Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted on the arteries by the blood. If your blood pressure consistently measures 140/90 or over, you are at an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. You can help to reduce high blood pressure by doing more exercise, cutting your alcohol intake and losing any excess weight. Your doctor may also prescribe anti-hypertensive drugs. Some herbs might also help to lower high blood pressure, although evidence to prove they are effective is limited. Don't rely on herbs alone to treat hypertension and get medical advice before using them.
Examples
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that garlic and reishi mushroom might both help to lower high blood pressure. Garlic, commonly used to flavor cooking, is also used as an alternative remedy for a variety of ailments. It contains a host of bioactive compound, but one in particular, known as alliin, is likely responsible for its therapeutic effects. The reishi mushroom grows on decaying tree stumps and is used to make herbal preparations for a number of medical conditions. Reishi mushrooms contain a chemical known as ganoderic acid, which according to University of Michigan Health Systems, helps to lower blood pressure.
Effectiveness
Clinical trials evaluating the effects of reishi on blood pressure are lacking, so it is difficult to say for for certain whether it is an effective treatment for high blood pressure. However, an analysis of data from 10 clinical studies, published in the December 2008 issue of the "Annals of Pharmacotherapy," show that garlic helps to lower high blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure, but not those with normal blood pressure.
Administration
Reishi mushroom and garlic are available in capsules and tablets. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that 400 mg of a standardized extract taken two to three times daily may help lower blood pressure slightly. Alternatively, you may prefer to take 150 mg to 300 mg two to three times daily. Bear in mind that these dosages are only intended to be a guideline. Check with your doctor that these dosages are safe for you.
Safety Considerations
Garlic may cause side effects such as headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal upset and increased sweating. It may also have anticoagulant effects, so don't use it if you have a bleeding disorder or alongside anticoagulants like warfarin and aspirin. It may also interact with HIV drugs and insulin. Reishi mushroom may cause dizziness, nosebleeds and abdominal upset. Don't use this herb if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypertension
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Garlic
- University of Michigan Health Systems: Reishi
- "Annals of Pharmacotherapy"; Effects of Garlic on Blood Pressure in Patients With and Without Systolic Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis; K.M. Reinhart, et al.; December 2008
Member Comments