High blood pressure is a dangerous condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke or other life-threatening events. If your blood pressure has measured higher than is considered healthy, you have probably been given a list of things you can do to lower your health-risk; if you smoke, quit. Get more exercise, change your diet, give up salt, drink less or abstain from alcohol altogether, etc. All these lifestyle changes are certainly beneficial, and should be pursued, but you can possibly increase their benefits by the addition of some simple herbal remedies.
HAWTHORN - This herb is in wide-spread use in Europe as a heart and circulatory-system 'tonic', literally, something that 'tones' the organ or system it is applied against. It is very gentle in its action, and does not lower high blood pressure so much as it stabilizes it; if your blood pressure is too low (a non-life-threatening, yet annoying, condition), continued use of hawthorn will actually raise it, while it lowers too-high blood pressure. It works on the entire circulatory system, and over time improves 'poor circulation' problems that can cause your hands and feet to feel cold. Because its effects are so gentle and incremental, you must take it for a period of several weeks for the effects to be felt. It may increase the effectiveness of other blood-pressure reducing medication, so if your doctor prescribes something for your blood pressure, make sure he knows you are taking hawthorn as a supplement; he/she may wish to start you with a lower dose of the medication. You can purchase hawthorn in capsules, or buy the loose herb; it makes a pleasant-tasting tea.
GOTU KOLA - This Asian herb (also called Centella) is only recently becoming known in the West, and medical research is still ongoing. Still, it has a history of use for circulatory problems, and is reported to lower high blood pressure. It has also shown some effectiveness against 'venous insufficiency', a condition that sometimes accompanies high blood pressure (and sometimes occurs independently), in which inelastic valves in the veins cause blood pooling in the extremities. This is felt as swelling in the lower legs and ankles, and can be very uncomfortable. Gotu kola seems to improve the elasticity of the veins, which is also beneficial in cases of varicose veins. There is some evidence that it can help reduce anxiety, but shouldn't be used continually; if taken for six weeks; you should take a two-week 'break' before resuming its use. Pregnant women should avoid gotu kola, as it can cause contractions that may lead to miscarriage. It can also be purchased in capsule form, or the loose herb.
GARLIC - the easiest to obtain, and the most flavorful herbal remedy you can turn to, garlic has been used medicinally since at least the days of the pharaohs. Taking garlic can lower cholesterol, reduce blood-clotting, and lower high blood pressure. The only negative side-effect is garlic-breath. The intra-family solution is to have everyone eat garlic - if your breath smells like garlic; you are less likely to be able to smell it on others. Another garlic-breath solution is to chew sprigs of fresh parsley. Since parsley is also a diuretic, this combination not only lowers blood pressure, it can help with the swollen ankles that sometimes accompany high blood pressure.
ROAST GARLIC - A wonderful way to get your daily dose of garlic is to roast a head of garlic in a 450-degree over for 30-40 minutes, after drizzling with olive oil and wrapping in foil. The garlic will soften to a spreadable paste; separate the cloves and use the papery covering of the clove as a squeeze-tube to squeeze garlic paste onto hot Italian bread or crackers. Roast garlic has a much mellower, less intense flavor than raw garlic, so use liberally without fear. If you are currently taking prescription medicine for high blood pressure, DO NOT discontinue it while trying out these alternatives. Their effects are slow to develop and you could be putting yourself at risk. DO inform your doctor that you are taking supplements, and ask him/her to re-evaluate your medicinal needs periodically.
