All-Natural, Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

 by Anna V

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), around 34% of American adults have high blood pressure.

Known as the silent killer, increasing the risk of heart disease and strokes, high blood pressure is not something to be ignored. An ideal blood pressure reading is generally regarded as being below 120 mmHg (systolic) or 80 mmHg (diastolic), anything over this and we should be looking at ways to reduce it. That said, fluctuations are extremely common and affect us all, it is only when our blood pressure is high over a sustained period that it becomes a cause for concern.

For this reason, it is important to monitor blood pressure levels over time in order to get a clearer, more accurate picture. Home monitor kits, may not only save us from having to make repeated trips to our health provider, but could give us better autonomy and insight as to what affects these levels and what we can personally do to lower it before resorting to conventional medication.

This article looks at remedies which we can easily try ourselves that have been shown to have a positive impact on lowering blood pressure. The list is of course, not exclusive; Black Seed for instance has previously been reported in our July article, ‘Black Seed – The Remedy For Everything But Death’, as causing a reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and is definitely worth consideration.

Hibiscus

For a delicious brew, with the additional benefit of reducing blood pressure, try Hibiscus. The healing powers of the red aromatic plant, Hibiscus Sabdariffa, have been shown to extend to hypotension. Research was carried out by nutritionist Mckay, on the anti-hypertensive properties of Hibiscus and presented at the American Heart Association, annual conference in 2008/2009.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 65 pre- and mildly hypertensive adults, aged between 30-70 over a period of 6 weeks. They were divided into two groups, the first group being given 240 ml of brewed hibiscus tea three times a day whilst the second group were given a placebo. The results showed that blood pressure was reduced on average by 7 mmHg and the effect was even greater in those with a higher pre-existing baseline level of systolic blood pressure.

The most common way to ingest hibiscus is by making a tea. The part of the plant used is the flower, which is typically dried and steeped in boiling water. If you can’t get fresh hibiscus, health food stores will stock the dried flowers.

Garlic

Garlic, can lower blood pressure and there is research to validate this.

A meta analysis analyzing the effects of garlic on blood pressure was carried out by Reid Ketal in 2008. This review identified 11 previous studies in which the participants mostly took doses ranging from 600-900 mg over 11 – 23 weeks. Overall, the studies showed that on average systolic pressure was reduced by an average of 4.6 mmHg. Interestingly, those previously diagnosed with high blood pressure, saw a more impressive drop of 8.4 mmHg systolic and 7.3 mmHg diastolic. More recently in 2016, a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial published in the journal, Integrated Blood Pressure Control, concluded that daily intake of aged garlic extract was as effective as standard blood pressure medication.

The active ingredient in garlic credited with garlic’s blood pressure lowering effect is Allicin. Due to some research showing that certain garlic brands do not contain, or only release 15% of their allicin potential, it has been suggested that powdered allicin extract might be the best way to benefit from a stable amount. You can of course opt for fresh garlic, for which the recommended dose varies between 1-4 cloves a day. Bear in mind however, allicin is only released in fresh garlic when it is crushed or chopped; it is wasted if not taken immediately.

Hawthorn

The use of Hawthorn, often referred to as the ‘heart herb’, has been documented as being used in western medicine to treat cardiovascular disease as far back as the 1^st century. It also has a very long history of medicinal use in Chinese medicine (Shan Zha). Several studies have concluded that hawthorn significantly improves heart function, though despite its historical use, there is less isolated research on its effect on hypotension. The first randomized controlled trial to show that supplementation with a hawthorn extract significantly reduced blood pressure was in people with type II diabetes. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre (UMMC), it is the anti-oxidant flavonoids that may be responsible for helping to dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow and protecting the vessels from damage.

For those wishing to try it UMMC, suggest 1,200 mg per day of a herbal extract, corresponding to 6 grams per day of dried flowering tops. It is contraindicated with various medicines, so check with your healthcare provider before taking.

You can dry and powder your own berries by mashing them with a tiny bit of water, removing the stone and putting through a sieve. Spread the pulp to dry on baking paper, once completely dry, they can be made into powder by grinding. They are however very tough, so you may prefer to buy berries already dried from a herbal supplier. Another way to ingest the berries is to make a tincture by covering the berries in vodka or brandy and leaving in an airtight jar in a cool dark place for at least 2-4 weeks.

Lifestyle and diet

It may sound like the obvious, but let’s not be too hasty to overlook or underestimate the effect of making simple lifestyle changes in order to bring our lives into balance. Without dispute, those who have a balanced diet, take regular exercise and take steps to reduce stress, whether through meditation or other means, are least at risk from high blood pressure.

Current advice from the American Heart Association includes limiting alcohol, partaking in regular physical activity and no surprises here, eating a well-balanced, low-salt diet. The recommended ideal daily intake of salt from the AHA is less than a third of a teaspoon and no more than a teaspoon.

A point worth noting is that potassium functions in the body to lessen the effect of sodium in the body; the more potassium we eat, the more sodium we pass in our urine. Our bodies are miracle machines constantly hard at work to achieve homeostasis!  The recommended potassium intake for an average adult is 4,700 mg per day, but since it is possible to overdose on potassium supplements, it is advisable to get the potassium your body needs through the foods you eat. Potassium rich foods include:

• fruits, such as apricots, bananas, kiwi, oranges, and pineapples
• vegetables, such as leafy greens, carrots, and potatoes
• lean meats
• whole grains
• beans and nuts

Deep breathing

Why wait? You can begin the steps to lowering your blood pressure right now by taking a few deep breaths. Deep breathing can counteract the fight or flight response by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system, the nervous system we want to be running on in the long-term if we are to enjoy good health.

A Japanese study in 2005 showed that blood pressure can be lowered by as little as 6 deep breaths. Whilst deep breathing exercises are useful, it’s paying attention to our habitual pattern of breathing that will bring optimum results. Is it your chest or abdomen that rises when you breath? Deep diaphragmatic breathing into the abdomen as opposed to the chest is what we want to adopt; this increases blood flow to your body’s tissues and reduces resistance in your blood vessels with the ultimate effect of lowering blood pressure.

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