If you were just diagnosed with high blood pressure, or hypertension, you may wonder what you can do to lower it naturally to avoid having to take an anti-hypertensive medication in the future.
If you are already taking a medication, or even several medications, to control your high blood pressure and still have not been able to get it under control, complementary medicine may aid you in reaching your blood pressure goal.
You need to get your high blood pressure under control because hypertension can lead to an array of health problems, including heart disease, artery damage, brain damage, and even kidney damage. Read on to learn two ways to control your high blood pressure holistically.
Seek Acupuncture
One way to help lower your blood pressure naturally is to seek acupuncture. Acupuncture has been shown in medical studies to help lower blood pressure in both people who are taking no prescription medications to control their blood pressure and those already taking several prescription medications that failed to control their blood pressure effectively.
One study revealed that traditional acupuncture was just as effective at lowering blood pressure in people suffering from primary hypertension as a commonly prescribed hypertension medication called nifedipine.
Another study conducted by the University of California – Irvine revealed that a new high-tech form of acupuncture called electroacupuncture helped 77 percent of study participants suffering from mild-to-moderate hypertension lower their blood pressure for a full six weeks after treatment.
Utilize Traditional Chinese Herbal Remedies
Another way to lower your blood pressure naturally without the use of prescription medications or to further lower your blood pressure that cannot be controlled with medications alone is to try herbal medicine.
Always seek herbal medicine from someone certified in Chinese herbology to ensure the herbs are right for your specific healthcare needs, are not going to interact with any medications you are currently taking, and are pure and unadulterated.
A few herbs that your Chinese herbologist may consider suggesting that you take to control your high blood pressure include cat’s claw, cardamom, and hawthorn.
Cat’s Claw
There are three primary species of cat’s claw: Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria rynchopylla, and Uncaria guianensis. Uncaria rynchophylla is often prescribed by Chinese medicine practitioners to their patients to help them control their high blood pressure. This herb reduces blood pressure by regulating calcium channels in cells.
Cardamom
Cardamom is not only tasty and filled with antioxidants, but it can also help lower blood pressure. A study revealed that people suffering from stage one hypertension who consumed three grams of cardamom each day for twelve weeks experienced a large decline in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn, or Crataegus pinnatifida, is an herb with potent anti-hypertensive effects that has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Numerous medical studies have revealed that it helps lower high blood pressure, helps prevent many of the major health events that high blood pressure can contribute to, including strokes and heart attacks, and lower the risk of blood clot formation.
This herb is believed to lower blood pressure by causing arteries to dilate and by reducing plaque buildup on artery walls, which both allow blood to pass through arteries more easily without having to exert pressure on the walls.
Whether you were recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and want to avoid taking prescription medications or your high blood pressure isn’t controlled by medication, you have many ways you can use to manage your high blood pressure holistically. Reach out to the Palmetto Acupuncture And Holistic Health Clinic for help managing your high blood pressure with complementary medicine.
