Botanical medicine for a COVID-vaccine injured heart
When you look at the effects of the herb Leonurus, and you look at the vulnerabilities of the COVID-vaccinated heart, you might say, Wow, as I did.
None of the following should be taken as medical advice. Rather, let it be starting points for inquiry and discussion of enlisting plant medicines for the cardiovascular challenges and vulnerabilities that COVID-vaccinated people are living with now.
Hawthorn is an herb that most herbalists think of first for general support for heart health. But in this case of myocarditis risk from spike protein injury, that is not my favorite. The reason is that it contains cardiac glycosides, and has a little bit of an inotropic effect. This means that it slightly increases the force of each ventricular contraction, indirectly measurable by ejection fraction. Now this is a gentle effect from Hawthorn, far gentler than from digitaloids such as digitalis or oleander, for example, neither of which I have ever used with a patient.
16th century Swiss physician Paracelsus taught us that “the dose makes the poison,” and “the right dose differentiates a poison from a remedy,” which is one of the most important principles in pharmacology. In practical application, it cautions us against drinking gallons of water at time, because even a benign substance can be misused, but also that in small doses even potent herbs have provided benefit.
For 16 years of practicing medicine, Hawthorn had been my favorite all-around heart-strengthening herb, and for most unvaccinated people and their doctors, many likely consider it that way. But there is a vulnerability in the COVID-vaccinated that makes me fear even this gentle herb in their situation.
Stimulation, even gentle, is not quite what I have in mind, for injuries sustained by the heart from spike protein exposure. As gentle and as highly regarded for heart health as is Hawthorn, well, there is some risk of overexcitement from even a mild inotropic (left ventricular ejection force) stimulant in this situation.
Consider Leonurus
For a jeopardized heart, let’s look at what the herb Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) may have to offer. It has been used to strengthen the heart, but is also a nervine, so it is not considered to be stimulating; in fact it has been used throughout history for its calming and antispasmodic effects. This seems to be a possibly useful feature when considered with regard to a heart that may enter crisis from a stimulating event. Many of the sudden heart crises, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and cardiac arrest, since the rollout of the COVID vaccines have been during stressful situations or in the very early morning hours in working age adults. Our best understanding of this phenomenon to date is that large crescendo swings in cortisol and the catecholamines have over-stimulated a heart that was already compromised by latent myocarditis, creating a dangerous synergy.
Researchers have found that a compound derived from Leonurus reduced Angiotensin II-mediated damage to the heart. [1] [2] I find that interesting because spike proteins dock onto the ACE2 receptor on human cells, and bind tightly. [3] This reduces available ACE2, which has the effect of increasing Angiotensin II. [4] We see in the diagram below some undesirable downstream effects of Angiotensin II, namely inflammation and fibrosis, two curses that the vaccine-damaged heart are already confronting. Well, if Leonurus reduces Angiotensin II-mediated injury to the heart, that effect may be specific to the needs of a COVID-vaccine injured heart.
These are the major interactions among ACE-2 and Angiotensin II. Notice Angiotensin II leads to inflammation.
Anti-arrhythmic effects and lowering of left ventricular pressure (negative inotropic) are also attributed to Leonurus. It has been shown to enhance circulation. The antioxidant activity of its flavonoids may enhance mitochondrial metabolism, which should help to heal the heart. [5]
The effects of Leonurus on cardiomyocytes
Perhaps most importantly, and pertinently for the COVID-vaccinated, studies show that Leonurus helps to preserve the viability of cardiomyocytes, [6] especially these encouraging studies in which the viability of damaged cardiomyocytes was improved with Leonurine treatment, whether the damage was from oxygen deprivation [7] or from chemotherapy. [8]
So I think Leonurus should be discussed more in the clinical setting, certainly deferring to individual determinations as made between patient and provider.
