Home Remedies for Hypertension using herbs

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is one of the most common health issues nowadays. According to W.H.O–“An estimated 1.13 billion people worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries.

This is the serious medical condition which needs your attention. It can affect all the vital organs drastically if left untreated. Thus it can in turn ruin your wellbeing and is also known as”Silent Killer.”This article is intended to make you aware of this condition and to suggest some home remedies which can help you manage hypertension yourself.

What is Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)?

• Hypertension is commonly known as High Blood Pressure. When blood circulates in our body, it exerts some pressure against the arterial walls. The arteries supply purified blood to our body. This ideal pressure is about 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg for systolic and diastolic respectively. 
• Systolic pressure is generated when your heart pumps blood out.
• Diastolic pressure is generated when your heart rests between beats.
• Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is when the B.P readings for systolic and diastolic are more than or equal to 140mmHg and 90mmHg respectively for 2 consecutive days.

Symptoms of hypertension

Generally, there are no symptoms of hypertension. People are unaware of the fact that they have this health issue because in hypertension there are no alarming signs. Therefore, blood pressure should be measured regularly. 

However when hypertension occurs, it brings along the following health issues- 

• Irregular heartbeats
• Bleeding from nose
• Headache mostly in early morning
• Changes in eyesight.
• Buzzing sound in ears.

Risk factors of hypertension?

Following factors may contribute in causing hypertension-

• Unhealthy diet like – consumption of oily and fatty foods.
• Excessive intake of salt
• Consuming less or no fruits 
• No or less physical activities
• Overweight
• Tobacco or alcohol
• Family history of hypertension
• Age above 65years.
• Other diseases like diabetes can also lead to high blood pressure.

Complications of Hypertension

As already mentioned, hypertension can lead to serious health issues. They include- 

• Hardening in arterial wall
• Insufficient supply of oxygen and blood to heart
• Insufficient supply of blood in whole body which can cause- 

• Irregular heartbeat 
• blocking or bursting of the arteries that supply blood to the brain.
• Kidney damage
• pain in heart (angina)
• heart failure
• heart attack

How can you prevent and manage hypertension?

As high blood pressure is a serious illness, it’s better to prevent yourself from it. You can also reduce your hypertension. This in turn will help you to protect yourself from other serious medical problems.

For preventing it you can:

• Minimize the intake of salt
• Reduce the intake of fats
• Reduce consuming alcohol
• Avoiding the use of tobacco
• Increase fruits in your diet.
• Increase foods that contain hand full of potassium and calcium and magnesium.
• Try to manage your stress. For this, you can meditate and do yoga.
• Stop smoking.
• Develop the habit of exercising daily.

Natural Home remedies for hypertension

Here is a list of some herbs that you can add up to manage your hypertension. All of these can help you to tackle increased blood pressure. 

1) Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera) 

Ashwagandha acts on stress and anxiety. It helps in reducing your stress and one of the triggers of high blood pressure is stress. Some studies suggest that people consuming ashwagandha have blood pressure levels and decreased pulse rate. So, ashwagandha can help you in managing high blood pressure levels.

2) Sarpgandha( Rauvofia serpentina)

This herb is effective in managing high blood pressure levels by dilating the blood vessels and reducing stress. It reduces the tone in blood vessels. It contains alkaloid named reserpine ,that inhibits the centers responsible for controlling blood pressure. These centers are present in brain. 

It also acts on various parts of nervous system and helps in decreasing heat rate. It is a useful herb in the condition where hypertension is linked with stress.

3) Hibiscus

Hibiscus flowers are good for our heart and thus help in lowering blood pressure. This is because they contain anthocyanins and polyphenols. This two help in reducing blood pressure.

4) Punarnava  (Boerhaavia Diffusa) 

Punarnava possess antihypertensive properties and act as a diuretic too Thus it helps in managing high blood pressure.

5) Garlic (Allium sativum) 

Garlic is rich in Allicin which helps in lowering the lipids. This compound also helps in inhibiting blood coagulation. Garlic is useful in Vataj conditions

6) Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) 

Gotu Kola contains certain chemicals that decrease blood pressure in veins. It is a useful herb that promotes circulation. It is best used in hypertension-related with pittaj condition.

7) Trikatu

Tri means ‘three’ and katu indicates ‘pungent’ It is an ayurvedic formulation that is a combination of three pungent herbs- 

• Pepper(Piper nigrum)
• Indian Long Pepper (Piper longum)
• Rhizomes of  ginger (Zingiber officinale).

Trikatu helps in managing high cholesterol levels and is helpful in High blood pressure due to hypercholesterolemia. Thus, it is beneficial in kaphaj conditions.

8) Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

Scholarly researches on the rats show that basil (Tulsi) exhibit antihypertensive properties. It contains a chemical known as eugenol that helps in maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels. It helps by blocking some substances that tighten up the blood vessels. 

9) Carrot ( Dacus carrota)

Carrots can act as a cure to manage your high blood pressure levels. They are enriched with high potassium levels and beta carotene. These both are effective in reducing high blood pressure. You can have raw Carrots or can have its juice. It also helps in regulating heart and kidney functions. Therefore is a good choice for managing hypertension. 

10) Cardamom and cinnamon

Both of these are used as spices in food. But to your surprise, they are a good friend for the patients with high blood pressure. A study on cardamom shows that it significantly reduces high blood pressure levels. You can take it in powder form

In vitro studies on cinnamon shows that cinnamon extract is useful in the sudden onset of high blood pressure. It also proved to be good in prolonged hypertension.

You can add both of these herbs in your diet. You can also make tasty beverages with them.

Summary

All these herbs help you to manage hypertension (high blood pressure). But you should never be dependant only on these herbs. You should listen to your doctor and should also take medicines if suggested. 

Other than these herbs there is wide range of herbs that too can help in high blood pressure. The above mentioned herbs are common and easily available herbs. One thing that you should keep in mind is that anything in excess can have side effect too. So it’s better not to consume any herb in large quantities. Also, each one of us is different. So one herb may be beneficial to some while not to others.

Try to follow the preventive measures, because – “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – Benjamin Franklin