Herbal Medicines That May Help Lower Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke, and an array of other medical problems. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your goal will then be to bring your blood pressure back down to a healthy level. Often, this is done with prescription medications. However, people often like to try more natural options first, before resorting to prescriptions. If this is an approach you and your doctor agree that you should take, here are four herbal medicines to consider.

Parsley

Yes, that green herb used as a garnish at restaurants may actually be able to lower your blood pressure. It's thought to work by relaxing your blood vessels. As they relax, they widen, leaving more space inside of them for your blood. This, in turn, lowers your blood pressure. Parsley is easy to find in stores. You can try adding fresh parsley to your salads and smoothies or simply eating a few sprigs every day. Parsley has a light, lemony taste that most people like. Of course, there are also parsley capsules you could take if that's easier.

Garlic

Garlic is an herb you might already have in your own kitchen. It has a whole array of health benefits, thanks to its sulfur-based compounds. Garlic can help lower your blood pressure both by widening and relaxing your blood vessels and by increasing the rate of blood flow through your body. You can add garlic to your food, simply chew and swallow a clove of garlic every day, or swallow garlic capsules.

Ginger

Ginger is another potent herb that can not only help lower blood pressure but also help stabilize cholesterol levels and improve circulation as a whole. So, if you have high cholesterol or poor circulation in tandem with your high blood pressure, this should be your herb of choice. Ginger can be enjoyed as a tea. Just slice some up, soak it in boiling water, and sip it throughout the day. 

This one can be tough to find in the United States because it only grows in South Asia, but if you come across it in a health food store, definitely buy it. Bacopa monnieri helps lower blood pressure and also calms anxiety. This is helpful since high blood pressure and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. You'll almost always see this herb in capsule form, although it is an ingredient in some calming smoothie powders and drink mixes.

Talk to your doctor about trying one or more of these herbs for blood pressure. If they work for you, then you may not need to resort to prescription drugs.

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