Article content
High blood pressure has become a serious healthcare problem today. Nearly one in three adults suffer from it, yet only half of them have it under control.
Another third of people are at risk of developing high blood pressure. Their pressure is still within the normal range, but at its upper limit.
This mainly concerns costs associated with healthcare, medications, treatments, and missed days at work.
The worst part is that every day dozens of people die here as a result of high blood pressure.
Adverse effects of drugs for high blood pressure
The most common means of treating high blood pressure are pharmaceutical drugs.
These mainly include groups of drugs such as beta blockers, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) or calcium channel blockers.
However, the mentioned drugs have many undesirable side effects. Their use leads to:
- depletion of potassium from the body (disruption of heart rhythm)
- increased blood sugar levels
- erectile problems and decreased libido
- increased blood uric acid levels and subsequent gout and joint pain
- fatigue and lethargy
- depression, irritability and light sensitivity
- incontinence
- narrowing of the airways, asthma and chronic bronchitis (beta blockers)
- increased risk of diabetes
- cold extremities
- many other health problems
5 herbs that lower high blood pressure
A much better solution for lowering blood pressure is using certain types of herbs that are as effective as medications but do not have their harmful side effects.
And today we’ll tell you more about 5 such herbs.
1. Hawthorn
Hawthorn has been used in folk medicine for high blood pressure for centuries. It is a common plant reaching up to 1.5 meters in height and grows in clusters.
It contains substances that help dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow and protect vessels from damage. The leaves contain the most of these substances.
One study1 found that participants who took hawthorn extracts for 16 weeks had lower blood pressure at the end than the placebo group.
2. Small-leaved linden
Tea made from linden flowers is an ancient remedy for a number of ailments from colds to anxiety. Its lesser-known effect is the ability to lower high blood pressure.
Linden contains flavonoids, volatile oils and other anti-inflammatory substances.
It also contains tannins, which have antispasmodic and diuretic effects and are also sedative. All of this helps to lower blood pressure.
3. Common yarrow
Common yarrow is another popular herb in European folk medicine.
It contains flavonoids that increase the production of saliva and gastric acids, thereby significantly improving digestion.
In addition, they effectively relax the smooth muscles in the intestines and uterus. It is a herb that belongs to the same family as chamomile. The flowers, leaves and stems are used for treatment.
Recent research has shown that, in addition to the health issues mentioned above, yarrow also effectively lowers blood pressure and enhances the effect of traditional antihypertensive drugs.
4. White mistletoe
White mistletoe is effective in lowering blood sugar in diabetics and at the same time treats many cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure.
It also effectively relieves joint pain in rheumatism and arthritis.
Mistletoe berries are poisonous, so always avoid them. Its leaves, however, have rich medicinal properties, which are also mildly toxic.
Therefore, do not take a dose larger than 1 gram at a time. The daily dose should not exceed 5 grams, but it is safer to limit it to 2 to 2.5 grams per day (1 teaspoon).
Mistletoe leaves should also not be exposed to high temperatures, so prepare not a tea but a several-hour infusion in room-temperature water.
5. Hibiscus
A study conducted on participants aged 30 to 65 who consumed 250 ml of hibiscus tea after a high-fat breakfast showed an interesting result.
Researchers found that, compared to the placebo group, they experienced a reduction in blood pressure and a decrease in bodily inflammation.
Scientists now believe that hibiscus is a suitable natural remedy for treating this widespread lifestyle disease.
How to prepare tea to lower high blood pressure
As you have seen, all the herbs listed are effective in lowering blood pressure.
Some of them dilate blood vessels, thereby increasing the space for blood flow. Others help the kidneys excrete excess fluids from the body, thereby reducing blood volume and thus pressure.
And others normalize heart activity, thus safely reducing the force with which blood is pumped through our body.
If you want to take advantage of all the mentioned effects, you can prepare a tea from a mixture of these herbs, specifically hawthorn, linden, mistletoe and yarrow.
For 1 liter of tea use the following amounts of herbs:
- hawthorn – 2 teaspoons
- linden – 2 teaspoons
- yarrow – 2 teaspoons
- hibiscus – 2 teaspoons
For best results, drink this regularly throughout the day for several weeks.
After some time your blood pressure will return to normal again, without you harming your body with chemical drugs.
Also remember that herbs will return blood pressure to normal and will not cause it to drop too low. Therefore, you do not have to fear this with herbs, unlike with medications.
