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Blood-thinning foods, Medically reviewed by

Megan Soliman, MD — By
Jayne Leonard and Erika

drinks, and supplements Klein — Updated on May 25,

2022

Turmeric Ginger Cayenne peppers Vitamin E Garlic

Cassia cinnamon Ginkgo biloba Grape seed extract Dong quai Was this article helpful?
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Feverfew Bromelain Aloe Evening primrose Melatonin

Takeaway Yes No

Natural blood thinners are substances that reduce

the blood’s ability to form clots. Blood clotting is a
necessary process, but sometimes the blood can
clot too much, leading to complications that can be
potentially dangerous.

People who have certain medical conditions, such as congenital heart defects,
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may require blood-thinning medications to reduce their risk of heart attack or
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Blood thinners work in two ways. Antiplatelets keep blood cells from sticking
together to become a clot. Anticoagulants cause clotting to occur more slowly.
Green tea and resveratrol
It is essential to speak with a doctor before trying natural remedies, as they may may prevent the formation
of Alzheimer's plaques
not work as well as medication and may interfere with some prescription drugs.

Some foods and other substances that may act as natural blood thinners and Eczema in babies: A non-
help reduce the risk of clots include the following: invasive test may help
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1. Turmeric Irritable bowel syndrome:

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People have long used the golden spice known as turmeric for culinary and
medicinal purposes. Curcumin is an active ingredient in turmeric and appears to
have anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning or anticoagulant properties.

A 2019 review # in the EPMA Journal indicates that turmeric may help block
blood clotting and advises caution when combining turmeric with blood-thinning
drugs.
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People can add turmeric to curries and soups, or mix it with hot water to make a
comforting tea.

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2. Ginger
Ginger is another anti-inflammatory spice that may stop blood clotting. It contains
a natural acid called salicylate. Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, is a
synthetic derivative of salicylate and a potent blood thinner.

To get the anticoagulant effects of natural salicylates, people may want to use
fresh or dried ginger regularly in baking, cooking, and juices.

It is unlikely, however, that natural salicylates are as effective as blood-thinning

medications.

A 2015 literature review # of 10 studies also suggests that ginger’s effects on

blood clotting are unclear. It indicates that more research is needed to fully
understand the potential blood-thinning properties of ginger.

3. Cayenne peppers
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Cayenne peppers are also high in salicylates and may act as powerful blood-
thinning agents.

A 2019 study in the Ascendens Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Research finds

that cayenne pepper extract slowed blood clotting in type O+ blood samples.

Cayenne pepper is quite spicy, however, and many people can only tolerate it in
small amounts.

Capsules containing cayenne pepper are available in health food stores and
online. Other benefits of this spice may include:

lowering blood pressure

increasing circulation
reducing pain sensations

4. Vitamin E
Vitamin E reduces blood clotting in a few different ways. These effects depend
on the amount of vitamin E that a person takes.

The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements # suggests that

people who are taking blood-thinning drugs should avoid taking large doses of
vitamin E.

It is unclear how much vitamin E thins the blood, although it is likely that people
would need to take more than 400 # international units (IU) per day.

Taking high doses of vitamin E supplements, for example, above 1,500 IU daily,
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on a long-term basis may have negative effects.

It may be safer to get vitamin E from foods rather than supplements. Foods that
contain vitamin E include:

almonds
safflower oil
sunflower oil
sunflower seeds
spinach
peanut butter
whole grains

5. Garlic
Besides its often desirable taste in food and cooking, garlic has natural antibiotic
and antimicrobial properties.

A 2018 study from Food Science and Biotechnology reports that garlic powder
demonstrates antithrombotic activities in rats. An antithrombotic agent is a
substance that reduces blood clot formation.

A 2020 review of studies # found that garlic supplements helped reduce blood
pressure and had mild antithrombotic effects.

Research from 2015 in Medicines notes that since dietary supplements, including
garlic, may affect platelet function and coagulation, it is best to avoid them before
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6. Cassia cinnamon
Cinnamon contains coumarin, a powerful blood-thinning agent. Warfarin, a
commonly used blood-thinning drug, is derived from coumarin.

Chinese cassia cinnamon contains a much higher coumarin content than Ceylon
cinnamon, according to a 2012 study # in Pharmacognosy Research. However,
taking coumarin-rich cinnamon on a long-term basis can cause liver damage.

It may be best to stick to small amounts of cinnamon in the diet in addition to

using other natural blood thinners.

7. Ginkgo biloba
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used leaves from the Ginkgo
biloba tree for thousands of years. Ginkgo is also a very popular herbal
supplement in the United States and Europe. People take it for blood disorders
and memory problems.

According to one 2019 study in Bioorganic Chemistry, several compounds in

Ginkgo biloba may block thrombin, an enzyme that causes blood clotting.

