Herbal Medicines to Lower High Blood Pressure

If your blood pressure is not high enough to be in the danger zone, and if you are working on diet and lifestyle changes to bring it down, using some herbal remedies may be worth a try. Some of these herbs act as blood thinners, so they should not be used if you are on anticoagulant medication without talking to your physician first. These also are not quick fixes, and may take several days to several weeks before you see results.

Garlic

• Research published in a 2005 issue of "American Family Physician" indicated that eating one clove of garlic daily can lower high blood pressure.

Hawthorn

• A study published in "The British Journal of General Practice" showed that hawthorn lowers high blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes. Hawthorn appears to dilate blood vessels and strengthen the heart's pumping ability.

Rauwolfia Serpentina

• A book by Kee Chang Huang called "The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs" cites a 1999 Chinese study showing that Rauwolfia serpentina can quickly and significantly lower blood pressure.

Ayurvedic Considerations

• Ayurvedic medicine views rauwolfia serpentina as a temporary intervention measure. Lifestyle and diet changes, along with hawthorn supplementation, are more effective as long-term treatment.

Arjuna

• A 1997 study in "Indian Heart Journal" indicates that arjuna may lower high blood pressure by strengthening a weakened heart.