Natural and Alternative Medicine for High Blood Pressure

There are exciting new natural and alternative treatments for high blood pressure (hypertension) being studied every day. Natural and alternative treatments tend to have fewer and less severe side effects than prescription medications.

According to recent studies, everything from vitamin supplements to meditation can help to improve your blood pressure. One easy change to make is the addition of olive oil to your diet.. Replacing saturated fat with olive oil can significantly improve your blood pressure and overall health.

There is speculation that the polyphenols in olive oil could be the reason it is considered beneficial. Fish oil is another dietary addition that has shown some promising results. Including salmon twice a week as part of your nutrition plan, or eating other fatty fish, like sardines, can help lower blood pressure in hypertensive people, though the effect on people with normal blood pressure has not yet been determined.

One theory is that some cases of hypertension are caused by a dysfunction of the endothelial vasodilator mechanism. The amino acid L-argnine has been shown to be very effective in reversing this dysfunction. Taken either intravenously or orally, it may correct or prevent hardening of the arteries, and increase the coronary blood flow to the heart.

Some herbs showing good preliminary results are coleus forskohlii, which may lower blood pressure and improve heart function, and hawthorn, which helps dilate coronary blood vessels to lower blood pressure.

Rauwolfia is considered the most potent hypertensive herbal remedy, because only a small dose is required, and the side effects are limited, the most severe being nasal congestion. Finding options in your local health food store can be as easy as buying vitamin supplements containing 1000 mg of vitamin C and 800-1500 mg of calcium.

Consulting with a professional herbalist will help you formulate a plan to find what works best for you, but don't be afraid to also discuss vitamins and herbal remedies with your doctor.

Eastern style medicine has also become more accepted in the American medical community as a complement to routine medical treatments. You also may consider adding tai chi, or yoga for keeping your body limber. This will help make life easier for your heart by increasing blood flow.

With life seemingly more stressful for each generation, learning to manage stress naturally is a crucial skill to obtain. Whether you prefer to write in a journal, or become comfortable and familiar with meditation, any form of stress reduction is beneficial for your well-being.

Exercise has also been shown to be helpful for dealing with daily stress. Combining an exercise program with healthy dietary choices will give you the energy you need to deal with the rigors of everyday life.

Researching natural and alternative medicine has been made much easier with the Internet. Even your local library or bookstore can offer a wealth of information, including recent studies of many different herbal and natural alternatives that are available.

Finding a natural treatment to reduce hypertension, whether it is through changes in lifestyle or herbal remedies, can save you a lot of money and have potential life changing effects. Remember to speak with your physician about your interest in alternative treatments and bring the appropriate research to your appointment if necessary.