natural blood thinners while on tamoxifin

cassiecanada

Hey all-been on tamoxifin for 2 weeks
and accidentally came across info
that states half a cup of raw spinach gives
100% dv ( daily value )- it is highest
in vitamin k which thickens blood-
I have eaten half a bag a day for years-
( or at least 4 -5 days)-
so as per my high anxiety tendencies-
I am oc-ing on this vitamin k/blood
thickening thing, as tamoxifin may
cause bloot clots ( dvt snd pe)- and
thick blood is stickier and more prone to
clotting- so I ditched the spinach and
sm trying to find foods that thin blood
naturally but dont interact with the enzyme
that is required to “ activate” tamoxifin-
not an easy task-
so far bell peppers and salmon are at top of list for improving tamoxifins efficacy
while also thinning blood-
does anybody else have anything to
add to my purely unscientific google searches?
( altho every single hit came up eith the same
list)
thanks and hoping you are all
doing healthily well!

Spoonie77

From Healthline:

1. Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that gives curry dishes a yellow color, and it's long been used as a folk medicine. According to a 2012 study,Trusted Source one of its main active ingredients, curcumin, acts as an anticoagulant.

It works to inhibit coagulation cascade components, or clotting factors, to prevent clots from forming.

2. Ginger

Ginger is in the same family as turmeric and contains salicylate, a natural chemical found in many plants. Salicylates are found in plants. They are derived from salicylic acid.

Acetylsalicylic acid, synthetically derived from salicylate and usually called aspirin, can help prevent stroke and heart attack.

Foods with salicylate, such as avocados, some berries, chilies, and cherries, may also keep blood from clotting. More studies are neededTrusted Source to see if they're as effective as prescription medicines.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon and its close cousin, cassia, are both widely available and contain coumarinTrusted Source, a chemical that, in certain drugs, acts as a powerful anticoagulant.

Cinnamon and cassia may also lower blood pressure and relieve inflammation caused by arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. However, studiesTrusted Source done in humans don't provide evidence cinnamon is of use for any health-related condition.

Use caution when using cinnamon as a blood thinner. A 2012 risk assessment showed long-term cinnamon consumption in foods, including cinnamon-based breads and teas, can cause liver damage.

4. Cayenne peppers

Cayenne peppers can have a powerful blood-thinning effect on your body because of their high levels of salicylates. They can be taken in capsule form or easily ground up as a spice for food.

Cayenne peppers can also lower your blood pressure and increase circulation.

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E has been reported to be a mild anticoagulant.

Also, here is some info from NCBI about the actions of various spices, like those above, on cells and cancer. Plus a handy chart with linked studies.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997408/

cshellsic

There is also the pineapple extract Bromelain that reduces inflammation. I was unable to take it as it also thins the blood and I had a PE in the lung and am on a blood thinner.

gb2115

Keep in mind that the package insert nowhere lists avoidance of high vitamin k foods.

MelissaDallas

Nobody worries about this when they take birth control pills, which I think are about an equivalent risk. Did your doctor advise you about diet like they do when they put you on coumadin? If not I wouldn’t worry about it.

cassiecanada

thanks to all for the great input!
melissa- so true- i was on birth control
10+ years and shrugged
off the clot risk- i have actually wondered why this time round i dont do the same-
oh well- thanks for bringing that to
the forefront again-
gb215- you are right -the insert
doesnt say anything about
avoiding too much vitamin k- i should
probably accept that- hard to.-
but you point out a valid thing
cshellsic and spoonie- those items
are now on my shopping list- thankyou-
gonna try to stick to moderation
ofeverything and add in more frequency
of ginger etc
Hope all of you fine ladies are doing
well .

mom2bunky

Are you sure that spinach doesn't also contain some factors to counteract any clotting effect that the Vit K may have? I ask this because my father was on blood thinners for years and had to stop eating greens while on them. Why? Because leafy greens (and the drs included spinach) thin the blood. So the combination of blood thinners and leafy greens is not something they recommend.

wallycat

Mom2bunky, the reason greens and thinners were not recommended is because greens contain vitamin K, which helps with clotting, thus negating what the thinners were supposed to do. That thinking is now considered outdated.

When I went on tamoxifen, I started a baby aspirin. It has risks, but aspirin also has been shown to protect in other areas, so it was an easy decision for me. I stayed on the aspirin for 10 years.

Fish oil is also a natural thinner.

mom2bunky

I see wallycat, thank you. That makes sense. My dad died recently at age 89, or I'd tell him he's been confused all these years!

I also take a baby aspirin each day, have been for a couple of years due to my long family history of heart disease. I don't have it, though high BP finally caught up with me, despite everything. There is no way I am going to give up healthy, leafy greens for tamoxifen or anything else. That's too healthy a food group for many other reasons. Hopefully the aspirin will do. I'm 90% vegan so if I give up or lower my intake of vegetables, that's like half my diet. No thanks.

AliceBastable

My MO said I'd be fine on Tamoxifen since I already take a low-dose aspirin and fish oil supplement. She didn't mention any dietary restrictions. Read the drug insert if you have questions. They have to list anything at all possibly contrarindicated, to cover their asses in case of lawsuits.