Other herbs of interest
Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera) is known for at least four possibly helpful effects for the COVID-vaccinated person’s heart: It is correlated with endurance. [9] It is known to lower cortisol, [10] which could be helpful during that circadian surge in the pre-dawn hours. Its GABA-mimetic effect has made it a long-favored anxiolytic in Ayurvedic medicine. [11] And it has anti-inflammatory properties. [12]
Ammi visnaga (Khella) is a coronary vasodilator that has been used historically to treat angina. It improves exercise tolerance. [13]
Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum) is an anti-inflammatory herb that also promotes capillary circulation, and may be considered also for its antithrombotic, specifically fibrinolytic, effect. [14]
Alpinia and Ginger, both of the Ginger family, have long-standing and widespread use as anti-inflammatory agents, likely related to inhibiting the NFкB pathway. [15] [16]
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has been considered so safe throughout time that it has long been used with infants and children. No reports of toxic effects have been known. Its historical use is as a nervine, to treat anxiety and agitation. Would it be appropriate for bringing a calming influence to a myocarditis patient? Maybe only tangentially, perhaps immediately prior to an anticipated stressful event.
Each of the above substances should be discussed with your local healthcare provider regarding safety considerations, appropriateness for your health goals and dosing.
[1] S Shen, G Wu, et al. Leonurine attenuates Angiotensin-II induced cardiac injury and dysfunction via inhibiting MAPK and NFкB pathway. Jn 2023. Phytomedicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711322006079?via%3Dihub
[2] X Liu, L Pan, et al. Leonurine (SCM-198) attenuates myocardial fibrotic response via inhibition of NADPH oxidase 4. Jan 2013. Free Radical Biol and Med. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891584912017972
[3] S Kumar, T Thambiraja, et al. Omicron and Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2: A comparison computational study of spike protein. Dec 15 2021. J Med Virol. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.27526
[4] X Gao, S Zhang, et al. Spike-mediated ACE2 down-regulation was involved in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Oct 2022. J Infect. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9250808/
[5] J Bernatoniene, D Kopustinskiene, et al. The effect of Leonurus cardiaca herb extract and some of its flavonoids on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the heart. May 2014. Planta Med. https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0034-1368426
[6] X Liu, Ibid. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891584912017972
[7] X Liu, H Xin, et al. Preotective effects of Leonurine in neonatal rat hypoxic cardiomyocytes and rat infarcted heart. June 2009. Clin Exper Pharm and Phys. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1440-1681.2008.05135.x
[8] H Xin, X Liu, et al. Herba leonurine attenuates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells. Jun 2009. Eur J Pharmacol. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19356731/
[9] A Grandhi, A Mujumdar, et al. A comparative pharmacological investigation of Ashwagandha and Ginseng. Dec 1994. J Ethnopharmacol. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7898119/
[10] A Lopresti, S Smith, et al. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract. Sep 2019. Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6750292/
[11] S Bhattacharya, A Bhattacharya, et al. Anxiolytic-antidepressant activity of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides: an experimental study. Dec 2000. Phytomed. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711300800306?via%3Dihub
[12] M al-Hindawi, I al-Deen, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of some Iraqi plants using intact rats. Jan 1989. J Ethnopharmacol. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0378874189900639?via%3Dihub
[13] G Anrep, G Barsoum, et al. Ammi visnaga in the treatment of the anginal syndrome. Aug 1945. Physiol Lab and Univ Hosp Cairo Egypt. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC503580/pdf/brheartj00426-0001.pdf
[14] B Yu, G Zhang, et al. Inhibition of PAI-1 activity by toddalolactone as a mechanism for promoting blood circulation and removing stasis by Chinese herb Zanthoxylum nitidum var tomentosum. Jul 2017. Front Pharmacol https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5519579/
[15] K Ji, M Wu. Alpinia hainanensis rhizome extract ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis: active ingredient investigation and evaluation. Apr 6 2022. J Agric Food Chem. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35321548/
[16] N Ueno, T Hasebe, et al. TU-100 (daikenchuto) and ginger ameliorate anti-CD3 antibody induced T-cell-mediated murine enteritis: Microbe-independent effects involving Akt and NFkB suppression. May 23 2014. PLoS One. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4032249/
Thank you for this article and all you do.
In England we have been finding Selenicereus grandiflorus very useful for heart failure in the jab injured cohort.