Hypertension, herbal medicine, High Blood Pressure, Heart Health Infocenter, Holisticonline.com

Alternative and Complementary Remedies for Hypertension

Herbal Medicine

Lime blossom (Tilia europea): For treating hypertension associated with arteriosclerosis and anxiety, take an infusion. Pour one cup of boiling water onto one teaspoonful of the dried flowers; leave to infuse ten minutes, filter, and drink.

Hawthorn (Crataegus, various species). Hawthorn has been used as a heart tonic for centuries.

Make a tea by adding one teaspoon of dried hawthorn herb to cup of boiling water. Drink up to two cups a day.

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata). Chinese studies suggest that kudzu helps normalize blood pressure. When a tea containing about eight teaspoons of kudzu root was given daily to 52 people for two to eight weeks, 17 people experienced marked decline in their blood pressure. Kudzu is a powerful antioxidant. It has 100 times the antioxidant activity of vitamin E. Hence it also helps prevent heart disease and cancer.

Garlic (Allium sativum). Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. It has beneficial effects in all cardiovascular system including blood pressure. In clinical studies, garlic has been shown to decrease the systolic pressure by 20-30 mm Hg and the diastolic by 10-20 mm Hg. When people with high blood pressure were given one clove of garlic a day for 12 weeks, their diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced. Eating quantities as small as one clove of garlic a day was found to have beneficial effects in managing hypertension.

The pharmaceutical mechanism of garlic's effect on blood pressure is believed to be related to its effect on the autonomic nervous system, lipid-lowering properties and perhaps its high content of sulphur-containing compounds. Patients with high blood pressure were found to have decreased levels of sulphur-containing amino acids in their plasma.

Use garlic in your cooking, salad, soup, pickles, etc. It is very versatile.

Saffron (Crocus sativus). Saffron contains a chemical called crocetin that lowers the blood pressure. You can use saffron in your cooking. (It is a very popular spice in Arabic cooking.) You can also make a tea with it. Many Indians add a pinch of saffron in the brewed tea to give a heavenly flavor. Unfortunately, it is very expensive.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis). Valerian is good for hypertension. It contains a chemical called valerenic acid that inhibits an enzyme that breaks down GABA. GABA (Gamma-amino butyric acid) is known to control blood pressure. Its effect on blood pressure may also be from its sedative action.

Mistletoe (Viscum album): Mistletoe is believed to function as a regulator of blood pressure, exerting a healing effect in both hypertension and hypotension. In Europe, mistletoe has often been combined with hawthorn (crataegus) in treating hypertension.

Hawthorn Combination

Ingredients:

Hawthorn berries (Crataegus) - 1 part
lime blossom (Tilia europea) - 1 part
Yarrow (achillea) - 1 part

Oriental/Chinese Herbs

Siler and Platycodon Formula (Sang-Feng-Tung-Shen-San):
For hypertension accompanied by obesity and constipation.

Ingredients:

Siler root 3.0 g
Talc 3.0 g
Skullcap root 2.0 g
Licorice root 2.0 g
Gypsum 2.0 g
Platycodon (balloon flower root) 2.0 g
Paichu (White atractylodes rhizome) 2.0 g
Chinese angelica root 1.2 g
Ma-Huang (Ephedera) 1.2 g
Cnidium 1.2 g
Peony root 1.2 g
Gardenia fruit 1.2 g
Rhubarb rhizome 1.5 g
Ginger 1.2 g
Field mint 1.2 g
Forsythia fruit 1.2 g
Chinchieh herb (Schizonepeta) 1.2 g
Nitrous sulfate 1.5 g

Rehmannia Eight Formula:
For older people with hypertension, fatigue, frequent kidney atrophy or nephritis.

Ingredients:

Chinese foxglove (rehmmania) 8.0 g
Yam (dioscorea) 4.0 g
Cornus 4.0 g
Hoelen 3.0 g
Tree peony bark 3.0 g
Aconite root 1.0 g
Cinnamon twigs 1.0 g