5 Herbs That May Lower Your Blood Pressure

In conventional medicine and traditional medicine alike, there are no assurances when it comes to curing ailments. However, depending on the affliction, both practices can present significantly beneficial results. Yet, conventional medicine still struggles with the risk of side effects that, generally speaking, show to be more substantial than natural remedies.

With the risk and discomfort of side effects finally taking a toll, alternative or complementary medicine is now sought after by many people and is rising in the multi-billion dollar industry category. One natural choice is using these 5 herbs that may lower your blood pressure which has shown to be an easy, inexpensive, more healthy approach than medication. It also may save your life.

Are You At Risk?

High blood pressure aka hypertension is when too much force is put on the arteries as blood attempts to circulate. This imbalance has the potential to damage blood vessels and organs forced to bear the extra stress.

WebMD  reports,

“Hypertensive heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death associated with high blood pressure. It refers to a group of disorders that includes heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy (excessive thickening of the heart muscle).”

With a statistic like this most people would sit up and pay attention but there are many that have no idea whether they are suffering from high blood pressure or not.

It is always best to consult your physician for a checkup to determine the strength of your heart and receive a diagnosis. When you do, pay attention to your blood pressure numbers. The normal range is between 90-120 on the top number (systolic) and 60-80 on the bottom  (diastolic).

When it comes to high blood pressure symptoms there are often none. This is why it is called the silent killer. High blood pressure is rarely detected unless checked by a medical professional. However, there could be some minor clues that, although unproven as actual symptoms, may warrant a checkup.

According to the American Heart Association these are:

• Dizziness
• Facial flushing
• Blood spots in the eyes
• Numbness or swelling of the extremities

Herbs for Blood Pressure Control

It is important to note that some herbs can pose a contraindication to health, especially if you are taking pharmaceuticals. Always follow directions and check with a doctor before using.

These 5 herbs that may lower blood pressure are the top, common herbal remedies used by professionals in the holistic field.

G&C

Garlic and celery score high for blood pressure remedies. According to research published in Pharmacognosy Review titled ‘Role of natural herbs in the treatment of hypertension’ as reported by the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH),

Garlic

“Garlic has long been used for a variety of cardiovascular conditions, especially hyperlipidemia [high concentration of fats in the blood] It has also been reported to have hypotensive [lowering the blood pressure] action. It is thought to increase nitric oxide production, resulting in smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilatation. One of the primary active compounds that gives garlic its characteristic odor and many of its healing benefits is called allicin. Meta-analysis of randomly chosen literary data has demonstrated that garlic is related to decrease of BP in patients with increased systolic pressure, but not in patients without increased systolic pressure.”

Note: In addition to supplements, if you cook with garlic be sure to leave for 5-10 minutes after you cut or chop it and do not cook it for more than five minutes. This allows the healing compound called allicin to form and work on your high blood pressure.

Celery

“According to Chinese theory, Celery is effective for HTN because it acts upon the liver; one type of HTN [hypertension] is associated with liver. In Mainland China, celery was useful in reducing HTN in 14 of 16 patients. The juice was mixed with equal amount of honey and about 8 ounces were taken orally three times each day for up to one week.”

Soybean

A study that combined the results of 22 randomized trials published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology concluded,

“Soy products such as tofu,“soy butter,” “soy nuts,” or some soy burgers should be beneficial to cardiovascular and overall health because of their high content of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and low content of saturated fat. Using these and other soy foods to replace foods high in animal protein that contain saturated fat and cholesterol may confer benefits to cardiovascular health.”

Fennel

This “celery-like” vegetable tastes a lot like licorice. It is underused in mainstream kitchens but could be a beneficial choice to consider working into recipes.

Alternative Daily reported that,

“Fennel is high in potassium, which helps to keep blood pressure levels stable. It also functions to regulate the heartbeat, is important for proper muscle function, maintains normal fluid balance in the body, and regulates sodium levels in the blood.”

Ginko Biloba

Once called the “focus herb” ginkgo biloba has good research behind it regarding its ability to increase circulation, an essential for blood pressure balance.

Natural News describes one study,

“According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), Ginkgo biloba could be responsible for thinning the blood and dilating the blood vessels, making the blood circulate more easily. In addition, Ginkgo biloba is also high in antioxidants. Called terpenoids and flavonoids, these substances have been shown to lower blood pressure as well as improve heart health, according to the UMMC.”

 

These 5 herbs that may lower your blood pressure show the possibility of controlling hypertension through natural remedies. Checking with your doctor and working with a naturopathic, holistic or other professional trained in botanical medicine is the best approach to using these remedies.