Review of High Blood Pressure: Learning About Herbal Aids

If you're worried about your blood pressure and want to know more about natural cures for when it is excessive, read on.

An Introduction to Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a common condition that tends to run in families and affects around one in six people. There is no cure for this ailment and the cause is unknown, although certain lifestyle factors are thought to contribute to its increase.

The greatest drawback to high blood pressure is that it can be very dangerous, but there are no unique visible or external symptoms associated with the condition. If your blood pressure is extremely high or it goes up very quickly, you could experience headaches or blurry vision. 

Most high blood pressure treatments focus on lowering the internal pressure and maintaining a safe and healthy level. Typically, most treatments use a combination of drugs and lifestyle changes for treatment. More holistic or natural approaches may use certain herbs along with diet changes.

To learn about specific herbal and natural cures to address the effects, please read on.

Gotu Kola Tea

To treat high blood pressure, try drinking gotu kola tea three times a day. You can also ingest gotu kola in capsule form once or twice a day. It's a fairly safe herb with minimal side effects. However, some individuals report experiencing nausea and cramping. Gotu kola can also cause drowsiness, so avoid using it if you are already taking any other drugs that can cause drowsiness.

Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil has been shown to be effective in reducing high blood pressure, probably due to the effects of the Omega-3 fatty acids it contains. Although cold-water fish have higher levels of Omega-3's, Flax (along with almonds) is one of the few plants that does contain it. When it's exposed to air, flaxseed oil can go bad, so you should keep it in a cool place and use it within a month or two of opening it up.

When you bring a bottle of flaxseed oil home, store it in your refrigerator. Alternatively, you can buy your own flax seeds. Simply keep them in a cool place and then when you're ready to use them, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder or with a pestle. Once ready, sprinkle them over your cereal, into soups or over a healthy salad.

Garlic Cloves

Garlic has been proven to lower blood pressure by as much as eight points. The great thing about garlic is that it can be added to almost anything. However, once you cook garlic, it becomes less effective, so raw garlic is still your best bet for lowering blood pressure.

If you're concerned about your breath or ability to eat two, uncooked cloves of garlic every day, you can try garlic capsules. They're one of the most popular natural cures for high blood pressure and readily available.