Natural Treatments For High Blood Pressure

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Natural Treatments for High Blood Pressure

From Cathy Wong, N.D.,

Your Guide to Alternative Medicine.

 

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsek/a/Hypertension.htm

 

High Blood Pressure Also known as: Hypertension

 

It is estimated that over 50 million people in the United States

have high blood pressure or are on prescription drugs to control

their blood pressure. High blood pressure is a silent disease. It is

often diagnosed during a routine visit to the doctor.

 

Blood pressure refers to the force of blood against the walls of the

arteries, veins, and the chambers of the heart as it is pumped

through the body. With high blood pressure, there is a greater force

against the arteries, which over time, begins to damage the lining

of the blood vessels. It can lead to atherosclerosis, also known as

hardening of the arteries. High cholesterol and smoking are other

risk factors of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, in turn, can

increase the lead to heart attack, stroke, and other serious

conditions.

 

There are two forms of high blood pressure: essential hypertension

(also called primary hypertention) and secondary hypertension. In

essential hypertension, doctors are unable to find a cause of the

high blood pressure. Between 85 to 90% of cases are of this type.

 

In secondary hypertension, the high blood pressure is caused by an

underlying condition, such as kidney disease, hormonal dysfunction,

thyroid disease, excessive alcohol intake, and drugs such as oral

contraceptives, corticosteroids, licorice, or drugs that stimulate

the sympathetic nervous system.

 

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is often asymptomatic. People with severe high

blood pressure may experience the following symptoms:

 

flushed face

dizziness

nervousness

headache

fatigue and weakness

restlessness

difficulty breathing

nose bleed

insomnia

intestinal complaints

emotional instability

 

Primary hypertension is often asymptomatic until complications

develop, such as stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.

 

Causes of High Blood Pressure

Heredity is a predisposing factor, but the exact mechanism is

unclear. There is usually more than one factor involved. Diet,

atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress, and obesity are

just some of the possible environmental factors. These factors may

affect blood pressure more in people with genetic susceptibility.

 

High blood pressure is associated with the Western diet, obesity,

stress, and dietary factors. Some nutritionists point to the lack of

potassium and magnesium in the diet, especially in relation to salt

intake. Other lifestyle factors that may play a role are smoking and

coffee and alcohol consumption. There is also some evidence that

contamination from heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium

can promote high blood pressure.

 

Diagnosing High Blood Pressure

The diagnosis of high blood pressure depends on repeatedly

demonstrating higher than normal blood pressure. Secondary causes of

high blood pressure must also be ruled out. Blood and urine tests

and eye exams are often conducted.

 

Natural Treatments for High Blood Pressure

In most cases of mildly elevated blood pressure, doctors will

recommend dietary and lifestyle modification for a period of time to

see if this normalizes blood pressure. It is important to work

with your primary care provider. Untreated high blood pressure can

damage many organs in the body and increases the risk for stroke,

brain hemorrhage, heart attack, and kidney failure at an early age.

 

Diet

 

Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium – Adequate intake of the minerals

calcium, potassium, and magnesium is necessary for blood pressure

control. When the diet lacks these minerals, supplementation may

improve blood pressure control. Potassium-rich foods include

avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, grapefruit,

nectarines, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower,

green peas, potatoes, and squash. Foods rich in magnesium include

nuts, rice, bananas, potatoes, wheat germ, kidney and lima beans,

soy, and molasses.

 

Herbs and Nutritional Supplements

 

Garlic – There have been a number of studies examining the effects

of garlic supplements on blood pressure. Garlic appears to lower

blood pressure by 5 to 10%. It can also lower cholesterol, reduce

triglyceride levels, discourage clot formation, and promote blood

circulation. A typical dose of garlic is 900 mg of garlic powder per

day, standardized to contain 1.3% alliin. This provides about 12,000

mcg of alliin per day. This dosage is also recommended for lowering

high cholesterol.

 

Garlic can thin the blood. It should not be combined with

prescription blood-thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Trental

(pentoxifylline) or with natural blood-thinners such as vitamin E or

ginkgo. It is usually recommended that people taking garlic stop in

the weeks before and after any type of surgery.

 

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http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsek/a/Hypertension_2.htm

 

Co Q10- Coenzyme Q10, also called Co Q10, is another supplement that

is commonly recommended for high blood pressure. One double blind,

placebo-controlled study of 59 men already taking blood pressure

medication found that 120 mg of Co Q10 daily for eight weeks

could reduce blood pressure by about 9% compared to placebo. A

typical dose of Co Q10 is 30 to 100 mg three times a day. Co Q10

appears to be safe, however, there are some concerns about whether

Co Q10 interacts with the blood-thinning drug Coumadin (warfarin).

 

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) – Hawthorn is a very well known heart

herbal tonic in traditional herbal medicine. It has been used in

Europe and China for centuries as a folk remedy. It is believed to

decrease blood pressure, increase heart muscle contraction, increase

blood flow to the heart muscle, and decrease heart rate.

 

There is more evidence supporting the use of hawthorn for congestive

heart failure. For blood pressure, hawthorn is believed to seldom be

enough to make a significant difference. A typical dose of hawthorn

is 100 to 300 mg three times a day of a dose standardized to contain

about 2 to 3% flavonoids or 18 to 20% procyanidins. The full effect

takes several weeks to months to develop.

 

Ayurvedic Medicine

 

In ayurveda, high blood pressure is treated according to each

person's dosha, or constitutional type. High blood pressure is most

often found in pitta and kapha types. Ayurvedic approaches often

include a diet low in salt and fat, yoga breathing exercises, and

herbs such as sankhapuspi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) and ashwagandha

(Withania somnifera).

 

Traditional

 

In traditional Chinese medicine, high blood pressure is often a

problem of circulation of energy (qi) in the body. Poor diet and

emotional imbalance are just some of the factors that can lead to

this condition. A combination of acupuncture and herbs is often

recommended to balance energy flow. Secondary high blood pressure is

often due to exhaustion of energy reserves. This is called kidney

yin deficiency. The treatment goal is to build up and restore

energy.

 

Lifestyle Changes

 

Exercise - Regular exercise can help to reduce stress, lower blood

pressure, and decrease resting heart rate, which is a sign of heart

health. Before beginning a new exercise program, a person with high

blood pressure should consult a qualified health professional.

 

Stress Management – Mind/body techniques to help manage stress

include yoga, meditation, biofeedback, qigong, relaxation exercises,

breathing exercises, and hypnotherapy. There have been numerous

studies that suggest these techniques can effective in managing

high blood pressure, in combination with other approaches.

 

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