How Naturopathic Doctors Prevent and Treat Heart Disease

Written by Institute for Natural Medicine Staff

Contributors: American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)

Published February 17, 2022
Last Updated October 23, 2024

Heart disease takes the lives of more men and women than any other illness.¹ However, with early detection and treatment, cardiovascular disease is largely preventable. The key is addressing risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol, poor diet, and inactivity before they lead to more serious complications.

Research shows time and time again that regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, practicing good nutrition, and not smoking can significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The positive impact of these daily habits is so well-supported by science that they are a cornerstone of nearly every evidence-based clinical guideline for preventing and managing metabolic diseases.²

NDs focus on prevention and noninvasive treatment

Naturopathic doctors (NDs) adhere to the therapeutic order—guidelines for clinical decision-making that emphasize minimally invasive therapies and support the body’s natural healing processes. Treatment often begins with a natural approach, incorporating herbal medicine and lifestyle counseling. However, NDs are also trained to use pharmacological therapies when needed. While each treatment plan is personalized, heart care is guided by six key objectives:

Comprehensive intake to identify risk factors and underlying causes
Targeted labs for a clear picture of what’s happening inside the body
Managing vital signs and symptoms with and without medication
Optimizing gastrointestinal function
Addressing endothelial dysfunction
Motivating physical activity

Identifying risk factors and underlying causes

Naturopathic doctor listens to patient's heartbeat

Root causes of heart disease may show up as warning signs in other areas of the body and often result from chronic inflammation.³ Among the many sources of chronic inflammation are poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress, autoimmune diseases, and food allergies.

A buildup of fatty, cholesterol-thick plaque in the arteries is called atherosclerosis. When arteries narrow, a blockage may occur, increasing the risk of heart attack and certain types of stroke.

Naturopathic doctors spend one to two hours with patients during the first appointment. A good portion of this time is dedicated to identifying inflammation triggers. Trained to be “inflammation hunters,” NDs perform a full-body review, looking at digestion, joints, skin, and respiratory function. Diet, physical activity, stress, and mental health are all part of the initial discussion.

NDs can pinpoint lesser-known contributors to heart disease and heart attack, like insomnia, fatigue, and depression.⁴ These conditions deplete vital neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, essential for good endothelial (blood vessel) health. When possible, NDs avoid using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some of which have been associated with heart attacks⁵ and heart failure.⁶

Targeted labs paint a clear picture of what’s happening inside the body

Naturopathic doctors carefully analyze a patient’s diagnostic test results alongside information gathered during the initial consultation to uncover the root causes of symptoms. The tests are personalized and may include the following:

A lipid panel including oxidized LDL (the primary type of cholesterol found in plaque), inflammatory markers, autoimmune markers, and lipoprotein particle analysis
Full glucose panel
Comprehensive neurotransmitter profile

Managing vital signs and symptoms

NDs take a whole-health approach to managing cardiovascular health, starting with natural methods and incorporating medications when necessary. They may recommend heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory diets, like the Mediterranean, and suggest cardioprotective supplements like magnesium, CoQ10, fish oil, hawthorn, and Phyllanthus to regulate blood pressure and cholesterol. Personalized exercise plans and stress-reduction techniques like mindfulness and yoga help reduce heart disease risk.

A patient’s vital signs, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, are regularly monitored to ensure treatments are effective and adjusted as needed.

If lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough, licensed NDs can prescribe medications, such as diuretics, beta–blockers, and ACE inhibitors, balancing any unwanted side effects with natural protocols. However, their primary goal is to minimize long-term reliance on medication by continually refining alternative therapies.

For more complex heart conditions, NDs will collaborate with conventional doctors, blending the best of both approaches.

Improving GI health

Inflammation often begins in the gut. Gut flora are living microorganisms that build a protective wall between the digestive tract and bloodstream. When flora in the digestive tract are not balanced, localized inflammation is a risk. This imbalance can lead to changes in intestinal permeability (leaky gut), which can contribute to heart disease.⁷

Restoring proper PH, balancing flora, and correcting leaky gut and constipation—linked with a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease⁸—are focal points of naturopathic GI treatment.

