Natural Medicines For Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure is the measurement of the force with which your heart beats to circulate blood through your body. High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when your heart must use extra force to pump your blood through your arteries, perhaps due to a medical condition or arteries clogged with plaque. Alternately, low blood pressure (hypotension) may also be problematic, although the Mayo Clinic reports that many cases of low blood pressure are not serious. Natural medicines are available to treat blood pressure, but consult your doctor before using them. In addition, do not discontinue conventional treatment for blood pressure without your doctor's approval.

Herbal Medicines for High Blood Pressure

MedlinePlus, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, defines high blood pressure as anything over 140/90. Unfortunately, you may have high blood pressure for years without developing symptoms, so it's vital that you get your blood pressure checked regularly, even if you're using natural methods to lower your blood pressure.
The "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine" mentions the use of blue chamomile essential oil or lavender essential, blended with massage oil and rubbed just beneath your collarbone to encourage relaxation, which may have the temporary effect of lowering your blood pressure.
Natural herbal diuretics help remove excess fluids, which may lower your blood pressure. Diuretic herbs include skullcap, fennel, hops, marshmallow root, stinging nettle, yarrow, chicory, saw palmetto, sage, mint, sassafras, uva-ursi, wintergreen and dandelion. Consult a certified herbalist for dosages and precautions before using herbs to lower your blood pressure.

Food Therapy for High Blood Pressure

Food therapy consists of managing your blood pressure by adding certain foods to your diet, advises "Gale." Consuming celery or celery juice may dilate the muscles associated with controlling blood pressure. Foods high in potassium, including fresh fruits and vegetables, may reduce excess fluid levels in the body and may lower sodium levels to help control high blood pressure. Fresh garlic, eaten liberally, may aid in lowering blood pressure. You may also take garlic in supplement form if you don't like the taste of fresh garlic.
Avoid salt in your diet to reduce your risk of retaining excess fluids, which can raise your blood pressure. In addition, the Mayo Clinic advises that you limit alcoholic beverages to one per day for women and two per day for men, and do not smoke.

Natural Low Blood Pressure Remedies

Although low blood pressure is less common that high blood pressure, the Mayo Clinic recommends drinking lots of water to keep from getting dehydrated. Restrict high-carbohydrate foods that may trigger a blood pressure drop. Eat small meals and drink a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea with your meals to boost low blood pressure temporarily. If you experience chronic faintness or dizziness, consult your doctor to rule out an underlying condition.