8 Natural Blood Thinners

Blood thinners are a class of medications that help prevent the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels. Your healthcare provider may prescribe blood thinners to treat or lower the risk of developing blood clots (also known as coagulation). Blood thinners can also be prescribed to treat or prevent other conditions, including atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat), stroke, and heart attack.

Certain dietary supplements and foods have effects similar to blood thinners, potentially providing a more natural option to prevent and treat blood clots. Examples of natural blood thinners include cinnamon, ginger, ginseng, and turmeric.

Certain people, such as those taking prescription blood thinners, should use caution when using natural blood thinners, as they can increase the risk of complications like bleeding and stroke.

Cinnamon is a common spice used in many cultures. It has a long history in traditional medicine in many parts of the world. In modern medicine, research has found that cinnamon may be beneficial in treating and preventing conditions like diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and various heart and blood conditions.

Cinnamon contains coumarin, a natural compound with blood thinning and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cinnamon supplements are available in tablet, capsule, powder, and gummy form. Studies have shown that cinnamon can be safely taken in doses of up to 6 grams (g) daily for six weeks. However, long-term use or very large doses may cause liver damage.

Dong quai is a traditional Chinese herb used for a variety of health conditions, including menopausal and menstrual symptoms, migraines, and heart disease. It is a member of the same plant family as celery, carrots, and parsley.

Like some other natural blood thinners, dong quai contains coumarin. Studies have shown that dong quai may slow the amount of time it takes for blood to clot. The herb may also increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in people with bleeding disorders or those who take other blood-thinning products.

Dong quai supplements are available in tablet, tea, and liquid form. Doses of dong quai up to 150 milligrams (mg) daily have been reported. Potential side effects of dong quai include sensitivity to sunlight, gas, burping, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Garlic is a plant bulb commonly used in food and available as a supplement for heart and blood vessel conditions, such as high cholesterol and hypertension. It helps prevent platelets (a type of blood cell) from grouping together and becoming a blood clot and helps blood flow normally.

Garlic supplements are available in capsule, tablet, and liquid form. Doses up to 2400 mg daily for 12 months have been reported.

Including garlic in your diet is usually considered safe for most people. Side effects include breath and body odor and heartburn. Taking garlic supplements may increase your risk of bleeding, especially if you take other blood-thinning products.

Ginger is a spice that has been used in food and medicine to treat a variety of inflammatory and heart conditions. Ginger works by stopping platelets from clumping together. However, little evidence shows that ginger helps with blood clotting in people already taking another blood-thinning medication.

As a supplement, ginger is available in liquid, tablet, capsule, and tea form. There is no recommended dosage for ginger. Doses of up to 3 grams daily for up to 12 weeks have been reported. There is a risk of bleeding when taking ginger with other blood-thinning products.

Ginkgo biloba is an herbal supplement believed to help with many health conditions, including blood flow and brain health. The supplement is thought to limit the activity of thrombin, an enzyme that can help clot blood and prevent platelets from grouping together and forming blood clots.

Ginkgo is available in capsules, liquid, tablets, dry leaf, and team form. There is no recommended dosage for ginkgo, though research has shown that doses up to 240 mg daily for up to six months are safe.

Side effects of ginkgo include headache, upset stomach, and dizziness. Ginkgo can increase the risk of bleeding and should be used with caution in those at high risk for bleeding. This includes people taking aspirin-like drugs that have antiplatelet activity and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Grapes have antioxidant properties and may help prevent conditions related to the heart and blood vessels. Grape seed extract is made from the seeds of wine grapes and may be beneficial in heart and blood vessel conditions, wound healing, and inflammation.

Grapes are believed to slow blood clotting and help prevent platelets from sticking together and causing blood clots.

Grapes can be eaten whole or found in juices or other products. Grape seed extract is available in liquid, tablet, or capsule form. Common side effects include dry mouth, headache, and cough. Large doses of grapes may cause diarrhea. Taking grape extract may increase your risk of bruising and bleeding, especially if taken with other blood-thinning products.

Turmeric is a plant related to ginger. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Today, turmeric is used for a variety of conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Curcumin is one of the major antioxidants in turmeric, and it helps to prevent platelets from turning into clots. Curcumin is also what gives turmeric its yellow color.

Turmeric supplements are available in capsule, tablet, and liquid form. Turmeric has been used in doses of up to 1.5 grams daily for three months. Reported side effects include constipation, heartburn, and liver injury. Interactions with other blood-thinning or antiplatelet medications are rarely reported.

Vitamin E is a vitamin naturally found in many nuts, seeds, and vegetables. It’s also available as a dietary supplement. Vitamin E may benefit many health conditions due to its anti-inflammatory, blood clotting, and immune system effects. Studies have shown that Vitamin E helps prevent the formation of blood clots by stopping platelet clumping.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Vitamin E in adults is 15 mg. Many Vitamin E supplements contain over 67 mg, which is much higher than the RDA. For blood-thinning effects, a minimum dose of 400 International Units (IU) daily is suggested.

High doses of vitamin E supplements can cause severe bleeding and may affect the blood’s natural clotting ability. Because of this, the maximum recommended dose for Vitamin E in adults is 1,000 mg.

There are no ways to actually “thin” your blood, but you can take steps to help regulate blood flow and prevent blood clot development. Here are some suggestions:

• Eat a balanced diet: Numerous natural substances found in foods and supplements act as natural blood thinners. A well-balanced, heart-healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, and high-quality protein helps reduce cholesterol, inflammation, and many other heart and blood conditions.
• Engage in regular physical activity: Physical activity and exercise help keep your blood flowing and lower the risk of blood clots. This is especially important if you sit or lie for extended periods of time.
• Stay well hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps maintain blood flow. Dehydration causes your blood and body to hold onto sodium, which may slow blood flow. This disruption may lead to cardiovascular health conditions like hypertension, blood clots, and stroke.
• Manage obesity: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the pressure on your veins, promoting beneficial blood circulation and lowering your risk of blood clots.

Taking multiple supplements or drugs known to thin the blood may increase your risk of bruising, bleeding, or stroke. This includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) and aspirin. If you have surgery scheduled, your healthcare provider may ask that you stop taking all blood-thinning medication. This is because they can increase your risk of bleeding during and after the surgery.

Always talk to your healthcare provider before trying new natural products or dietary supplements. These products may interact with prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, or other natural products or supplements. Some products can also affect certain health conditions you may already have. Just because a product is considered “natural” does not mean that the product is safe for you.

Certain dietary supplements and foods have effects similar to blood thinners, potentially providing a more natural option to prevent and treat blood clots. This includes cinnamon, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and vitamin E.

Natural products are not always a substitute for prescription blood thinning medications. Talk with your healthcare provider about natural blood thinners and which products are safe for you.