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What Herbs Lower Blood Pressure

Ayurvedic View Of Low Blood Pressure

Alternative Medicines for Common Ailments : How to Use Herbs to Lower Blood Pressure

Hypotension in Ayurveda is characterized by the following steps that lead to build up of low bp symptoms.

These are all part of the pathogenesis of hypotension in Ayurveda. They are mostly consistent with modern findings on low blood pressure symptoms:

  • Kapha decreases and Vata increases. This basically leads to loss of groundedness as kapha is a dosha of stability and growth. On the other hand, vata is dosha of lightness and movement. This causes dizziness.
  • Under functioning of the vyana Vata, which is supposed to distribute blood around the body.
  • Vata prakopa, dilation of the blood vessels, leading to blood pooling and hypotension.
  • Loss of blood tissues, low Pitta levels andlow iron symptoms, which has to do with a defect in blood production.
  • Apataparna, which refers to a decrease in blood production and poor nutrition of the heart due to malnutrition.
  • Bhrama or giddiness.
  • Murcha or fainting.
  • Say Hello To Good Health With These Simple Tips

    The normal blood pressure of a healthy adult individual is 120 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic. But when the pressure of the blood in the arteries is elevated, it is known as hypertension. If the condition is not addressed at the right time, it can lead to serious health conditions such as stroke, impaired vision, kidney damage, heart attack, congestive heart failure, vascular dementia, peripheral blood vessel disease and aortic aneurysm among others.

    Similarly, diabetes, which leads to uncontrolled level of blood sugar in the body too can lead to various conditions if not kept under control. Which is why it becomes extremely important to keep a tab on ones diet.

    To help keep you fit and healthy, Avni Kaul, nutritionist, wellness coach and certified diabetic educator, shares a few herbs that will help keep the conditions in check.

    Holy basil

    Basil or tulsi is a wonderful herb which can help lower your blood pressure. The chemical eugenol which is present in tulsi is known to fight certain substances that tighten blood vessels, which can lead to a decrease in blood pressure. Adding fresh basil to your diet is simple and certainly wont hurt.

    Cinnamon

    Garlic

    Curcumin

    Fenugreek

    Ginger

    Try Meditation Or Deep Breathing

    While these two behaviors could also fall under stress reduction techniques, meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention.

    Both meditation and deep breathing may activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate, and lowering blood pressure.

    Theres quite a bit of research in this area, with studies showing that different styles of meditation appear to have benefits for lowering blood pressure .

    Deep breathing techniques can also be quite effective.

    In one study, participants were asked to either take six deep breaths over the course of 30 seconds or simply sit still for 30 seconds. Those who took breaths lowered their blood pressure more than those who just sat .

    Try guided meditation or deep breathing. Heres a video to get you started.

    Bottom line: Both meditation and deep breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure.

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    Herbs That Help Lower Your Blood Pressure

    High blood pressure is dangerous. It makes your heart work too hard and hardens your arteries. This increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also lead to kidney disease and heart failure, so it’s important to take steps to lower your blood pressure.

    Dietary and lifestyle changes can help lower your blood pressure and keep it normal.

    It’s crucial to keep it in the normal range to lower the risk of other complications.

    Aside from making changes to your food and lifestyle habits, certain natural herbs can also help you. These herbs fight inflammation, dilate blood vessels, and lower your blood pressure.

    Other Natural Ways To Lower High Blood Pressure

    5 Herbs that Help Lower Your Blood Pressure

    Apart from the herbs that we just looked at above, there are many other natural remedies to hypertension. let us learn more below.

    1. Exercise regularly

    Body activity is one of the best things one can do to lower their high blood pressure. It makes the heart stronger and more efficient at pumping blood.

    Research shows that 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week can lower blood pressure and improve your heart health

    2. Lose weight

    Blood moves throughout the body by expansion and contraction of the blood vessels. Losing weight makes pumping easier. According to a 2016 study, losing 5% of your body mass could significantly lower high blood pressure.

    3. Manage stress

    Working a lot and stressful work situations, in general, are linked to high blood pressure. With chronic stress, the body is in a constant fight-or-flight mode. Here, the heart rate increases, and the blood vessels constrict which implies high blood pressure.

    Also, under stress, people make poor food choices. These include too much alcohol, eating refined carbs which altogether can adversely affect blood pressure.

    4. Reduce sodium intake

    Research shows that high blood pressure and other heart problems are linked to high salt intake. This is due to the overconsumption of processed food for which salt is a common ingredient. Always look at the labels on packages and go for foods that are low in salt.

    5. Cut back on alcohol

    6. Add magnesium, and potassium to your diet

    Bottom line

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    What Is The Medical Treatment For High Blood Pressure

    Goals of treatment

    High blood pressure usually is present for years before its complications develop. Ideally, hypertension is treated early before it damages critical organs in the body. Increased public awareness and screening programs to detect early, uncomplicated hypertension are keys to successful treatment. Successful early treatment of high blood pressure can significantly decrease the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.

