Garlic is an herb that is used for flavoring your favorite dishes as well as supplementing the diet. It also has been historically used to prevent gangrene due to its purported antimicrobial properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Theories of garlic helping cardiovascular disease patients at all of its stages have also permeated alternative therapy sources, though studies are still limited and results for some specific conditions are mixed. However, taking garlic to help regulate blood pressure has been supported by recent clinical research. Always consult your physician before taking garlic or any other supplement as an alternative for your condition.
Background
Your blood pressure consists of two numbers that measure the pressure exerted on your artery walls when your heart beats. The first number is the systolic pressure, or the pressure measured upon contraction, and the second number is the diastolic pressure, or the pressure when the heart is relaxed. Although having high blood pressure does not usually cause symptoms, it can still raise your risk of heart attack and disease; it is typically controlled via prescription drugs to lower these risks.
Allicin
Garlic is available as a fresh bulb, or as a supplement in oil or powder form. One reason that research study results are varied could be the fact that the garlic preparations tested vary in the amount of allicin they contained. Allicin is the active ingredient in garlic that also gives the herb its distinctive smell. This substance will also degrade and is unstable; aged garlic preparations eliminate this issue, as their allicin level is reduced and thus makes the supplement odorless. However, this may also reduce the effectiveness of the garlic extract. MedlinePlus suggests that fresh garlic obtained from crushed cloves provides the most potent levels of allicin possible.
Garlic as an Alternative Treatment
One analysis of existing research, published in "BMC Cardiovascular Disorders" in 2008, determined that garlic can lower blood pressure, though these studies did not necessarily test the same type of garlic or garlic preparation. The results still support the use of garlic as a popular alternative treatment for hypertension, though the analysis also states that some studies only showed improvement in either systolic or diastolic pressure of subjects. Always consult your physician before replacing your blood pressure medication with garlic supplements.
Adding Garlic to Current Treatment
Some studies have also found that garlic presents promise when added to an existing hypertension prescription regimen. In 2010, a study in "Maturitas" found that over a 12-week period of taking aged garlic extract, patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension displayed lower systolic pressures. This suggests that garlic may only affect one type of pressure, or that different types of garlic preparations affect blood pressure differently. It is possible to have only high systolic or diastolic pressure, but you should consult your physician regarding your specific hypertension condition and what type of treatment plan is best for you.
References
- MedlinePlus: Blood Pressure
- MedlinePlus: Garlic
- "Pharmacotherapy"; Can garlic lower blood pressure?; FG McMahon, et al.; Jul-Aug 1993
- "Maturitas"; Aged garlic extract lowers blood pressure in treated but uncontrolled hypertension; K. Ried, et al.; Oct 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- "BMC Cardiovascular Disorders"; Effect of garlic on blood pressure; K. Ried, et al.; Jun 2008
