Blood sugar and blood pressure are two separate health markers, although abnormalities in either of these may have profound effects on your immediate and long-term health and well being. Blood sugar levels are an indication of how much insulin your body is producing or how sensitive your body is to this hormone. Blood pressure is the level of force exerted on your arteries and other blood vessels when your heart pumps blood throughout your body. Ask your doctor if medicinal herbs are appropriate for you and your condition.
Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure
Blood sugar and blood pressure abnormalities may occur at the same time, but they may not be caused by the same health problem. You may develop one of these problems and not the other. Blood sugar levels may be high or low, depending on the cause. Low blood sugar levels may cause immediate health problems, such as confusion and irritability, while high blood sugar levels may cause long-term problems, such as organ damage. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is an extremely common condition among Americans and may lead to heart failure, blood vessel rupture and health attack.
Medicinal Herbs for Blood Sugar
There are numerous herbs that have historically been used for normalizing blood sugar levels, although not all herbs used for this health purpose have been studied in rigorous clinical trials. Herbs that help lower high blood sugar levels are called hypoglycemic herbs, and two of the most commonly used hypoglycemic herbs, notes naturopathic physician William Mitchell, author of "Plant Medicine in Practice," are black and green tea and European blueberry. Gymnema and fenugreek have also commonly been used to normalize blood sugar abnormalities.
Medicinal Herbs for Blood Pressure
Medicinal herbs may help regulate blood pressure. Two of the most commonly used herbal medicines for reducing prolonged high blood pressure, notes naturopathic physician Joseph Pizzorno, author of "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine," include garlic and hawthorn. Other herbs that may be beneficial for this health purpose include rauwolfia, black haw, galix, buckbean, yellow jasmine and chicory. Herbal medicines may most effectively treat blood pressure irregularities when used in conjunction with other conservative treatments, including dietary changes and smoking cessation.
Disclaimer
To ensure optimal long-term health and well being, both your blood sugar levels and your blood pressure must be kept in a healthy zone. Swings in either of these health markers may indicate serious underlying pathology and may require medical attention and intervention. If you are diagnosed with diabetes -- a common cause of elevated blood sugar levels -- or hypertension, discuss relevant, safe and effective treatment methods with your doctor or specialist. Not all herbal remedies may be helpful for treating your ailments, and some, especially if they are used inappropriately, may even be harmful.
References
- FamilyDoctor.org: Diabetes: Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Level
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: High Blood Pressure
- "Plant Medicine in Practice"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
- "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine"; Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., N.D.; 2002
