High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, affects one in three American adults. If your systolic blood pressure is 140 mm Hg or above, or your diastolic blood pressure is 90 mm Hg or above, your doctor will will likely recommend lifestyle changes or anti-hypertensive drugs to get your blood pressure down into the normal range. Some herbs may have blood pressure-lowering effects, although evidence that they work is not conclusive.
Examples and Administration
Herbs that may help lower blood pressure include reishi mushroom and garlic, according to the UMMC. Reishi mushroom contains compounds called triterpenes, which may confer anti-hypertensive effects, while garlic is traditionally used to treat conditions related to the heart and circulatory system. The UMMC suggests taking 150 to 300mg of reishi mushroom two to three times daily, or you may prefer to take 400mg of a standardized extract of garlic two or three times a day.
Efficacy
The results of a study published in the December 2008 issue of the "Annals of Pharmacotherapy" show that garlic lowers systolic blood pressure in patients with hypertension, although it had no effect on people with normal blood pressure. In addition, an analysis of clinical data published in the June 2008 edition of "BMC Cardiovascular Disorders" found that garlic preparations are superior to placebo in reducing blood pressure in people with hypertension. In contrast, the UMMC notes that evidence showing that reishi mushroom can effectively lower blood pressure is weak.
Safety
Garlic is likely safe, notes MedlinePlus, but it may cause side effects including bad breath, heartburn, nausea, body odor and diarrhea. It may also increase the risk of bleeding so do not use it if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood thinning medicines. It may also interact with other medicines including anti-HIV drugs and the birth control pill. Reishi mushroom may cause nausea and vomiting, and interacts with anticoagulants, immunosuppressants and chemotherapy drugs. It may also heighten the effects of anti-hypertensive drugs, so ask your doctor whether it is safe for you to take this herb alongside other medicines you are taking.
Considerations
The UMMC notes that even if your doctor prescribes anti-hypertensive drugs or you use complementary medicines like herbs, it is important that you make changes to your diet and lifestyle. Losing weight, getting regular exercise and quitting smoking will all help to lower your blood pressure. Eating a low-fat, low-sodium diet will also help to bring your blood pressure into the normal range.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypertension
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Reishi Mushroom
- MedlinePlus: Garlic
- PubMed.gov: Effects of garlic on blood pressure in patients with and without systolic hypertension: a meta-analysis
- PubMed.gov: Effect of garlic on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
