Alternative Medicine and Herbal Remedies for High Blood Pressure

Increasingly, people are looking to alternative medicine for treatment of hypertension. Why, you ask? Alternative medicine is relatively inexpensive while medications can easily cost a small fortune. Furthermore, medications usually have side effects, which may be difficult for some people to handle.

Alternative methods are not usually very effective when used alone. Most people use herbal remedies and nutritional supplements in addition to the lifestyle changes or medications prescribed to them. If you're thinking about trying an alternative method of treatment, consult your doctor first.

Many herbs provide health benefits in addition to helping lower blood pressure. Some herbs do have serious side effects, however; so consult your doctor before using an herbal remedy.

Garlic: Garlic has been touted as an herb with numerous health benefits, from treating the common cold to serving as an anti-cancer agent. Research has proven that garlic is beneficial for those with hypertension. By thinning the blood garlic can lower blood pressure by 5 to 10 percent. It can also lower cholesterol and discourage clot formation. Unfortunately, garlic has a reputation for being an "anti-social" food, but with all of the health benefits that garlic provides, bad breath should be the least of your worries.

Hawthorne: One of the safest herbal remedies on the market, Hawthorne berries are used to treat cardiovascular disease in many different cultures. In Europe, it is one of the most popular herbs used in alternative medicine today. Studies have shown that Hawthorne berries protect arterial walls, lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, and strengthen the heart's pumping ability. The full effect usually takes several weeks to months to develop.

Rauwolfia serpentina: Otherwise known as Indian Snakeroot, this powerful herb can significantly lower blood pressure with only a small dose. The effects of the herb are usually not seen until a few days after the initial administration and have a cumulative effect. Rauwolfia does have side effects, the most common being nasal congestion. Less common side effects include dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth.

You can also complement lifestyle changes with dietary supplements. Try supplements for at least a few months to gauge their effectiveness. The following is a list of commonly used supplements:

Ayurveda is a traditional healing system in India. It is the science of developing a balance of the mind, body, senses, and the soul. Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: Ayu, which means "life" and Veda, which means "the knowledge of."

In Ayurvedic medicine, the person, not the sickness, is treated according to general body type, or dosha. Ayurvedic treatments consist of using herbal remedies, meditation, and dietary and lifestyle changes to cure the sick and maintain health.

Qi gong (pronounced chee gung), meaning "energy cultivation," is a combination of meditation and various exercises to improve health and longevity. Studies have shown that people who practiced qi gong were able to significantly lower their blood pressure.

Acupuncture is another area of traditional Chinese medicine that may help lower blood pressure. Acupuncture can help reduce the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for involuntary movements such as heartbeat and blood pressure. Acupuncture is so often used in conjunction with western medicine, that it is no longer considered an alternative medicine, but rather a complementary medicine.

Resources

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Bergner, P. (1995). Allium sativum: Garlic and cardiovascular disease. Medical Herbalism4(1), 4-5.

Dev, S. (1999). Ancient-Modern concordance in ayurvedic plants: Some examples. Environmental Health Perspectives, 10, 783-789.

Fugh-Berman, A. (2000). Herbs and Supplements in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Preventive Cardiology.1:24-32.

Khosh, F. & Khosh, M. (2001). Natural approach to hypertension. Alternative Medicine Review6, 590-600.

Lee, M.S., Jang, J.W., Jang, H.S., Moon, S.R. (2003, September). Effects of Qi-therapy on blood pressure, pain and physiological symptoms in the elderly: a randomized controlled pilot trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 11(3), 159-164.

Sacks, F.M., Brown, L.E., Appel, L., Borhani, N.O, Evans, D., Whelton, P. (1995). Combinations of potassium, calcium, and magnesium supplements in hypertension. Hypertension 26(6 Pt 1), 950-956.

Whiting, S.J., Wood, R. & Kim, K. (1997). Calcium supplementation. Journal of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 4, 187-192.