Addressing endothelial dysfunction

The endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels and plays an important role in heart health.⁹ If the endothelium is not functioning properly, there is an increased risk of arterial inflammation and plaque buildup, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. A combination of aging, lifestyle factors, and underlying conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol triggers endothelial dysfunction. To restore healthy function, NDs may recommend lifestyle adjustments, targeted herbal remedies, and clinical nutrients, all tailored to a patient’s unique needs and health goals.

Motivating more movement

Exercise improves a wide range of cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity,¹⁰ depression,¹¹ and inflammation.¹² Naturopathic doctors do more than prescribe exercise guidelines; they inspire and motivate people to embrace an active, healthy lifestyle that supports long-term well-being.

Central to naturopathic medicine is the belief in empowering people to take control of their health and make meaningful, lasting improvements. NDs work closely with each patient to develop a personalized care plan, addressing specific health concerns while promoting overall vitality.

INM thanks Decker Weiss, NMD, FASA, for contributing to this article.

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Footnotes

1
Heron M, Anderson RN. Changes in the leading cause of death: Recent patterns in heart disease and cancer mortality. NCHS Data Brief, no 254. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.
2
Rippe JM. Lifestyle Strategies for Risk Factor Reduction, Prevention, and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2018 Dec 2;13(2):204-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827618812395
3
Willerson JT, Ridker PM. Inflammation as a cardiovascular risk factor. Circulation. 2004 Jun 1;109(21 Suppl 1):II2-10. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000129535.04194.38. PMID: 15173056.
4
Shen R, Zhao N, Wang J, Guo P, Shen S, Liu D, Zou T. Association between level of depression and coronary heart disease, stroke risk and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: Data from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Oct 26;9:954563. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.954563
5
Bally M, Dendukuri N, Rich B, Nadeau L, et al. Risk of acute myocardial infarction with NSAIDs in real world use: bayesian meta-analysis of individual patient data. BMJ. 2017 May 9;357:j1909. https://doi.org/ 10.1136/bmj.j1909
6
Arfè A, Scotti L, Varas-Lorenzo C, et al. Safety of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (SOS) Project Consortium. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of heart failure in four European countries: nested case-control study. BMJ. 2016 Sep 28;354:i4857. https://doi.org/1 0.1136/bmj.i4857
7
Mahenthiran A, Wilcox J, Tang WHW. Heart failure: a punch from the gut. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2024 Apr;21(2):73-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-024-00648-y
8
Honkura K, Tomata Y, Sugiyama K, Kaiho Y, Watanabe T, Zhang S, Sugawara Y, Tsuji I. Defecation frequency and cardiovascular disease mortality in Japan: The Ohsaki cohort study. Atherosclerosis. 2016 Mar;246:251-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.01.007
9
Widmer RJ, Lerman A. Endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Glob Cardiol Sci Pract. 2014 Oct 16;2014(3):291-308. https://doi.org/10.5339/gcsp.2014.43
10
Eckel RH. Obesity and heart disease: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee, American Heart Association. Circulation. 1997 Nov 4;96(9):3248-50. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.96.9.3248
11
Mead GE, Morley W, Campbell P, Greig CA, McMurdo M, Lawlor DA. Exercise for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Oct 8;(4):CD004366. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858
12
Ford ES. Does exercise reduce inflammation? Physical activity and C-reactive protein among U.S. adults. Epidemiology. 2002 Sep;13(5):561-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001648-200209000-00012

This article is provided by

The Institute for Natural Medicine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. INM’s mission is to transform health care in the United States by increasing public awareness of natural medicine and access to naturopathic doctors. Naturopathic medicine, with its person-centered principles and practices, has the potential to reverse the tide of chronic illness overwhelming healthcare systems and to empower people to achieve and maintain optimal lifelong health. INM strives to fulfil this mission through the following initiatives:

Education – Reveal the unique benefits and outcomes of evidence-based natural medicine
Access – Connect patients to licensed naturopathic doctors
Research – Expand quality research on this complex and comprehensive system of medicine

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