Did you know you may have historical wonder drugs in your cabinet? (And, it’s not your medicine cabinet I’m referring to!) Herbs and spices have been used as antidotes ever since mankind felt the first pangs of pain and illness. A document called the Ebers Papyrus, dated 1550 BC, reveals a vast array of treatments formed from herbs and spices as they were utilized in the practice of surgery and medicine. Spices have even been pitched as miracle diet elixirs throughout time. But today, more and more research confirms spices work as effective high blood pressure remedies.
Ginger
Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) is an herbaceous perennial plant that produces the spice known as ginger. Ginger has been commonly used in Chinese medicine to treat digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea. Ginger has also been used to treat inflammatory joint diseases including rheumatism and arthritis. However, it is not so well-known that ginger is also useful as one of the effective high blood pressure remedies.
Ginger works in a similar way to blood pressure medications called calcium channel blockers, which relax your blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to pump blood through your body.[1] Ginger also contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols and shogaols. These phenol compounds are the reason why so many people with joint conditions experience reductions in their pain levels and improvements in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly. But, gingerol and shogaol compounds also have the ability to decrease high blood pressure.[2]
Ginger products are available in extracts, capsules, and oils. When purchasing a ginger supplement, make sure it contains 4% volatile oils or 5% total pungent compounds including gingerol or shogaol. Take between 75 to 2,000 mg of ginger in divided doses with food, but do not take more than 4 grams of ginger per day, including food sources. Pregnant women should consume no more than 1 gram of ginger per day.[3] People taking hypertension (high blood pressure) medications should not take ginger supplements without talking with their doctor.[4]
Turmeric
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains a strong anti-oxidant called curcumin. Curcumin is also a potent anti-inflammatory, it helps lower blood cholesterol, and it has anti-clotting properties. Curcumin helps keep blood vessels healthy by protecting cells from damage, thereby allowing smoother flow of blood.
Curcumin also has the ability to dilate arteries. Researchers conclude that curcumin works much the same way as ginger as it inhibits the transport of calcium, which acts as a chemical messenger that tells muscle cells to contract, thereby dilating the arteries.[5] Therefore, turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin can be useful as one of the high blood pressure remedies.
Turmeric is available in liquid extracts and capsules containing the powder. Adults can take 400 to 600 mg of standardized curcumin powder 3 times daily. For extracts, take 30 to 90 drops daily. For dried cut root or dried powdered root, 1.5 to 3 grams per day are recommended.[3]
One of the challenges with curcumin is that humans have an extremely poor absorption of curcumin in the gastrointestinal tract. When we take a powdered form (as capsules), the curcumin itself is not absorbed but breaks down into a number of metabolic products which are much less beneficial than the curcumin itself. However, mixing curcumin with fish oil, coconut oil, or extra virgin olive oil greatly increases absorption – up to seven times improvement. If you don’t want to fool with that mixing mess and want a relatively inexpensive supplement form, use the curcumin phytosome complex supplements that are readily available. Recent research has shown that this form’s bioavailability in the human body is approximately four times better than plain curcumin.[6]
Don’t exceed the recommended dose of turmeric (curcumin). In high doses, it may cause stomach upset and ulcers. If you have diabetes, turmeric may lower blood sugar to dangerous levels, especially if you’re also taking diabetes medication. Do not take curcumin before speaking to a physician if you have gallstones, a bile duct disorder or if you’re taking medications such as stomach-acid drugs or blood thinners, including aspirin.
Foods and drinks can lower blood pressure too
A variety of foods and drinks can help lower blood pressure too. Here are just a few, with links to learn more about each.
- Coconut water.
- Flaxseed.
- Beet and apple juice.
- Prunes.
- Vegetable juice.
To learn about natural high blood pressure remedies and supplements, continue to part 2.
Be sure to read these helpful blog posts:
- Fight High Blood Pressure with Garlic
- Probiotics Are Effective Natural Blood Pressure Remedies
- Beat High Blood Pressure (and More) with the Coleus Plant
[1] “Ginger Lowers Blood Pressure Through Blockade of Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels.” Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. Jan. 2005;459(1):74-80.
[2] “Pharmacological studies on ginger. I. Pharmacological actions of pungent constitutents, (6)-gingerol and (6)-shogaol.” Journal of Pharmacobiodynamics.1984 Nove; 7(11):836-848.
[3] University of Maryland Medical Center online.
[4] “Synergistic Effect of Ginger and Nifedipine on Human Platelet Aggregation: a Study in Hypertensive Patients and Normal Patients.” American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2006;34(4):545-51.
[5] “Hypotensive and endothelium-independent vasorelaxant effects of methanolic extract from Curcuma longa L. in rats.” J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jul 30;124(3):457-62. Epub 2009 May 27.
[6] EuroPharma’s BCM-95 Curcumin Superior in Absorption. April 14, 2011. Accessed 6-13-12.
Originally published in 2012, this blog has been updated.
The post Spice Up Your Life With These High Blood Pressure Remedies (Part 1 of 2) appeared first on Natural Health Advisory.
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