High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that may lead to stroke, heart attack or kidney damage. There may not be any warning signs until a devastating event occurs. Smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise and heredity are all important risk factors. See your doctor before taking supplements to lower blood pressure. Natural treatments may have unpredictable results; use only one remedy at a time and monitor effects carefully.
Garlic
Garlic has been the subject of much research, but garlic supplements have not been approved by the FDA to prevent or treat any condition. The aging process may substantially increase garlic's antioxidant properties and provide a stronger concentration of beneficial compounds. Aged garlic extract may reduce cholesterol and help prevent the formation of clots that can lead to heart attack and stroke. The October 2010 issue of "Maturitas" published a study of aged garlic extract as an additional treatment for patients whose hypertension was not well controlled by medication. K. Ried and colleagues from the University of Adelaide in Australia randomized 50 subjects to receive either 960 mg of aged garlic extract or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The intervention produced an average drop in systolic blood pressure of more than 10 mmHg in treated patients compared to controls.
Alpha-linolenic Acid
Apha-linolenic acid is one of the omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fats cannot be produced by the body; they must be obtained in the diet. Similar to the healthy fats found in fish, ALA is only found in plants such as flaxseeds, hempseeds, chia seeds, spirulina and walnuts. G.K. Paschos and colleagues from Harokopio University in Greece studied the effects of ALA on the blood pressure of middle aged men with high cholesterol. Subjects received either 8 g of flaxseed oil or safflower oil daily. At the end of 12 weeks, men who took flaxseed oil had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures than controls. The study was published in the October 2007 "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
Hawthorn
Hawthorn berries, flowers and leaves are a traditional herbal remedy for high blood pressure. The plant contains phytochemicals that may dilate blood vessels and is high in iron and other minerals as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. A randomized controlled trial tested the effects of hawthorn on clinic patients taking medications for type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Either 1200 mg of hawthorne per day or a placebo were given to subjects over a four month period. A. F. Walker and colleagues, from the University of Reading in England, noted no herb-drug interactions. Results, published in the June 2006 "British Journal of General Practice," found a larger decrease in diastolic blood pressure among patients in the treated group and no differences in systolic blood pressure. More extensive clinical trials are needed to prove the herb can prevent or treat disease.
References
- Pubmed.gov: Aged garlic extract lowers blood pressure in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension: a randomised controlled trial
- Pubmed.gov: Dietary Supplementation With Flaxseed Oil Lowers Blood Pressure in Dyslipidaemic Patients
- Pubmed.gov: Hypotensive Effects of Hawthorn for Patients With Diabetes Taking Prescription Drugs: a Randomised Controlled Trial
