Hypertension, known as high blood pressure, is the most common reason for doctor visits in the United States. It is a condition in which the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently elevated. Roughly half of hypertensive patients do not have blood pressure control. This article discusses herbal medicine as an alternative treatment for high blood pressure.
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Understanding High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is a common yet serious condition affecting 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years. It can be caused by genetics (primary hypertension) or by lifestyle and other underlying medical conditions (secondary hypertension). Secondary hypertension can result from kidney disease, endocrine disorders, atherosclerosis, obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, or poor nutrition.
For those with hypertension, the current guidelines recommend diet modification, physical activity, and alcohol consumption alone or combined with pharmacological therapy such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, thiazide diuretics, or calcium channel blockers.
Stage 1 hypertension is classified as a blood pressure reading between 130-139 (systolic) / 80-89 (diastolic) mmHg. Stage 2 hypertension is classified if the blood pressure reading is 140 or greater (systolic) / 90 (diastolic) mmHg.
The primary goal in treating hypertension is a reduction to 120/80 mmHg. Addressing underlying causes of secondary hypertension is essential in the treatment of hypertension.
The Top 8 Best Herbs for High Blood Pressure
Below are the top 8 best herbs for managing high blood pressure, offering natural and effective solutions to support cardiovascular health and promote overall well-being.
1. Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic is a widely known culinary herb with several health benefits. Garlic effectively lowers blood pressure by reducing arterial stiffness, lowering cholesterol, and thinning the blood. Garlic reduces atherosclerotic plaque by reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting LDL oxidation, and exerting antithrombotic effects. Studies show that garlic supplement reduces blood pressure by 7-16 mmHg (systolic) and 5-9mmHg (diastolic).
2. Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Hibiscus has been used as an herbal remedy for hypertension, liver dysfunction, and diabetes. It contains phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, and tannins. The anthocyanin content of hibiscus is thought to contribute to its anti-hypertensive qualities.
Hibsicus supplementation at 10 grams per day has been associated with reduced blood pressure in those with stage 1 hypertension. After 6 weeks of treatment, 61.8% percent of patients taking hibiscus reached their target blood pressure of less than 140/90 mmHg.
Olive Leaf (Olea europaea)
Olive leaf has been used to treat high blood sugar, cholesterol, inflammation, viral infections, hypertension, and intestinal diseases. The olive tree is most popular in Mediterranean regions such as Italy, Portugal, and Greece.
Olive leaf significantly lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Supplementation with it has also been shown to decrease cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels.
Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina)
Rauwolfia is an evergreen shrub used in traditional medicine to treat insect bites, malaria, and abdominal pain. Rauwolfia contains the alkaloid reserpine, which lowers blood pressure by decreasing norepinephrine and dopamine.
Studies examining the effects of Rauwolfia showed that 85% of participants experienced a decrease in systolic blood pressure, and 81% of participants experienced a decrease in diastolic blood pressure.
Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
Lavender has been used for centuries for its calming and stress-relieving properties. Lavender is most known for its ability to ease anxiety, promote sleep, and decrease inflammation. Lavender is commonly used as a tea, capsule, or aromatherapy.
Lavender aromatherapy is effective in decreasing blood pressure and heart rate. Another study has shown lavender aromatherapy and lavender oil foot massage decrease systolic blood pressure by 7.65 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 11.73 mmHg. Heart rate, cortisol levels, and anxiety also decreased among lavender therapy participants.
Green Oat (Avena sativa)
Green oat is an herb that contains seeds, leaves, and bran. It is commonly used as a cereal green. In herbal medicine, the seed of oat is used due to its nutritive content.
Oat seeds contain beta-glucan, polysaccharides, antioxidants, and flavonoids. The beta-glucan in oat seed is responsible for lowering cholesterol, and hypertension, and regulating insulin secretion which helps prevent diabetes.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
Cardamom is an aromatic spice with various antioxidants that help decrease blood pressure. In ancient traditional medicine, cardamom was used for digestive disorders, obesity, bronchitis, depression, and influenza.
Recently, cardamom has shown positive benefits in blood glucose and lipid regulation, inflammation, and hypertension. Patients with stage 1 hypertension who received 3g of cardamom per day for 12 weeks showed decreased systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure. Cardamom also increases fibrinolysis, a process that breaks down blood clots and improves antioxidant status.
Chinese Cat's Claw (Uncaria rhynchophylla)
Cat’s Claw is a medicinal plant from the Amazon commonly used to treat Lyme Disease, arthritis, fever, and gastritis. Cat’s claw is known for its anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, and anti-viral properties.
Cat’s Claw can also be used to relieve hypertension. The alkaloids in this plant help decrease blood pressure and relieve various neurological symptoms. Cat’s claw also contains the compound hirustine, which has been shown to stimulate nitric oxide. Nitric oxide promotes vasodilation, which helps lower blood pressure.
Natural Remedies That Likely Won’t Help High Blood Pressure
The following natural remedies are unlikely to provide significant benefits for blood pressure, and some of these are even harmful for those who already have high blood pressure:
St. John's Wort
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a well-known medicinal plant native to Europe and Asia. It is most known for its anti-depressive and anti-viral benefits. St. John’s wort works by increasing the uptake of serotonin, dopamine, and nor-epinephrine.
It is contraindicated for those with hypertension because it has been shown to increase blood pressure and interfere with blood pressure medications.
