How to Reduce Platelet Count

Platelets are very small in size and make up only a small part of the body’s total blood volume. The main function of platelets is to stop bleeding by forming thrombus (blood clots). However, in rare cases, some people experience a condition in which the bone marrow produces too many platelets, also known as thrombocythemia. ^{[1] X Research Sources} This condition can lead to the formation of large blood clots, causing health problems such as stroke or heart disease. Start with step 1 below for more information on how to lower your blood platelet count with diet, lifestyle and medical treatment.

Table of Contents

Reducing platelets with diet and lifestyle

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Eat raw garlic to reduce the number of platelets in the blood. Raw or crushed garlic contains a compound called “allicin” that affects the body’s ability to produce platelets, thereby helping to reduce the number of platelets in the blood.

The body will respond to the decrease in platelet count by improving immunity, thereby helping to fight foreign agents (such as viruses and bacteria) entering the body.
The allicin content in garlic decreases rapidly when cooked, so you should try to eat raw garlic. Some people get an upset stomach when they eat raw garlic, so be sure to eat it with raw garlic.

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Drink gingko biloba (ginkgo) to reduce blood viscosity. Gingko biloba contains substances called “terpenoids” that work to reduce blood viscosity (making the blood thinner) and prevent the formation of blood clots.

Gingko biloba also improves blood circulation and increases the production of warfarin in the body with the effect of dissolving blood clots.
The gingko biloba supplement is available in the market in liquid or capsule form. You can buy these products at pharmacies or health care stores.
If you can find fresh ginkgo leaves, you can boil ginkgo leaves in water for 5-7 minutes and drink like tea.

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Use ginseng to prevent blood clots. Ginseng contains “ginsenosides” that reduce platelet aggregation, and thus prevent the formation of blood clots.

Ginseng is available in capsule form at pharmacies and health care stores. Ginseng is often found in energy foods and drinks.
Ginseng can cause insomnia and nausea in some people, so you should try it first to see how your body reacts.

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Eat pomegranate to take advantage of pomegranate’s antiplatelet effect. Pomegranate contains substances called ppyphenp that have antiplatelet effects – that is, they help reduce the body’s production of platelets and prevent platelets from sticking.

You can eat pomegranates fresh, drink pomegranate juice, or add pomegranate extract to your food when you cook it.

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Eat seafood rich in omega-3 to inhibit platelet production. Omega-3 fatty acids have an impact on platelet activity, thinning the blood and reducing the risk of blood clots. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in seafood such as tuna, salmon, scallops, sardines, shellfish, and herring.

Try to eat 2-3 servings of these fish each week to meet the recommended omega-3 intake.
If you don’t like fish, you can increase your omega-3 intake by taking a fish oil supplement of 3,000 – 4,000 mg per day.

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Drink red wine to reduce the risk of blood clots. Red wine contains flavonoids from the skins of red grapes during the production process. Flavonoids prevent overproduction of cells in the endothelium (a process caused by too many platelets in the blood). This helps reduce the risk of blood clots forming.

Half a standard glass of wine (about 175 ml) contains 1 unit of alcohol. Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week and no more than 4 units of alcohol per day.
Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, and no more than 3 units of alcohol per day. Both men and women must have at least 2 alcohol-free days per week. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Eat fruits and vegetables that contain “salicylate,” which has a blood-thinning effect. Fruits and vegetables contain “salicylates,” which thin the blood and prevent clotting. They also help strengthen the body’s immunity and maintain a normal platelet count.

Vegetables that contain salicylate include: cucumbers, mushrooms, zucchini, radishes, and alfalfa.
Fruits that contain salicylate include all kinds of berries, cherries, raisins, and oranges.
Shiitake mushrooms are also an effective natural option for low platelets.

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Use cinnamon as a spice to add to food when cooking to reduce platelet aggregation. Cinnamon contains a compound called “cinnamaldehyde” that reduces platelet aggregation, thereby reducing blood clotting.

Add cinnamon powder to baked goods or stewed vegetables. You can also try boiling a cinnamon stick in tea or wine.

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Stop smoking to prevent blood clots. Smoking increases the risk of blood clots because of the many toxic compounds present in tobacco (such as nicotine). Smoking also thickens the blood and causes platelets to stick together.

Serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke are often caused by blood clots forming in the blood. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to prevent blood clots from forming in the first place.
Quitting smoking is not easy and cannot be achieved overnight. Read this article for helpful tips on quitting smoking.

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Drink coffee to take advantage of the antiplatelet effect. Coffee has antiplatelet properties, which means it lowers the number of platelets in the blood and prevents platelet aggregation.

The antiplatelet effect of coffee is not due to caffeine but to phenpic acid. Therefore, decaffeinated coffee still has an antiplatelet effect. ^{[3] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Thrombocytopenia with drugs and medical procedures

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Take blood thinners prescribed by your doctor. Depending on the individual case, your doctor will prescribe blood thinners. These drugs will prevent blood viscosity, platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications include:

Aspirin
Hydroxyurea
Anagrelide
Interferon alfa
Busulfan
Pipobroman
Phosphorus – 32

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Perform a platelet removal procedure. In an emergency, your doctor may recommend a treatment called platelet dialysis to quickly lower the number of platelets in the blood.

During platelet dialysis, an intravenous line is inserted into a blood vessel to drain blood from the body and run it through a machine that removes platelets from the blood.
The platelet-filtered blood is returned to the body through a second intravenous line.

Advice

To count the number of platelets in the blood, a blood sample is taken and sent to a laboratory. A normal platelet count is between 150,000 and 350,000 per microliter of blood.
Dark chocolate is also thought to inhibit platelet production, so try sipping on a piece or two of dark chocolate every night. ^{[4] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Steps

Reducing platelets with diet and lifestyle

Thrombocytopenia with drugs and medical procedures

Advice

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