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