Lower High Blood Pressure Naturally

Causes and Symptoms: High blood pressure, or hypertension to give it its proper medical name, is the most common form of high blood pressure. Its causes include kidney disease, disorders, of the endocrine glands and malfunctioning or disorders of the arteries. A congenital abnormality of the aorta is one of the most serious forms of hypertension. Its chief symptoms are headache, usually in the back of the head, ringing in the ears, giddiness. Headache is worst at the time of waking in the morning and it has a tendency to wear off during the day.

While hypertension runs its natural course, it usually causes death in the ends as a result of heart failure. A proportion of the victims dies of kidney failure and some of a stroke. The earlier the onset of hypertension, the proper is the life expectancy. A large number of deaths supposed to have occurred from heart disease were really the handiwork of hypertension left uncontrolled.

Hypertension can be either functional or organic: the latter is the case when the fatty substance accumulates in the smaller arteries carrying blood to the heart. The openings being smaller, the heart has to best faster and exercise more pressure to supply the blood to the various organs. Hence the higher blood pressure.

The Real Culprit: Hypertension is a disease of the modern civilization. Its incidence has increased during the last 50 years. The fast pace of life, the mental and physical pressures under which man in the present industrial and metropolitan environment works, gives rise to psychological tensions. Hypertension makes its victim a less than useful member of society. He cannot do any serious work, feels tired and out of sorts all the time. Never does he have a feeling of freshness even if he has full sleep. Difficulty in breathing may be experienced by him and dyspepsia is his constant companion.

Mental strain and an artificial way of life is the real culprit. Less physical work, a sedentary life, too much of intoxicants, tea, coffee, refined foods, destroy the natural pace of life. The expulsion of waste and poisonous matter from the body is hampered and the arteries and the veins become slack.

Modern medicine believers that a healthy person should have a systolic pressure (at the best of the heart) of 100 mm plus age and diastolic pressure (between) the beats of the heart) should be 80 mm plus age. The blood pressure is accurately measured by an instrument known as sphygmomanometer. The pressure, if it is abnormally high, is accompanied by disease of the arteries. The blood pressure normally increases with the advance of age, due to the hardening of the arteries. But it is an indication of ill health; if one is healthy, the normal systolic blood pressure should range between 120 to 140 mm of Hg. And diastolic should range between 70 to 80 mm of Hg. Whatsoever the age is after 20 years.

Kidney diseases, hardening of the arteries and severe constipation leading to absorption of morbid humours through the gut lead to high blood pressure. Smoking is another addiction, which leads to hypertension. Smoke a cigare3tte and then have your blood pressure, taken: it will be some points more than the normal.

Treatment: Drugs prescribed by traditional Physicians may temporarily reduce blood pressure, but they are harmful in the final analysis. The best way to reduce is to remove the real cause. High pressure of blood is only a symptom of the poisonous matter, which causes it and the naturopathic way to dealing with it is to remove the poisons from the system. Again, the ingestion of fresh fruits and vegetables instead of a traditional diet is helpful in ridding the body of the poisons, which cause high blood pressure. A hypertension patient, if he is not too weak, should start the process of healing by living on fruit and vegetables for at least a week. The best course would be to take only fruits at five hourly intervals only thrice in the day. Breakfast should consist of oranges, lunch of guava and dinner of tomatoes, or apples. Fruits like oranges, apples, pears, mangoes, guava, pineapples, raspberry, and muskmelon are the best diet in such cases. Bananas and jackfruits should be avoided. After a week of ‘fruits only” diet, milk should be added. Milk should preferably be of cow or goat and should be fresh. It should be boiled only once. After two weeks, the patient can be permitted cereal in his food. The best would be porridge.

Vegetables are also good for a patient of high blood pressure. A salt free diet is the best; if you must take it, take it 25% of the normal quantity. Vegetables should preferably be raw. If they are cooked, cook them with the rind on and do not let their natural juices burn in the process of cooking vegetables like cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, onion, radishes, cabbage and spinach are best taken in their raw form. They may be cut into small pieces and sprinkled with a little bit of salt and the juice of a lemon added to them in order to make them more palatable. The second step is to deal with a constipated bowel. During the period that fruits are the mainstay of the patient, he should take a warm water enema every day in order to clear his bowels.

