A Natural Approach to Controlling High Blood Pressure: Herbal Blends

Do you struggle with keeping your blood pressure in check? If so you may have already tried the usual methods to help lower your blood pressure, such as prescription medication and an altered diet. But if these options aren’t working effectively for you, perhaps a more natural approach could be your answer. Here are the alternative health suggestions . . .

Do you struggle with keeping your blood pressure in check? If so, you may have already tried the usual methods to help lower your blood pressure, such as prescription medications and an altered diet. But if those options aren’t working for you, perhaps a more natural approach could be your answer.

Take a look at the herbal combination below – if you suffer from high blood pressure, or even nervous anxiety and the stress of modern living, this blend can be a valuable addition to your lifestyle – and ultimately your health!

GARLIC possesses nearly two dozen major medicinal properties. Two of those are important in this blend: the ability to lower blood cholesterol levels and a hypotensive property. Garlic contains several volatile sulphur compounds (like allicin) which are the probable active constituents. Animal and human basic research has irrefutably established Garlic’s ability to lower blood serum cholesterol levels. The typical study compares diets high in fat with and without Garlic. Garlic diets consistently produce the lowest cholesterol levels. In one study, 40 of 100 patients with high blood pressure experienced a reduction of 20 mmHg or more after about a week of Garlic treatment. In animal studies the herb significantly lowers blood cholesterol levels (up to 80 percent). Extrapolating from the data, it can be concluded that regular Garlic ingestion could have dramatic beneficial effects of the course of heart disease due to atherosclerosis. When humans are matched as to age and sex, there are significant differences between those that eat Garlic and onion and those that don’t, manifested in factors which influence the course of atherosclerosis. For example, those who use Garlic and onion have much lower serum-triglycerides, beta lipoproteins, phospholipids and plasma fibrinogen levels.

Another important property of Garlic is its hypotensive activity. Rabbits and humans who have been given Garlic show a rapid and prolonged decrease in blood pressure. Finally, Garlic inhibits the tendency of blood cells to stick together (platelet aggregation), thereby reducing the tendency toward hypertension.

BLACK COHOSH has been one of the favorite herbs of Americans for at least two centuries. Some pharmacological investigation conducted on this plant has confirmed its hypotensive and vasodilatory effects. These findings, from America, China and Europe, validate Black Cohosh’s reputation as a sedative and hypotensive. In Europe, it is believed that the herb exhibits hypotensive properties by inhibiting the vasomotor centers in the central nervous system.

CAYENNE will also lower blood cholesterol levels, thereby helping to reduce blood pressure. In one study, separate groups of rats were fed diets high in cholesterol with or without ground Cayenne or capsaicin, the active constituent of Cayenne, for seven weeks. Both Cayenne and capsaicin prevented a rise in liver cholesterol levels, and increased fecal excretions of free cholesterol. Cayenne also reduces the blood pressure in an even more direct manner: a number of years ago, a team of researchers discovered that capsaicin acts in a reflexive manner to reduce systemic blood pressure, a kind of coronary chemo-reflex.

VALERIAN ROOT is one of the most studied plants. Valerian and/or its major constituents, the valepotriates, have marked sedative, anticonvulsive, hypotensive, tranquilizing, neurotropic and anti-aggressive properties. These effects result from a selective neurotropic action of the root on higher brain centers. The herb’s main functional effect is to suppress and regulate the autonomic nervous system. As a result, it has been found effective in treating psychosomatic diseases and childhood behavioral disorders that involve dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Many forms of restlessness and tension also yield to the effects of the Valerian root.

*While these remedies have proven results, you should always be careful when choosing a new regimen of treatment. It’s best to ease into the use of herbs and ease out of the use of traditional medications – especially if your health problems are severe. A sudden switch of health regimen can be hazardous.