    The goal for patients with combined systolic and diastolic hypertension is to attain a blood pressure of 134/80 mm Hg. Although lifestyle changes in prehypertensive patients are appropriate, it is not well established that treatment with medication of patients with prehypertension is beneficial.

    Herbs For High Blood Pressure

    Several herbs for high blood pressure are used synergistically. David Hoffman recommends Hawthorn , Linden , Yarrow , Cramp bark or High Bush Cranberry , and Valerian . Herbs for lowering high blood pressure need to provide not just the lowering of the blood pressure, but also a tonic to the heart, a diuretic, an antispasmodic, a vascular tonic, and a relaxant.

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    Herbal Medicine For High Blood Pressure

    Certain herbs and supplements are excellent high blood pressure treatments, but its not recommended to take them without consulting your practitioner first. Not all the herbs are equal, and some may even interfere with the medication youre taking, causing significant side effects. A Chinese herbalist will consider your overall health before prescribing any herbal formula. Still, the most commonly used herbs for high blood pressure are:

    Natural Home Remedies To Manage And Prevent Hypotension

    Nutrition Tips : How to Lower Blood Pressure With Herbs

    While considering natural remedies for low blood pressure, we must not fail to mention home remedies too. These are simple things that you can do for yourself at home.

    Theyre natural. Some have been mentioned alongside the herbs already, but there is more. Here goes:

    • Consume mung beans soup, it helps lower blood pressure. Add a pinch of turmeric, some cilantro, and cumin.
    • Mix two parts of orange juice and one part of coconut water. Drink half a cup of this mixture two to three times daily.
    • Honey water helps to reduce cholesterol levels, maintain vasodilation and regulate blood pressure. You can make honey water by adding a teaspoon of honey and five to ten drops of vinegar in a cup of hot water. Drink this on an empty stomach early in the morning.
    • Mix one part of punanarva, one part of passion flower, and two parts of hawthorn berry. Take half a spoon of this mixture and soak it in a cup of hot water for five to ten minutes. Drink after lunch and dinner.
    • Take half a teaspoon of turmeric with aloe vera gel twice daily.

    Here is mung beans recipe to help with low bp symptoms.

    • Add the beans and water in a pressure cooker.
    • Add salt and turmeric.
    • Close the pressure cooker and let the mixture cook for about 10 mins or for 3-4 whistles to make a soft and smooth soup.

    Preparing the Tempering mix for the soup

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    Herbs For High Blood Pressure/hypertension

    30% of the English, 29% of Americans, and 20% of Canadians have a blood pressure above 140/90 or hypertension. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries, carrying blood throughout the body. The heart beats at 60 to 70 times per minute and with each pulse it pushes blood through the arteries. Blood pressure is highest when the heart contracts to pump the blood. When the heart muscles relax the blood pressure falls. The top number of the blood pressure ratio is the pressure of the heart contracting and the bottom number is the pressure of the heart relaxing .

    Blood pressure changes with the normal activities of life. It naturally goes up during exertion and lowers during rest. It is only when blood pressure remains high over a period of time that a diagnosis of high blood pressure is made.

    Treatment With Combinations Of Drugs For High Blood Pressure

    The use of combination drug therapy for hypertension is common. At times, using smaller amounts of one or more drugs in combination can minimize side effects while maximizing the anti-hypertensive effect. For example, diuretics, which also can be used alone, are more often used in a low dose in combination with another class of antihypertensive medications. This way, the diuretic has fewer side effects while improving the blood pressure-lowering effect of the other drug. Diuretics also are added to other antihypertensive medications when a patient with hypertension has fluid retention and swelling .

    A useful combination is that of a beta blocker with an alpha blocker in patients with high blood pressure and enlargement of the prostate gland in order to treat both conditions simultaneously. Caution is necessary when combining two drugs that both lower the heart rate. For example, patients receiving a combination of a beta blocker to a non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker need to be monitored carefully to avoid an excessively slow heart rate . Combining alpha and beta blockers such as carvedilol and labetalol is useful for cardiomyopathies and for hypertension patients.

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    Herbal Essential Oils That Help To Reduce Blood Pressure

    It needs to know that some herbal essential oils may have a positive role in reducing some of the factors affecting pressure in blood. Most of these have sedative properties. There are some evidence that proves the effects of essential is for BP. But more studies need to prove the positive effects of essential oils.

    Repertoire Of Signaling Molecules

    5 Herbs That Lower Blood Pressure

    Assuming a homeostatic imbalance, the following signaling molecular entities become integral to the pathogenesis of hypertension . Fortunately, a diverse range of plant and herbal extracts and their individual metabolites can modulate signaling cascades implicated in the physiology of the cardiovascular system . These herbs are not only vasculo-protective but they could also potentially reverse the changes in hypertension. This particularly applies if the alterations in hypertensive patients are addressed prior to reaching a decompensated state.