If the patient is too sick to take exercise, let him massage his body; otherwise he should take exercise. Massage should be away from heart and towards the limbs and their extremities.

As the blood pressure shows signs of abating, take more exercise. Avoid too much straining of the heart. Breathe deeply while you are walking or taking exercise.

Rub your body with a rough towel vigorously for five to seven minutes after you have taken your bath. Avoid too cold water; add a little warm water to bring it to body temperature. If you have the patience, rub your body, instead of using a towel use your palms.

Early to bed is another cardinal principle, which a person suffering from hypertension must follow. He should get eight hours of restful sleep. Those who find it difficult to sleep can keep their feet in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash them with cold water.

The patient must avoid over-straining, worries, tension, anger and haste. He must try to be cheerful. The natural treatment may take some time, but do not lose patience because it is the safest and the best way to get rid of these diseases.

Find more information regarding Natural Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure and Natural Home Remedies

High blood pressure or hypertension is the condition when the blood flow in the arteries and veins is forced under a higher pressure than normal. This can happen due to the weakness of the heart or due to the buildup of cholesterol in the coronary arteries, which can reduce their lumen. Today, most people in the world are suffering from hypertension, though it is not always fatal. Proper medication and a positive lifestyle can make people with higher blood pressures lead a long and happy life. However, neglect can cause severe fatal problems like myocardial infarctions (heart attacks).

High blood pressure is known as Rakta Gata vata in Ayurveda. It can be caused due to vitiation of any of the three doshas, though the contribution of the vata dosha may be more, as it is responsible for the circulation of blood. The following are the main precipitating factors for people with different doshas:-

1. Vata type of Hypertension – This is caused by extreme emotions such as worry, anxiety and stress.

2. Pitta type of Hypertension – This is caused by negative emotions such as hatred, jealousy and feeling for revenge.

3. Kapha type of Hypertension – This is caused by problems with the digestive system.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of High Blood Pressure

1. Alfalfa (Medicago satina)

Alfalfa contains several elements which are needed in the softening of the hard arteries. This reduces the tension in the arteries and hence helps to treat hypertension.

2. Bloodwort (Achillea millefolium)

Bloodwort is a sweat-inducing herb. It makes the blood flow towards the skin for expelling the sweat. Due to this free movement of the blood, the high blood pressure is reduced. Bloodword contains an alkaloid which is effective in reducing high blood pressure.

3. Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic is an antispasmodic agent. Hence it reduces the pressure in the arteries caused due to the pumping action of the heart during blood circulation. Garlic creates a rhythm in the pumping of the heart, which eases the pulse. Other high blood pressure problems such as dizziness, shortness of breath and indigestion are also taken care of by garlic. Garlic is widely considered to be the best remedy for high blood pressure.

4. Jaundice Berry (Berberis vulgaris)

Jaundice berry is another very effective remedy in the treatment of high blood pressure. It eases the tension in the arteries by making them dilate. Thus the blood flow in them is facilitated.

5. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Parsley is like a monitor of the blood vessels. It regulates the flow of blood in them and maintains easy circulation. It looks after the entire arterial system. Hence it is a very beneficial herb for people with high blood pressure.

6. Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina)

The effects of rauwolfia on the arteries and veins of the human system have been investigated in detail, and immensely positive results have been obtained. Rauwolfia has a treasure-trove of alkaloids for easing the arteries, synchronizing the blood flow in them, reducing palpitation and even removing the cholesterol buildup in the arteries. Hence, practitioners of all forms of medicine acknowledge the effects of rauwolfia. In Ayurveda especially, the root of the rauwolfia is prescribed for hypertension patients. The Ayurvedic name for rauwolfia is sarpagandha.

