Herbs for High Blood Pressure

There are many herbs for high blood pressure. Used in conjunction with lifestyle modification, weight loss, and other supplements, many people can naturally reduce their high blood pressure.

Alternative medicine can help with heart disease.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is diagnosed by a doctor when, after several blood pressure readings, the patient's typical resting blood pressure rate is greater than 140/90. There are actually many stages of hypertension.

The numbers in the blood pressure reading indicate the force, or pressure, of blood. The top number is the amount of pressure during a heartbeat, and the bottom number is the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. If pressure remains high, it can rupture capillaries and damage the circulatory system. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to many serious consequences.

One elevated reading alone is insufficient to determine if a patient has high blood pressure. Many factors can temporarily raise blood pressure, so doctors often check and recheck patients suspected of having hypertension. If doctors suspect high blood pressure, they may request that patients return for follow up visits or monitor their blood pressure at home using a home blood pressure monitor and fax or call their readings into the office. If the readings remain in the elevated ranges, a physician will diagnose hypertension and recommend medication or lifestyle changes.

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, there are numerous things you can do to try to manage the condition on your own. Generally speaking, if your blood pressure readings are in the prehypertension range, your doctor may be willing to wait to put you on medication and let you try lifestyle management and alternative therapies to get your blood pressure back to normal.

Herbs that are frequently suggested for high blood pressure include:

• Hawthorn: Hawthorn or hawthorn berry is one of the primary herbs suggested for high blood pressure. It treats numerous circulatory conditions and is said to improve blood flow.
• Yarrow: Yarrow flowers also lower blood pressure. Yarrow promotes perspiration and is also thought of as a blood purifier.
• Garlic: Garlic is great for cholesterol, and it's also useful for high blood pressure. It also has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.
• Maitake: Maitake is a mushroom that has been used for a long time as an immune stimulating herb, but it also lowers blood pressure and blood cholesterol.
• Olive leaf: Olive leaf extract offers many useful properties. It acts as a cardiovascular tonic and overall heart-health boosting herb.

How much of each of these herbs you should take depends upon your blood pressure and the type of extract you are taking. A visit to an herbalist or naturopathic doctor may be useful. If you choose to buy these supplements on your own, follow label directions carefully, since the strength of the herbs may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Make sure you tell your doctor about any herbs you're taking, since some can interact with pharmaceutical medications or lower your blood pressure too much.

Checking your blood pressure at home with a blood pressure cuff and keeping a log of your blood pressure readings is also useful. Some people suffer from "white coat hypertension", or artificially elevated blood pressure that only occurs at the doctor's office. Whether it's waiting for a busy doctor or just nervousness at seeing a doctor, their blood pressure rises dramatically in the office but is normal or high normal at home. Taking readings at home also helps you monitor whether or not herbs, vitamins or supplements are helping to lower your blood pressure.

Many vitamins and supplements are thought to lower blood pressure or help the circulatory system. Hypertension supplements, the a low salt diet such as the DASH diet, and specialized high blood pressure diets can help some people lower their blood pressure.

Losing weight has been shown to reduce blood pressure, so if you're carrying a few extra pounds, now's the time to begin a gentle exercise program, such as walking, and a sensible diet to lose weight. Meditation, mindfulness, and gentle exercise such as yoga may also help if stress contributes to hypertension.

High blood pressure is nothing to play with, so be sure to follow your doctor's advice if you suffer from hypertension. Herbal medicine, supplements, diet and lifestyle modification may help you get your blood pressure back under control.

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