Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Herbs for High Blood Pressure

Many people don't trust drugs for high blood pressure; they prefer the natural way of dealing with it. Luckily for you, several herbs are very effective to control this common condition. Discover how you can use herbs for high blood pressure to treat hypertension and to improve your health.

Herbs have always been used successfully to treat many conditions. And hypertension treatment is not an exception. Of course, herbs don't give a dramatic effect like drugs, but their effect is long term. Also herbs are safer and doesn't have dangerous side effects.

Herbs used to treat high blood pressure are:

- Ginkgo Biloba
- Garlic
- Hawthorn
- Arjuna
- Ashwagandha
- Valerian (to relive stress)
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Cardamom
- Guelder rose

Ginkgo Biloba gives very good results. It relaxes blood vessels and stimulates the circulatory system. It reduces bloods ability to clot which allows blood to flow more freely. Ginkgo Biloba is the most known herb for natural high blood pressure control. Surprisingly, garlic has similar effect. Studies prove that people who take garlic supplement show reduction in hypertansion.

Hawthorn helps to dilate blood vessels and block Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) also called blood-restricting enzyme.

Other herbs often used for treating hypertansion include passiflora incarnate which has a calming effect and also relaxes blood vessels, resulting in reduced blood pressure. Guelder rose bark also relaxes the entire cardiovascular system, lowering hypertansion.

A complex view of natural treatments

If you are serious about controlling your blood pressure the natural way, using herbal remedies is only part of the solution. You will also have to take a look at your lifestyle and make changes if necessary.

For example, no matter how many herbal medicine you use, your pressure will be high if you smoke. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels. So your heart has to work twice as hard. Reducing smoking is a good start, but eventually aims at giving it up completely.

Another thing that affects blood pressure greatly is whether you lead active or sedately lifestyle. You will have to move around to straighten your heart. In addition to using herbal remedies, diet and exercise needs to be part of the solution.

Diet is also greatly important. You will have to eat less foods high is saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. Salt is a number one enemy of a person with hypertension. When cooking your meals try using spices and herbs instead of salt. This will work especially well since several spices like cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger help to reduce blood pressure

It might be easier to take a pill once a day rather than work on treating your blood pressure naturally. But by using herbs for high blood pressure, exercising and eating right you will get long lasting results.