One in three people in the U.S. is living with high blood pressure. The National Institutes of Health cites some of the causes of hypertension as age, diet, lifestyle, smoking and family history. Aside from eating healthy, exercising and reducing stress, an alternative approach to lowering blood pressure is incorporating Chinese herbs into your diet.
Wu Jia Pi
From the Acanthopanax root bark, Wu Jia Pi is a bitter and warm herb. One of its primary characteristics is strengthening the liver and kidneys. When a deficiency is present, this causes an imbalance in the body and a tendency for the normal cycling of energy to be offset and forced up to the head, resulting in high blood pressure. According to Dan Bensky, author of "Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica," Wu Jia Pi has an "adaptogenic effect on blood pressure, tending to restore it to normal levels."
Du Zhong
Du Zhong is a bark that comes from the Eucommiaceae family. Useful in promoting circulation and offsetting lightheadedness associated with high blood pressure, Bensky recommends using Du Zhong in conjunction with Wu Jia Pi to warm and tune up the liver and kidneys and regulate hypertension.
Xia Ku Cao
From the Prunella plant, Xia Ku Cao has cold and bitter properties used in Chinese medicine to reduce stress and cool excessive heat in the body. This heat rises to the head and causes headache, dizziness, pain and raises blood pressure. Used with herbs such as Sang Bai Pi and Jue Ming Zi, Xia Ku Cao helps resolve hypertension associated with excess heat in the liver.
Sang Bai Pi
Sang Bai Pi comes from the bark of the mulberry root and is sweet and cold in nature. With its action of directing energy downward, this herb is used in conjunction with Xia Ku Cao to assist in cooling the overactive heat directed into the upper body and lowering blood pressure.
Jue Ming Zi
From cassia seeds, Jue Ming Zi is bitter, sweet, salty and cool. Having a similar dispersing and cooling effect as Xia Ku Cao and directing energy downward as Sang Bai Pi, this herb's bitterness helps to regulate heat and activity in the body and lower blood pressure.
Cautions
Before using any herbs to treat a medical condition, always consult a licensed herbalist or practitioner of Chinese medicine to determine what herbs, if any, are appropriate for you. It is also advised that you consult your physician for advice on the use of prescribed medications with herbs.
References
- National Institutes of Health: What Is High Blood Pressure?
- "Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica"; Dan Bensky, 2004
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