Pulmonary hypertension is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the lungs are strained, causing high blood pressure. This condition inhibits oxygen supply to your body, and forces your heart to work harder than necessary to pump blood through your circulatory system. Over time, pulmonary hypertension can lead to heart disease. Although herbs cannot cure this condition, certain herbs may help lower blood pressure in your pulmonary arteries. Check with your doctor before taking any herb to address pulmonary hypertension.
Cayenne
Cayenne is a hot pepper that is commonly used in Caribbean, Cajun, Asian and Indian cuisine. This herb contains capsaicin, a chemical compound that gives peppers intense heat. Capsaicin may help dilate your pulmonary arteries, lowering blood pressure and easing strain on your heart, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The New Healing Herbs." Talk to your doctor before using cayenne to treat pulmonary hypertension. This herb may cause stomach upset and heartburn.
Buchu
Buchu is an herb that is native to South Africa. This herb is best known as a diuretic, but it may also help lower blood pressure in your pulmonary arteries. The diuretic properties may help reduce fluid in the muscles surrounding your arteries, which may ease inflammation and reduce constriction on your circulatory system, according to Castleman. Consult your physician before treating pulmonary hypertension with buchu. This herb may deplete potassium, a mineral necessary for muscle and nervous system function.
Garlic
Garlic is well-known for its culinary uses -- it adds a strong flavor and aroma to Asian, Italian, Indian, Central American and Caribbean cuisine. However, garlic also has a long history of use in herbal medicine -- healers in the early 20th century used it as an antibiotic to treat wounds. Garlic may also help lower "bad" cholesterol, allowing your body to remove plaque deposits from your pulmonary arteries that contribute to high blood pressure, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Talk to your physician if you plan to treat pulmonary hypertension with garlic. It may occasionally cause skin rashes or stomach upset.
Uva Ursi
Uva ursi has been used for more than 1,000 years by Chinese healers to treat kidney disorders, according to Castleman. European herbalists in the 19th century recommended uva ursi as a treatment for diarrhea. Like buchu, uva ursi may offer diuretic benefits. It may lower fluid constriction on your pulmonary arteries, easing high blood pressure. Contact your doctor before using uva ursi to treat pulmonary hypertension -- like all diuretic herbs, it may rob your body of potassium.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 2010
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
