High Blood Pressure - Is There A Natural Remedy?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is not a medical condition that can be taken lightly. It is a very serious condition that can have fatal consequences not treated correctly. The great majority of people who have hypertension do not even know it since it has no obvious symptoms that can not be attributed to other conditions such as headaches and dizziness.

It is because hypertension is so difficult to spot that every time you go to visit your healthcare provider a nurse takes your vital signs, including your heart rate pulse, and blood pressure. These routine checks are how most hypertension cases are discovered. Once diagnosed, it is essential that you undergo treatment for the condition, no matter whether you use traditional medicine or natural remedies for high blood pressure. Untreated, hypertension can lead to heart failure and fatal strokes.

High blood pressure is normally treated by physicians with anti-hypertensive prescription medications like Tiazac, Inderal, and others. The majority of these medications have few, if any, significant side effects. They work by limiting the anount your blood pressure can rise.

However, some hypertension medications do have side effects such as depression, and it may be that a particular drug may not be effective for you. You may need to try several medications and dosages until your physician finds the right regime for you.

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

In alternative medicine, biofeedback is often used as a more natural remedy for high blood pressure. This treatment method involves the use of monitoring instruments that provide you with physiological information about how your body is functioning, even though you may be unaware of what is going on inside you. Introduced in the 1960s, biofeedback allows you to actually control your autonomic nervous system that controls heart rate, blood pressure and gastrointestinal activity.

A trained professional, typically a psychologist, attaches electrodes to points on your head and chest. These electrodes collect data and pass it to a monitoring device that allows you to see how your heart and brain are functioning. Through training in mental and physical exercises in relaxation, you learn to control your own breathing and heart rate. With practice you will no longer need the biofeedback device; you can do it by yourself.

Herbal medicine is another kind of natural treatment for high blood pressure. In this type of alternative medicine, plants, herbs and tree bark a of a beneficial nature are used to prevent or treat certain medical conditions, including high blood pressure. You should always inform your doctor that you are using herbal medicine as some prescription medecines and laboratory tests can be affected by the use of medicinal herbs.

Over the many centuries, herbal healing practitioners have discovered natural substances that can act as natural remedies for high blood pressure. Garlic is a staple for treating this condition. Garlic contains chemicals called alliin, alliinase and allicin that help with blood flow to the heart and brain. However, garlic interacts badly with blood-thinners such as Warfarin, and large doses of garlic used by pregnant women can lead to miscarriage. Coleus leaves also have the same ill effects as garlic.

Hawthorn leaves and flowers are a very effective natural remedy for high blood pressure without the negative effects of coleus and garlic. Hawthorn works by regulating the blood-pumping ability of the heart. Hawthorn normally comes in capsule form; you should never exceed the recommended dosage as this could lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Olive leaves contain oleuropein, a substance that lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol and fights infections. The ancient Greeks so highly prized these leaves becasue of their medicinal benefits that Olympic athletes were crowned with wreaths made of olive leaves.

Stevia leaves are the latest addition to the list of natural remedies for high blood pressure. Stevia is a calorie-free sweetener that seems to reduce hypertension. More research is needed to ensure the effectiveness and safety of Stevia, it should only be used under the supervision of a doctor to avoid a dangerous decrease in blood pressure.

Since hypertension too often hides from you until it is too late – you have already had a stroke or heart attack – consider investing in a home monitoring blood pressure device. They are not expensive and are easy to use, and they might just save your life. If you are a man of African American descent and if you are of any ethnic group over age 40, of either gender, you are more prone to this silent killer that may be lurking within your central nervous system, especially if you have a family history of hypertension.

Natural remedies for high blood pressure can effective as a preventative measure. So, it seems a good idea to prevent it before you experience the devastation it can cause. Just be sure to monitor your blood pressure; if the 'top number' drops below 120, stop using the herbs and see your physician.