According to the Mayo Clinic, a systolic blood pressure of more than 139mm Hg, and a diastolic pressure of more than 90mm Hg qualifies as high. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to many dangerous conditions such as heart attacks. Anyone thinking he might suffer from the condition should consult a doctor immediately. High blood pressure can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes, but, according to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, four herbs--eucommia, tea, stevia, and garlic--may help to lower blood pressure
Step 1
Talk to your doctor about your plans to lower your blood pressure with the help of herbs. Tell him what other medications you are taking. Some herbs can be dangerous when taken together or with other drugs. Make the final decision about which herbs you will take only after fully reviewing your situation with your doctor.
Step 2
See your doctor regularly to follow your blood pressure carefully. You can also buy a blood pressure monitor and check your blood pressure at home in addition to seeing a doctor. Keep records of your results. Contact your doctor immediately if your condition worsens.
Step 3
Be patient. According to the Vitaminstohealth.com, it takes most herbs approximately two months to lower your blood pressure.
Step 4
Start taking herbs slowly. Never introduce more than one herb to your body at once. Wait a few days to see how it is affecting your body before you start taking another one. Some herbs that Congress holds to potentially posess beneficial traits in lowering blood pressure include stevia, garlic, green tea and oolong tea. According to bloodpressure-drs-practical-guide.com, consuming 2 1/2 cups of oolong tea for a year lowers the chance of developing hypertension by as much as 65 percent, while others, such as garlic only have numbers ranging from 2 percent to 7 percent and 6 to 14mm Hg respectively.
Tips and Warnings
- Talk to your doctor about starting to take blood pressure medication if the herbs and lifestyle changes that you have made have not lowered your blood pressure to normal range after a couple of months. Remember, herbs are only a small portion of the lifestyle changes that a person suffering from hypertension must make. In order to lower your blood pressure, you need to keep your weight within a normal range, avoid stress and exercise regularly. Do not drink alcohol or consume much salt.
- If you are taking cardiac glycoside drugs such as digitalis, do not start consuming hawthorn prior to seeing your doctor. Hawthorn can make other drugs more effective, and the doctor may want to lower the dosage of your medicines. Do not attempt to reduce the dosage yourself. Certain herbs can increase your blood pressure. For this reason stay away from such herbs as Asian ginseng, rosemary essential oil, licorice and ephedra.
Things You'll Need
- Blood pressure monitor
- Herbs that you have decided to consume such as hawthorne and garlic
- Doctor's contact information
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