When your heart pumps blood through your arteries, the blood creates a force on the walls of your blood vessels. If you suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure, this force is unusually high. MayoClinic.com states that high blood pressure is a common condition that develops over many years. If you are interested in using herbal medicine to help treat your high blood pressure, talk with your doctor about the potential risks and side effects before using herbs.
Elevated Blood Pressure
According to Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," approximately 73.6 million Americans -- about one in every three adults in the United States -- have prolonged high blood pressure. Women are more likely than men to develop this condition. In most cases, high blood pressure causes no symptoms. However, warning signs associated with long-term elevated blood pressure include headaches, sweating, increased pulse, shortness of breath, dizziness and changes in vision.
Herbal Blood Pressure Medicine
Herbs have long been used to help reduce blood pressure and decrease the likelihood of complications associated with this condition. According to Dr. Joseph E. Pizzorno, a naturopathic doctor and author of "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine," mistletoe, garlic, onion and hawthorn berries are helpful herbs in treating high blood pressure. Balch says that cayenne, chamomile, fennel, parsley and rosemary may also be beneficial for high blood pressure.
A Commonly Used Herb
Mistletoe is a commonly used herb for high blood pressure. The University of Michigan Health System states that European mistletoe has been used to treat headaches and dizziness associated with hypertension. The stems and leaves of the mistletoe plant are used in herbal preparations and are purported to have antispasmodic and hypotensive action when taken in small doses. Mistletoe grows on numerous types of trees -- including pine, plum and poplar -- throughout northern Europe and Asia.
Considerations
Consider visiting your doctor before taking herbs to help lower your high blood pressure. A qualified health-care professional can tell you about the potential risks and benefits of herbal blood pressure medicine, what side effects you might experience and what drug interactions might occur. Consider seeking the advice of a naturopathic physician or other health-care professional who has advanced training in botanical medicine. If you are pregnant, always consult your doctor before using herbs.
References
- MayoClinic.com: High Blood Pressure
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine"; Joseph E. Pizzorno Jr., N.D.; 2002
- University of Michigan Health System: Mistletoe
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