High blood pressure -- medically known as hypertension -- is a condition in which the impact of your blood against artery walls occurs at a high enough level to cause health problems, including heart disease. Although hypertension can become life-threatening, it often has no symptoms. MayoClinic.com advises having your blood pressure checked at least once every two years, beginning in your 20s. Your doctor may prescribe diuretics, beta blockers or calcium channel blockers for your hypertension. Natural healers often advise dandelion root to lower blood pressure. Consult your doctor before trying dandelion root.
High Blood Pressure Features
Blood pressure -- an indication of the amount of blood pumped and the resistance in your arteries -- is measured in millimeters of mercury. A reading of 120 over 80 is considered normal; a person is considered to have high blood pressure if the systolic, or top measurement, is persistently over 140 most of the time, or if the diastolic is over 90 most of the time. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes -- such as stopping smoking, eating a healthier diet or losing weight -- in addition to medications to help lower your blood pressure. MayoClinic.com advises the DASH method, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, which emphasizes potassium-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.
Dandelion Features
Dandelion, botanically known as Taraxacum officinale, is a perennial weed native to Europe and Asia but presently found virtually worldwide in temperate climates. Although the dandelion's name derives from "dent-de-lion," or "lion's tooth" in French, the leaves of dandelions are not universally toothed; some feature smooth edges. Like many weeds, dandelion grows from a single, deep taproot. Dandelion leaves have traditionally been eaten as salad greens; the root may be roasted and steeped into a coffee-like beverage. Dandelion also has a long history of medicinal use, with herbal texts recording its use by Welsh physicians in the 13th century. Dandelion leaves and roots have been traditionally employed as a tonic to detoxify the liver, a digestive stimulant, a diabetes remedy and a diuretic.
Constituents and Effects
Dandelions contain caffeic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and gallic acids. Terpenoids and triterpenes are also present, along with luteolin, a glycoside called apigenin, and beta-sitosterol, a natural inflammatory agent. Dandelions contain extremely high levels of beta-carotene -- more than the amount found in carrots -- and substantial amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamine and riboflavin. Dandelions are particularly high in potassium, with 297 mg per 100 g of the roots and leaves -- close to the amount found in a small banana.
Drugs.com, which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers, reports that the diuretic effect of dandelion, most likely caused by its sesquiterpenes and high potassium content, is responsible for the plant's blood pressure-lowering properties. Scientific research supports the importance of a potassium-rich diet. In a scientific review published in 2007 in "The New England Journal of Medicine," the authors noted that potassium deficit has a critical role in hypertension and corresponding heart problems.
Usage and Considerations
Dandelion root is available in health food stores. If you harvest the roots yourself, make sure that the dandelions have not been exposed to pesticides; you should also confirm the plant's identity with an experienced herbalist. Wash the roots thoroughly, grind them into a coarse powder in a food processor and roast at 250 degrees for roughly two hours. Use 1 tbsp. roasted roots per 8-oz. cup of boiling water, and simmer 10 to 15 minutes until the liquid is coffee-colored. Side effects of dandelion root include gastrointestinal discomfort and skin irritation. Dandelion root can interact with prescription drugs. Consult your doctor before using dandelion root.
References
- Drugs.com: Complete Dandelion Information
- MayoClinic.com: 10 Steps to Control High Blood Pressure Without Medication
- "The New England Journal of Medicine"; Sodium and Potassium in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension; Horacio J. Adrogue and Nicholas E. Madias; May 2007
- MayoClinic.com: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- PubMed Health: Hypertension
