The causes of high blood pressure are poorly understood. However, certain hereditary and lifestyle factors have been proven to significantly increase the risk of developing the disease. These include:
- Excess weight - Increased body mass means an increase in blood production, to supply oxygen and nutrients to the increased amounts of body tissue. This increases the pressure on artery walls.
- Activity level - Inactivity makes the heart perform less efficiently. Exercise helps the heart do more work with fewer heartbeats.
- Tobacco use – Cigarettes and other tobacco products contain chemicals that can damage arterial walls.
- Sodium intake – Excess sodium causes the body to retain fluid, which can lead to high blood pressure.
- Potassium intake – Insufficient potassium in the diet causes the cells to retain sodium, also contributing to high blood pressure.
- Stress - Excess stress increases the risk of hypertension.
- Alcohol consumption - Excessive alcohol intake over a long period of time increases the risk of heart disease.
- Age - The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
- Family History - High blood pressure often runs in families.
The Traditional Medical Approach
Patients with high blood pressure are almost always treated with medication. Although lifestyle and dietary changes may be discussed, they are not presented as central to the maintenance of the disease. Sadly, when patients do not make dietary and lifestyle changes, and follow a drug-based protocol, their condition usually only becomes more complicated.
It is not unusual for a patient to end up taking three or four different blood pressure medications at a time, and each of these has its own set of side effects. For example, diuretics cause potassium loss, which can cause erectile dysfunction in men. In response, doctors usually prescribe Viagra, which comes with its own side effects, which ironically include heart complications. To add to the conundrum, patients who take medication for high blood pressure often become more sedentary and are likely to gain weight, only aggravating their condition.
The Natural Approach to Heart Health
Nutrition and lifestyle changes are hallmarks of naturopathic, or holistic health care. When a patient is able to make serious changes, high blood pressure can often be controlled without medication. According to naturopathic practitioners, hypertension is caused by an accumulation of toxins in blood and tissues, poor digestion, nervous system imbalance, and physical or mental stress. Initially, the patient is usually advised to begin a process of detoxification using a combination protocol of dietary cleansing, herbal treatment, and exercise to restore balance within the body’s systems.
Herbs for Healthy Blood Pressure
The herbs most commonly used to treat high blood pressure are Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris), and Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa).
Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina)
Sarpagandha has been used to treat hypertension for centuries in India, and It was one of the first Ayurvedic herbs to be recognized by Western medicine. Pharmacological research identified the chemical reserpine as the source of the herb’s hypotensive activity.
Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna)
Much research has documented the cardiotonic effects of Arjuna. The herb’s action appears to be similar to beta-blocking drugs. It is used to treat ischemic heart disease when there is a lack of blood flow to the heart, as well as for angina, palpitations, irregular heartbeat, and problems with conductivity. One clinical study using Arjuna in patients with angina showed a 50 percent reduction of symptoms after three months. The patients in this group also experienced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure.
Another clinical trial studied the effects of Arjuna in twelve patients with severe refractory heart failure. Dyspnea, fatigue, edema, and walking tolerance all improved while the patients were receiving Arjuna. Examination of these patients’ hearts showed significant improvements in stroke volume and left ventricular ejection fraction, as well as decreases in end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular volumes.
Gokshura (Tribulus terrestis)
Gokshura is another useful herb for treating hypertension. It acts both as a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor. In an animal study, Gokshura was shown to significantly reduce blood pressure.
Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa)
Punarnava has diuretic as well as Ca2+ channel blocking properties. As a diuretic, Punarnava relieves fluid congestion and cardiac edema, and eases labored breathing caused by congestion in the chest. It is especially beneficial for allowing circulatory fluids to flow unimpeded. In Ayurveda, Punarnava is considered a rasayana, or general tonic.
Herbal treatments are becoming widely accepted as an adjunct to traditional treatment. Other health conditions benefited by herbs include chronic pain and inflammation, diabetes and prostate health.
References
S. Locket 1955 Oral Preparations of Rauwolfia Serpentina in Treatment of Essential Hypertension Br Med J. 1955 April 2; 1(4917): 809–813.
Singh N, Kapur KK, Singh SP, Shanker K, Sinha JN, Kohil RP 1982 Mechanism of cardiovascular action of Terminalia arjuna. Planta Medica45:102
Ali M. Sharifi, Radbod Darabi and Nasrin Akbarloo; Study of antihypertensive mechanism of Tribulus terrestris in 2K1C hypertensive rats: Role of tissue ACE activity Life Sciences Volume 73, Issue 23, 24 October 2003.
Mishra AS, Verma J, Kumari N 1995 Studies on medicinal properties of Convolvulus pluricaulis and Boerhaavia diffusa. Biojournal 6(1/2):31
Disclaimer: The information in this article is in no way meant to substitute for the advice of a licensed medical practitioner.
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