However, researchers carried out the study in a laboratory, rather than on people
or animals. Further research is necessary to see if ginkgo has the same effects
on the human body.

8. Grape seed extract

There is some evidence # to suggest that grape seed extract may have potential
benefits for several heart and blood conditions.

It may also help prevent high blood pressure, though the research is mixed.

Grape seed extract may also act as a natural blood thinner. Because of these
effects, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health # suggests
that certain groups of people should not take grape seed extract, including
people:

with blood disorders

who take blood-thinning medications
who are about to have an operation

9. Dong quai
Dong quai, also known as “female ginseng,” is another traditional Chinese herb
that may reduce blood clotting.

This effect may result from dong quai’s coumarin content, the same substance
that makes cinnamon such a potent anticoagulant.

However, a small study from 2015 in Blood finds that taking 1,000 milligrams (mg)
of dong quai daily did not significantly affect blood clotting. The authors note that
additional research is needed.

People take dong quai orally and can consume it in herbal tea or soup.

10. Feverfew
Feverfew is a medicinal herb that comes from the same family as daisies, or the
Asteraceae family. People may take feverfew for:

migraine
rheumatoid arthritis
fever

According to one case report # in Journal of Medical Cases, taking feverfew was
followed by vaginal bleeding and a longer menstrual cycle. After stopping
feverfew, the person’s blood coagulation returned to normal. The report’s
authors cautioned against taking feverfew before surgery or with blood-thinning
drugs.

Still, studies are needed in large groups of people to confirm these effects.

Feverfew is available in capsule or liquid form.

11. Bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme that is extracted from pineapples. It may have anti-
inflammatory properties and might be an effective remedy for cardiovascular
diseases.

One 2016 study from Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis found that bromelain
added to in vitro blood samples increased the time the blood took to clot, or its
prothrombin time. However, injecting bromelain into a small number of mice did
not show this effect, and more research needs to be done.

Bromelain is available in supplement form from health stores and drugstores.

12. Aloe
Aloe has been used for hundreds of years, both topically and as a dietary
supplement. People take it to help with conditions including:

constipation
inflammation
diabetes

Like ginger and cayenne pepper, aloe contains salicylates that likely cause
blood-thinning effects.

One 2020 study in The Professional Medical Journal found that, when added to
blood in a laboratory, aloe vera gel demonstrated an antiplatelet effect similar to
aspirin. However, more research is needed on aloe as a dietary supplement in
humans.

People can take aloe as a capsule or as a soft gel. Because of its potential effects
on bleeding, people should stop taking aloe at least 2 weeks # before having
surgery.

13. Evening primrose

Oil from evening primrose, or Oenothera biennis, may help with:

rheumatoid arthritis
menopause symptoms
cardiovascular issues
many other conditions

In fact, evening primrose was known as the “King’s cure-all #” in Europe in the
1600s.

Evening primrose oil may also reduce blood clotting. A 2020 case study in
Cureus reported that one woman’s thrombocytopenia, a condition in which there
is a low number of platelets in the blood, was likely worsened by her taking black
seed oil and evening primrose oil.

Research from 2017 in mice also indicates that taking evening primrose oil may
help prevent drug-induced thrombosis, a dangerous condition in which blood
clots form within veins.

However, more research in large groups of people is required to evaluate the

supplement’s safety and effectiveness for health conditions.

14. Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that the body produces to regulate the circadian rhythm.
Some people also take melatonin as a supplement to help with sleep and sleep
disorders.

Studies suggest that melatonin likely affects blood clotting. One 2020 research
review from Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research indicates that melatonin
may block the clumping of platelets to form clots.

A study from 2017 # in Journal of Pineal Research also finds that melatonin
inhibits platelet activation, a process that leads to clots.

Melatonin may cause a higher risk of bleeding if a person takes it with warfarin
(Coumadin). It may also interact with other medications. As with any supplement,
it is important to talk with a doctor before taking melatonin.

Takeaway
Many natural substances may reduce clotting to some degree. But natural
remedies are unlikely to be as effective as blood-thinning drugs, and people at
risk of blood clots should not use them instead of prescription medications.

Government authorities do not monitor herbs and supplements as closely as

food and drugs. People should research different brands carefully before buying
to ensure that the products are of high quality.

People taking prescription blood thinners should not use natural remedies
without talking with their doctor first.

Even though they are natural, some substances and foods may thin the blood too
much, especially when people take them in conjunction with medications. This
can increase the risk of bleeding.

People can usually consume foods with potential blood-thinning properties safely
in reasonable amounts. However, it is essential to speak with a doctor before
trying herbal remedies such as dong quai and grape seed extract.

Note that people should not take some of these products alongside blood-
thinning medications.

Read this article in Spanish.

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Last medically reviewed on May 25, 2022

Heart Disease Blood / Hematology Cardiovascular / Cardiology

Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

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