Hypertensive, or high blood pressure-causing, herbs are few and far between. Generally, before taking any type of herbal supplement, you should check with your health care provider regarding any existing conditions and to have your blood pressure measured, because although several herbs exist that may help to relieve hypertension, some may actually exacerbate it.
Licorice
Licorice can increase high blood pressure, according to John Diamond in the book "The Clinical Practice of Complementary, Alternative and Western Medicine." This occurs due to licorice's effect of renal sodium retention and potassium-losing properties. Although a low dosage of licorice consumption does not influence the severity of the existing hypertension, dosing in excess of 75 mg per day can increase blood pressure, Diamond notes.
Broom
One of the maim constituents in broom is sparteine; a cardiac depressant powerful enough to cause respiratory arrest, high blood pressure and uterine contractions, according to James Duke in the book "The Green Pharmacy." An additional component, tyramine, may also raise blood pressure by constricting the veins. Dosages in excess of 30 mg per day, which contains more than 300 mg of sparteine, can also induce headache, dizziness, weakness in the legs and a tingling sensation in the hands and feet, says Duke.
Hypotensive Herb Varieties
As of 2010, only two hypertensive herbs exist, Diamond says. There are, however, many types of herbal alternatives to treat high blood pressure, which include ginger, hawthorn and ashwagandha, according to Michael Castleman in his book "The New Healing Herbs." Castleman says that many herbal treatments are intended as teas. Ashwagandha, for example, which is the Indian version of ginseng is most palatable in tea form due to its bitter and acrid taste, Dr. M. Ali says in the book "Ashwagandha -- The Stress Buster."
References
- MedlinePlus: Hypertension
- "The Clinical Practice of Complementary, Alternative and Western Medicine"; John Diamond; 2001
- "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook"; James Duke; 2002
- "Ashwagandha -- The Stress Buster"; Dr. M. Ali; 2002
