Use ginseng and adaptogenic herbs as Koreans and Peruvians do
Incorporate traditional adaptogenic herbs into your daily routine. In Korea: Panax ginseng in teas, soups, and tonics. In Peru: maca root (Peruvian ginseng) in drinks and food. In Japan: reishi and shiitake mushrooms. In India: ashwagandha and arjuna bark.
Why It Works
Korean traditional medicine holds that ginseng "tonifies the five vital organs" (spleen, lung, heart, kidney, liver), has sedative properties, and restores normal pulse. It has been consumed daily across all demographics for thousands of years. Peruvian maca, grown at extreme altitude, is associated with lower BMI and lower systolic blood pressure in population studies. Arjuna is the foremost heart rejuvenative in the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. These aren't fringe remedies - Korean hanbang medicine is covered by National Health Insurance alongside Western medicine.
Tips
- Korean ginseng is the most-studied adaptogen, with documented effects on blood pressure and stress hormones
- Maca and ginseng are both consumed as daily foods in their cultures, not occasional supplements
- Ayurveda's arjuna bark has been used specifically for heart strengthening for over 2,500 years
Other solutions for What cultural habits and folk traditions protect the heart?
- Eat fermented foods at every meal like Koreans and Japanese
- Join or create a lifelong social support circle like Okinawa's moai
- Alternate hot and cold exposure like the Nordic sauna tradition
- Drink wine with food, never alone - the Mediterranean rule
- Cook with spices daily like Indian, Mediterranean, and Asian cultures