There’s a lot of medication available, but have you ever considered taking herbs for high blood pressure?
Living a healthy lifestyle, including prioritizing proper nutrition and stress relief can help you avoid a wide array of health problems. But life and genetics also play a role in both your short- and long-term health.
If you find that, despite all your best efforts to stay healthy through disciplined eating habits and exercise regimens, you're battling blood pressure issues, you’ve come to the right place.
I want share with you a list of herbs for high blood pressure, which can be used in your favorite dishes or herbal teas. Remember, you have more options available to discuss with your doctor that just pharmaceutical drugs. You just have to know where to begin. So, let’s dive in!
People with high blood pressure are at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and many other health concerns. [1] If your doctor diagnosed you with high blood pressure, there are plenty of herbs you can use to help lower your blood pressure naturally.
These herbs for high blood pressure can be used in cooking and home remedies. Think about it this way: Many people have a special tea or soup recipe they make when they’re feeling under the weather. But did you know you can leverage many of those same ingredients to help lower your high blood pressure
That’s right—several herbs have the ability to lower your blood pressure. Here are eight herbs for high blood pressure. that you might find useful and should consider discussing with your doctor.
Everyone loves garlic! And many people incorporate it in their diet for its amazing flavor, but did you know that garlic is one of the herbs for high blood pressure?
A 2013 study found that aged garlic extract significantly reduced blood pressure in a relatively short time. [2]
The study participants were split into four groups, and each group received different doses of aged garlic extract over a one-week period. The experiment groups received one, two, or four capsules of aged garlic extract, while the control group didn’t receive any.
After eight weeks, the four-capsule group had lowered their systolic blood pressure by over seven points on average.
Meanwhile, the two-capsule group lowered their average blood pressure by nearly 12 points at the conclusion of the 12-week experiment, proving that garlic’s vasodilation characteristics are a great way to lower your blood pressure!
Another tasty herb you may be familiar with is cinnamon. You can add it to fruit such as pears as well as sweet potato pie, apple cider, and so much more. If you want to lower your blood pressure naturally, you can try using it more frequently.
Several meta-analyses have found that cinnamon reduces blood pressure significantly. [3, 4] However, longer term trial participants who supplemented their diet with cinnamon for 12 weeks or longer saw the greatest benefits. [5]
There are many different kinds of tea including hibiscus tea, black tea, green tea, and others.
You can glean so many health benefits from tea, depending on the variety. And because hibiscus is one of the top herbs for high blood pressure, hibiscus tea is a great beverage to enjoy if you experience this concern.
The medicinal potential of tea was first discovered during the Tang Dynasty in China, which lasted between 618 CE and 907 CE. Ancient Chinese civilizations primarily used green tea as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory treatment. [6]
Today, we also know that hibiscus tea can significantly lower systolic blood pressure. Studies show that drinking two cups of it every morning will deliver the best results. [7]
You may not be as familiar with hawthorn as cinnamon or garlic, but its health benefits are numerous.
Hawthorn berries are usually bright red, but there are also yellow varieties. They grow in large bushes that occur naturally in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. You can also find them in the U.S. since they are commonly used as hedges.
Hawthorn berries are great for cardiovascular health, and, as a result, hawthorn is one of the top herbs for high blood pressure
But that’s not all—hawthorn also has the potential to lower your cholesterol and blood glucose levels. [8, 9]
Consuming hawthorn is risky business, though. The berry itself is edible, but its seeds are poisonous. So,your safest bet is to use them in a tea, jelly, or other recipe.
If you like Italian food, you’re going to love this next one. The very same. parsley that is a staple in Italian cuisine also has amazing health benefits, and it’s one of the top herbs for high blood pressure.
Researchers studied the effect of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of parsley (AEPC) on the blood pressure of mice. They sedated the mice before giving them AEPC orally.
Their blood pressures were recorded after six hours and also after seven days. The results showed that parsley effectively reduced their blood pressure. [10]
So, the next time you fix dinner, consider adding a bit of parsley to your plate. It can be a garnish or an integral part of a recipe. Either way, it’s a good dietary choice if you have high blood pressure.
Curling up with a delicious bowl of tomato basil soup is a favorite pastime for so many of us. Little did we know that the basil our mothers used in this recipe was also good for our heart health!
That’s right—your favorite comfort meal from your childhood contains one of the top herbs for high blood pressure.
Basil, which is a key ingredient in tomato soup, contains high amounts of eugenol. Calcium channel blockers like eugenol can relax your arteries, thereby resulting in lower blood pressure. [11]
So, when you need a comforting meal to warm you up after being out in the cold winter air, you may want to grab a bowl of tomato basil soup. Your heart will thank you!
Experienced chefs and home cooks alike rely on thyme to season some of their most flavorful meals. It’s versatile and delicious, and it can also help keep you healthy because it’s rich in rosmarinic acid.
There are many health benefits associated with rosmarinic acid, but the most notable is its ability to lower blood pressure.
Even more interestingly, this effect is only seen in hypertensive subjects
According to a 2018 animal study, rats with normal blood pressure didn’t experience changes in their blood pressure when they consumed rosmarinic acid. [12]
Consider sprinkling some thyme on your food to take advantage of one of the top herbs for high blood pressure.
Finally, you can use ginger in just about anything. Tea? Check. Candy? You bet. Cookies? Yes, please! Sauces, meats, and other dinner plans? For sure! If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re truly missing out on the great flavor and cardiovascular benefits of one of the tastiest herbs for high blood pressure.
A 2005 study tested the effect of crude extract of ginger on guinea pig atria and rabbit aorta. Researchers found that ginger dilated arteries through a calcium channel-blocking mechanism. [13]
Interestingly, a more recent study conducted in 2020 identified three chemicals in ginger that are most likely responsible for this effect: 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 6-shogaol. [14]
Once you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the risks it poses to your health
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), this serious condition can threaten more than your cardiovascular health. In fact, it’s also linked to vision loss, sexual dysfunction, and kidney disease.
If you’re looking for other ways to lower your blood pressure, there are so many options. The most effective methods are part of a total lifestyle change that incorporates exercise, healthy eating, and weight loss. In addition to this, you can also try:
The next time you see your healthcare provider, have an open and honest conversation about your high blood pressure. They can help you find effective ways to lower it that work best for you!