. Many of these natural remedies provide other health benefits as well.
Treating an existing blood clot, however, is a medical emergency requiring a doctor's treatment and supervision.
A blood clot is a buildup of blood and tissue inside one of your veins or arteries, a natural bodily function that can quickly become a deadly killer. When blood fails to circulate properly, blood clots form. When you are wounded, blood naturally clots to stop bleeding. However, blood clots can also create a blockage in your veins or arteries, break loose, and travel to the heart, lungs, or brain, causing life-threatening heart attacks, strokes, embolisms, or other health emergencies.
Sunshine, Water, and Exercise
These will all help to increase blood circulation as well as to naturally thin the blood. (The daily baby aspirin often recommended for heart attack patients is a salicylate.) Some natural salicylates are:
Fish, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds are some of the foods high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Initial treatment for blood clots (thrombosis) should be done in a hospital. Treatment goals focus on reducing the blood clot and preventing the formation of new clots. Blood thinners are given and monitored closely; they prevent the clot from getting bigger but do not dissolve the clot. In time, the body will naturally reabsorb it. Arterial blood clots may require surgery to remove the clot and/or medications may be used to try to dissolve the clot.
If a clot breaks loose, it immediately becomes a life-threatening medical emergency. Survival chances improve dramatically with immediate medical treatment.
Natural blood thinners are useful in helping to prevent blood clots, but should not be taken at the same time as medications (such as Coumadin) without consulting with a physician. Some natural blood thinners interact with medications and could either decrease or increase the blood-thinning effect. This could be dangerous, especially in the early stages of treatment for a blood clot.
Continue reading below to learn which DVT and anti-clotting natural remedies helped Earth Clinic readers!