Ephedra (Ma Huang)
Ephedra is a Chinese herb used for centuries to treat fatigue, asthma, and weight loss. Ephedra contains alkaloids that act similarly to ephedrine, leading to misuse and potentially dangerous side effects.
Ephedra is now banned in the United States due to individuals using it for only its stimulant properties. Ephedra has been linked to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke and should not be used in anyone with hypertension.
Licorice Root
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial plant from the legume family, Fabaceae. Licorice root contains several medicinal benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and adaptogenic properties. The main constituent in licorice is glycyrrhizic acid, which exerts mineralocorticoid effects on the body. This causes sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidneys, leading to high blood pressure. People with hypertension should not consume licorice.
Yohimbe
Yohimbe is an alkaloid plant with stimulant properties used to treat erectile dysfunction. Yohimbe has also been used in cases of myocardial dysfunction, inflammatory disorders, and cancers. However, it comes with side effects. The side effects of Yohimbe are increased blood pressure, anxiety, chest pain, and palpitations, and it should not be used in those with hypertension.
Arnica
Arnica flowers are a common homeopathic medicine used to treat injuries, mastitis, and breast pain. In herbal medicine, Arnica is considered a low-dose plant due to its toxic components. Arnica is commonly used topically for inflammatory disorders, muscle pain, joint pain, and bruising. However, it should not be consumed by anyone in large amounts due to its side effects of diarrhea, vomiting, increased blood pressure, and shortness of breath.
Bitter Orange
Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for indigestion, nausea, and constipation. It is also used for heartburn, nasal congestion, weight loss, and athletic performance. Bitter orange contains p-synephrine, which is structurally similar to ephedrine. Although bitter orange is likely safe in the correct amounts, it can increase heart rate and blood pressure and is unsafe for those with existing hypertension.
Lab Tests for High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is diagnosed if the blood pressure reading is equal to or greater than 130/80mmHg on more than two occasions. In some cases, ambulatory monitoring, which requires blood pressure readings over the course of 24 hours, is needed to diagnose hypertension. Lab tests, electrocardiograms (EKGs), and echocardiograms may be needed to evaluate overall cardiac health.
Other Essential Biomarkers for Hypertension
Blood Lipid Profile
Elevated blood pressure often co-exists with lipid disorders. It is an additional factor that increases cardiovascular disease risk. Studies have shown that dyslipidemia directly increases the risk of developing hypertension.
Lipid profile tests can be used for screening and monitoring of cardiovascular disease. If lipids are elevated (triglycerides, LDL, VLDL, or decreased HDL), practitioners can use this information to help diagnose the root cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and develop the best treatment plan.
Kidney Function Tests
The kidneys play an important role in the excretion of waste products such as urea, creatinine, and uric acid and regulation of extracellular fluid. Elevated blood pressure can stress the kidneys leading to decreased blood flow, nutrients, and oxygen delivery throughout the body. Over time, this causes damage to the kidney’s blood vessels, impairing their ability to properly filter blood. If left untreated for years, hypertension can result in kidney failure.
Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) are important laboratory markers for the kidneys.
- Creatinine is a chemical waste product produced by muscle metabolism. The kidneys normally filter out creatinine. Elevated levels indicate a problem with the kidneys or increased muscle breakdown.
- A BUN test shows the quantity of urea nitrogen in the blood. Healthy kidneys should remove urea and other waste products from the blood. An elevated BUN suggests the kidneys are not working properly.
Electrolyte Panel
Electrolytes are crucial in regulating blood pressure by maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions, including the heart. The key electrolytes involved in blood pressure regulation are sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Reduced sodium intake is associated with a decrease in blood pressure and is, therefore, an established risk factor for hypertension. In addition, higher potassium intake and calcium supplementation correlate with decreased risk of hypertension. Magnesium also effectively reduces blood pressure by acting as a natural calcium channel blocker and increasing nitric oxide levels.
Testing electrolyte levels in hypertensive patients helps identify potential mineral imbalances and adjunctive solutions in treating high blood pressure. It is also important to note that treatment with anti-hypertensive drugs may increase the risk of hyponatremia and electrolyte imbalance.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Inflammation leads to hypertension by increasing oxidative stress, endothelial cell dysfunction, and cytokine production. Inflammation damages the lining of blood vessels, resulting in decreased nitric oxide production. Inflammatory cytokines stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS), further damaging blood vessels and reducing nitric oxide.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced in response to inflammation. Measuring CRP in hypertensive people is important in understanding the root cause of a person’s high blood pressure.
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Key Takeaways
- Herbal medicine is a good adjunctive treatment for those with hypertension.
- The best herbs for hypertension are garlic, olive leaf, hibiscus, rauwolfia, lavender, green oat seed, cardamom, and cat claw.
- Addressing the root cause of hypertension through proper laboratory tests is crucial in diagnosis and accurate treatment.
- Avoid these if you have hypertension: St. John's wort, Ephedra, Licorice, Arnica, yohimbe, and Bitter Orange.
- Commonly used tests for hypertension include lipid profile, CRP, kidney function tests (BUN & Creatinine), and electrolyte panel.
- Combining herbal medicine, lifestyle changes, and conventional medicine can provide a comprehensive approach to treating hypertension, optimizing blood pressure control, reducing the risk of complications, and improving overall cardiovascular health.
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