(2) Dietary Treatments for High Blood Pressure

A strict dietary regimen is important to seek early treatment from high blood pressure. The following points must be obeyed:-

1. Salt should be reduced or totally eliminated from the diet. Hot and spicy foods should also be avoided.

2. Instead of hydrogenated fats, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats must be used. These include oils of sesame, olive, flaxseed, mustard and groundnut. Ghee and butter made from cow’s milk are beneficial. Buffalo milk should be avoided.

3. Indigestion should be taken care of by consuming a good amount of leafy vegetables containing fiber.

4. Bitter gourd and drumsticks are advantageous vegetables for people suffering from high blood pressure. Colocasia must be avoided, but yellow pumpkin helps in reducing blood pressure.

5. Among fruits, bananas, oranges, guavas and apples are good. All kinds of dry fruits and nuts are good.

6. Sweets and chocolates must be avoided.

7. Red meats must be avoided. But white meats, especially fish are beneficial in lowering blood pressure.

(3) Ayurvedic Concepts for High Blood Pressure

Sarpagandha is the drug of choice in high blood pressure. Not only is this drug used in Ayurvedic medicine, but it is also used in allopathic medicine in the treatment of high blood pressure. In addition, the following herbal preparations are prescribed depending on the doshic cause of high blood pressure:-

a. For Vataja High Blood Pressure, jatamansi and brahmi are prescribed.

b. For Pittaja High Blood Pressure, sarsarapilla and sandalwood are prescribed.

c. For Kaphaja High Blood Pressure, calamus, arjuna, shilajit, guggulu and berberis are prescribed.

(4) Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

a. Have a spoonful of lemon juice mixed with honey every morning.

b. Oranges are very helpful in high blood pressure. Have a juice of two or three oranges every day.

c. Prepare a powdered mixture of cumin seeds, fennel seeds and sugar. Take one spoonful of this mixture in water every morning and evening.

I have always had boarderline high blood pressure, but reccently it has gotten so high that I have had to be put one medication. I know what foods to avoid, like salt, and fatty foods, but I don't know what I should be eating.

Are there certain foods that will lower your blood pressure? Also, what other things can I do to lower it?
I don't mind eating garlic. But do you mean raw garlic, like just pop a clove in my mouth? Or eating it with my food?

No one food is going to be your magic answer - you need to consider your entire diet and your lifestyle. Generally you need to think about how much exercise you are doing, be honest about how much 'bad' food you are ingesting.

If you are serious about your health, you need a change in lifestyle….you need to be eating more of the good stuff (white meat, veg, fruits, wholefoods) and less of the rubbish (red meat, fried stuff, fast food, pies, battered, processed)….and you need to move more. You need to do the whole 20 minutes of exerice 3 times a week, thing.

Good luck.

Serious answers please. I've heard of potassium, but is there anything else?

Potassium is only if you are on a water pill for high blood pressure. You can exercise, work up slowly, walk or stretch and then do some floor exercises. Whatever you can do to move is just fine as long as you get moving. Then you need to stop salty foods. There is a lot of hidden salt in things like processed foods, bacon, lunchmeats, canned veggies even, fast food is full of it, chips, hot dogs, all that stuff is off the menu. Plus cut out fatty food and that is most fast food. Salads, Subway low fat and calorie sandwiches are od. But most fast food is bad for you. Eat small healthy meals several times a day. Ear veggies, fruit, small palm sized portions of meat and whole grain cereal and breads. No cakes, cookies and white bread or fried foods. Cut out fats like butter and margerine. Use the new kinds made from olive oil and such.
Cut out all soft drinks, they are loaded with sodium which is another name for salt. Then check the BP and take the meds the DR. gives you. Also, if you smoke, stop right now. It is the worst. So, that's a lot of info. Try changing some everyday. Try some moving every day, cut out one thing every day. Don't buy salty refined foods and bring them home. That way you won't eat them. Please look out for your health. High BP can cause heart attacks and strokes which run in my family. So, I know. Good luck. They call it the silent killer because you can have it and not know it. Good luck. Prayers coming your way.