    Reactive Oxygen Species

    A key molecule that regulates oxidative stress in VSMCs is the transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 . Under physiological conditions, Nrf2 activity is inhibited by its endogenous inhibitor Kelch-like ECH-associated inhibitor 1 . On the other hand, when oxidative stress ensues, Keap1 releases Nrf2, which then translocates to the nucleus and promotes expression of different antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, GPX, heme oxygenase-1 , SOD . Pertinently, various phytochemicals suppress oxidative stress by upregulating antioxidant enzymes through the Keap1âNrf2 pathway .

    Nitric Oxide

    Hydrogen Sulfide

    Angiotensin II

    Nuclear Factor Kappa B

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    Herbs That May Help Lower High Blood Pressure

    High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects nearly half of all American adults .

    Its the most common preventable risk factor for heart disease .

    This article looks at the scientific research behind 10 herbs and spices that may help lower blood pressure.

    • systolic blood pressure over 130 mm Hg
    • diastolic blood pressure over 80 mm Hg
    • both systolic and diastolic values above these levels

    You can manage blood pressure with medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.

    Many dietary and lifestyle changes can also reduce your blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease.

    In fact, studies have shown that some herbs and spices may reduce blood pressure levels, so you may want to consider adding these to your diet, too.

    Make sure to speak with your healthcare provider before using any of the following herbs.

    Below are 10 herbs that may help lower blood pressure.

    Summary

    You can manage high blood pressure with medication, as well as dietary and lifestyle changes. Some herbs and spices may likewise help lower blood pressure.

    Basil is a flavorful herb that comes in various forms. Its popular in alternative medicine because its rich in various powerful compounds.

    Sweet basil is high in eugenol. Research has linked this plant-based antioxidant to many health benefits, including lowered blood pressure .

    The #1 Thing You Can Add To Every Meal To Help Lower Blood Pressure According To Science

    In addition to herbs and spices anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting properties, they may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol too. Bet you have plenty in your pantry as we speak!

    Hey ’90s kids: Remember the Spice Girls lyric “spice up your life!”? Welp, it now has scientific evidence to be true-and a couple new studies prove that herbs and spices can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and reduce your risk for certain chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

    Previous studies suggested that herbs and spices both offer anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting benefits, and suggest that everything from cilantro to cinnamon can lower risk for heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. And two new findings presented at week’s NUTRITION 2021 Live Online meeting of the American Society for Nutrition add to the mounting evidence that it’s a great idea to spice-spike your menu.

    In one study discussed at the ASN meeting, scientists found that adding herbs and spices to meals helped to reduce blood pressure in individuals at risk for heart disease.

    To determine this, Dr. Petersen and her colleagues tracked 71 American adults who fit criteria for obesity and had other risk factors of heart disease. They were told to eat their typical American diet, which is a macronutrient breakdown of 50 percent of calories from carbs, 17 percent from protein and 33 percent from fat .

    Every 4 weeks, the participants tweaked their meal plans a bit.

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    Check Out The Dash Diet

    Though everyone can benefit from getting more vegetables and leafy greens, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that a specific diet could be incredibly effective in reducing blood pressure.

    The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, focuses on eating lots of fruits and vegetables as well as some low-fat dairy. It also restricts high-fat and cholesterol items. Processed foods are no-go.

    In one study, participants ate according to the diet and lowered their sodium. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels were found to be reduced after eight weeks.

    This doesnt prove that the DASH diet is the only way to reduce blood pressure, but its the most studied diet, for the time being.

    If you really need to turn your blood pressure around, this diet seems to be one of the safest ways of reducing blood pressure and aiding health benefits overall.

    Though reducing sodium intake showed significant results in this study, the role of salt and blood pressure is a little more contentious than you might think.

    What About The Patient’s Compliance Withmedication Regimens

    9 Herbs That Lower Your Blood Pressure

    When uncomplicated hypertension has not caused symptoms, as often happens, some patients tend to forget about their medications. Patients also tend to fail to take their medications as prescribed if they cause side effects. These quality of life issues are very important, especially with regard to compliance with prescribed blood pressure medications. Certain antihypertensive medications may cause such side effects as fatigue and sexual impotence which can have profound effects on a patient’s quality of life and compliance with treatment. More resistant cases of hypertension that require higher doses of medication may cause more adverse effects, and therefore, less compliance.

    In dosing schedules that require taking medication two to four times a day , some patients will remember to take their medicine only some of the time. In contrast, medications that can be given once daily tend to be remembered more regularly.

    Expensive blood pressure medications, especially if insurance does not cover the costs, may also reduce compliance. People attempt to save money by skipping doses of the prescribed medication. The least expensive medication regimes use generic drugs, which are readily available for some of the diuretics and beta blockers. Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, reducing dietary sodium, decreasing consumption of alcohol, and exercising regularly, reduce the need for some medications.

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    Other Ways To Lower Blood Pressure

    There are a variety of natural ways to lower blood pressure in addition to diet and exercise. For instance, there are several essential oils associated with a reduction in blood pressure, including:

    • Bougriba oil
    • Valerian oil

    If youre interested in supplements that can help you reduce blood pressure, I would try cod liver oil. This anti-inflammatory powerhouse has incredible health benefits and can help to effectively lower blood pressure.

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