| Herbs are often used to help lower and control blood | | | | benefits. You can easily add garlic to salad, soups, |
| pressure levels in high-risk individuals. A variety of | | | | casseroles and other recipes. If you have not |
| herbs can be taken as herbal supplements made into | | | | acquired a taste for garlic, consider taking a garlic |
| a tea or even added as ingredients to a soup. This | | | | capsule. |
| article will take a closer look at the effect of herbs | | | | Other herbs that are excellent for decreasing blood |
| on lowering blood pressure. | | | | pressure include valerian, kudzu and celery. Each of |
| To begin our look at blood pressure, we start with | | | | these contains a substance called gamma-amino |
| coenzyme Q10 (which is also referred to as Co Q10). | | | | butyric acid (GABA) that helps to maintain normal |
| A study that looked at 59 males who were taking | | | | levels of blood pressure. |
| medication for high blood pressure yielded the result | | | | The herb valerian (valeriana officinalis) is composed of |
| that 120 mg of coenzyme Q10 on a daily basis taken | | | | a substance known as valerenic acid that serves to |
| for a period of eight weeks was able to reduce high | | | | inhibit a particular enzyme that breaks GABA down in |
| blood pressure by approximately 9 percent. This was | | | | the body. Consuming valerian helps to reduce blood |
| compared to a placebo group, which had no benefit | | | | pressure and maintain higher levels of GABA in the |
| on their cholesterol level. In order to be of benefit to | | | | system. Valerian is also an herb that is commonly |
| an individual, a typical dose of Co Q10 is 30 to 100 | | | | prescribed by herbal practitioners to patients for |
| mg of the herb three times per day. Although it is | | | | sleep difficulties. It acts as a sedative, which in turn |
| generally safe to take, Co Q10 is believed to interact | | | | also brings about a reduction of blood pressure. |
| negatively with the drug Coumadin (warfarin), and is | | | | Kudzu (pueraria lobata) is a "weedy vine" that |
| therefore contraindicated for patients on this or | | | | Chinese herbalists have long been recommending to |
| other blood thinners. | | | | patients to help maintain normal blood pressure. The |
| Garlic is also an herb that is particularly helpful in | | | | chemical pueraria is believed to have over 100 times |
| reducing blood pressure. Garlic (allium sativum) has | | | | the antioxidant capabilities of vitamin C and it is |
| been shown to have several beneficial effects on the | | | | known to help fight cancer and heart disease as well. |
| circulatory system, including normalizing blood | | | | Our last herbs blood pressure is celery. Celery (apium |
| pressure and lowering cholesterol. Garlic can reduce | | | | graveolens) is a well-known remedy in Chinese |
| inflammation, which is thought to be a major cause | | | | traditional medicine for lowering blood pressure levels. |
| of 'sudden,' or | | | | Celery is a very versatile vegetable that can be eater |
| 'silent' heart attacks. It is also a good preventative of | | | | alone or used in a variety of recipes. It is believed |
| strokes. Studies have shown that garlic can start its | | | | that consuming four celery stalks per day can have a |
| protective effects in a short period of time. One | | | | positive impact on blood pressure. |
| clove of garlic a day is recommended for best health | | | | |