Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

This website presents information about natural remedies for high blood pressure as well as general blood pressure management ideas that can possibly help you to manage this condition better.

There are various things that are touted as natural remedies for high blood pressure.  People are different and what works for one may not work for another.  Some people are salt sensitive while others respond more to exercise or weight loss.  For other people it is a longer road of trial and error, and usually encompasses a multi tiered approach which involves weight loss, nutrition, and some sort of overall lifestyle change.

There are many nutritional supplements that promise to assist in lowering blood pressure.  There is no clinical proof that any of them work, but anecdotal and some clinical evidence does back up some cardiovascular health claims.  Some notable ones are:

Fish Oil -  Fish oil contains the essential Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of DHA and EPA.  This is the already complete type that you body can use straight away.  The vegetable form, ALA, needs to be converted by the body, and some people lack the capacity to convert most of it, which is why it is useful to consume it from animal sources like fish and grassfed animals.  Fish oil keeps the blood platelets from sticking together and helps to prevent stroke.  It is also very good for the flexibility of blood vessel walls.  When the blood vessel walls are more elastic as opposed to rigid, blood pressure can drop a bit.  It is known that rigid blood vessels cause higher blood pressure and increase the risk for rupture of the blood vessel walls.  Flexible healthy blood vessel walls also decrease the risk for cholesterol buildup, since cholesterol is sent to the site of damaged blood vessel walls and keep sbuilding up eventually causing a blockage in the arteries.  Fish oil can also positively affect the cholesterol ratio of the blood, promoting lower LDL and higher HDL.

**Cautionary note for fish oil - Fish oil is an anticoagulant and a blood thinner, so be very careful if you are on blood thinning medications and DO NOT take fish oil for 2-3 weeks before or after any surgery since it could cause bleeding problems. 

Hawthorn Berry - Hawthorn berry extract capsules or herbal tea infusions have been used for centuries.  This berry contains something which can help to relax the blood vessel walls, thus lowering blood pressure.  As with any herbal product, it takes time for effects, if any, to be noticeable so be patient. 

Magnesium - Magnesium is a mineral that used to be much more prevalent in foods, but due to overfarming and soil erosion it just isn't in our food as much as it chould be.  Also, magnesium is leeched from bones by drinking sodas and eating junkfood.  When people drank hard water they got many more minerals like magnesium just from drinking water, but due to modern filtration and water softening systems, it just isn't there.  Many people today are magnesium deficient.  Magnesium deficiency is common today, and it is very common in those suffering from hypertension.  One of the cheapest and best ways to help to alleviate high blood pressure is to add magnesium to the diet.  It is a cheap supplement to buy.  It is usually sold in the form of magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate.  There is a pricier magnesium supplement which is available and may be useful for some people.  It is sustained release in the form of magnesium L-lactate dihydrate.  This form is better absorbed and the time released version ensures a steady magnesium supply and that less of the mineral is secreted through the urine.  Magnesium is crucial for blood pressure management.  It helps to control how much sodium the body maintains.  Too much sodium is implicated in high blood pressure.  It is also necessary for the relaxation of the blood vessel walls.  When the blood vessel walls relax, the pressure is lowered.  Several blood pressure medications actually target this mechanism to lower blood pressure.

C-12 Peptide - There was a Japanese study which found that C-12 Peptide could lower blood pressure.  It has been shown to be a natural ACE inhibitor.  ACE inhibitors blcok an enzyme which, when secreted, causes the blood vessels to stiffen and contract, thus raising blood pressure.  Blocking the enzyme thus relaxes the blood vessels.  This has always been one of the major pathways for medications to reduce high blood pressure. C-12 peptide is expensive and it's effects are not proven, but some people are responsive.  Twinlab makes a supplement around this called "Blood Pressure Control".   

Nitric Oxide - Not to be confused with nitrous oxide, the chemical that can make cars go faster for drag racing, nitric oxide is a chemical produced by the body in small amounts which can cause blood vessel walls to relax, thus lowering blood pressure.  Certain foods can stimulate the body's release of this chemical.  Some foods containing this substance are brazil nuts, walnuts, peanuts, seafoods, milk and dairy products, chickpeas, and soybeans.  It is also thought that the nitrates and nitrites in fruits, vegetables, and cured meat products can also boost these levels.  A cautionary note, however, about the cured meat products.  These products also contain large amounts of sodium, which would offset the benefits.  They are also high in fats which might not fit into your prescribed diet. Two supplements working in tandem, taken on an empty stomach in daily fashion, can increase blood levels of nitric oxide, which by the way has also been implicated in improvements in male libido and erectile capacity.  These are the amino acid L-Arginine and an antioxidant called Pycnogenol.  It has been demostrated that the best effect is gotten from Arginine when taken with Pycnogenol.  The best way to increase nitric oxide levels of the blood is through healthy exercise.

Potassium and Calcium - In addition to magnesium, healthy potassium and calcium levels can also keep sodium levels at bay.  The minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium must be in proper balance.  People suffering from hypertension have usually been shown to have skewed levels of these important minerals, usually with terrible deficiencies in some, like magnesium and potassium.  Many people don't eat enough fruits and vegetables these days, which compounds the danger.  Humans cannot live on prepackaged convenience foods alone!  Get your fresh produce daily.  The only time you have to worry about your potassium intake is if you ahve kidney disorders, and calcium is usually not a worry unless you are prone to kidney stones.

Tea - The debate rages on whether green or black tea is better, but in general, tea is loaded with antioxidants which are healthy for the blood vessel walls, which in turn can, at least peripherally, contribute to healthy blood pressure.  If the artery walls are kept healthy, there is less reason for oxidative damage that is fixed by cholesterol patching.  Healthier artery walls are also more flexible and relaxed.  That's the theory, anyway.

Chocolate - Cocoa has been shown to be healthy for artery and blood vessel walls as well as lowering blood pressure a bit.  Stick to darker chocolate and the less sweet kind, if you can.  The higher the cocoa or cacao content the better.  Steer clear of dutched or alakalized chocolate.  The process that elminates the bitterness also lowers the levels of healthy antioxidants responsible for the most health benefits.

Berries - Berries, especially blueberries and acai berries, are not only full of antioxidants that may prevent cancer and other maladies, but the same antioxidants in the dark pigments of these and other berries are healthy for the blood vessel walls.  They are also full of minerals like potassium and magnesium, as well as healthy vitamin C and other nutrients.  To ignore the rich assortment of healthy produce when dealing with blood pressure would be a travesty.

Meditation and Deep Breathing - Research has shown that meditation and deep slow breathing, over time, will lower blood pressure without the help of pharmaceutical drugs or any other type of supplement.  There are machines that you can buy over the counter to coach you in breathing, as well as audio programs that accomplish the same goal.  This can be a potent weapon in the fight against high blood pressure.