Hypertension is a blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg. There has been much controversy over how effective many natural therapies are for hypertension; however, the Seventh Report (2003) of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, determined that only a 3 mmHg decrease in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), or top number, was enough to elicit a 5 to 8 percent decrease in ischemic heart disease and stroke. While not as potent as prescription medications, alternative therapies for hypertension may be worth the consideration in some mild to moderate cases.
DASH Diet
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. According to the NIH brief, “Lowering your Blood Pressure with DASH,” the DASH Diet is an eating plan rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, healthy oils from fish, lean proteins and low-fat diary, while lower in sodium and other unhealthy aspects of the Standard American Diet (SAD). Consequently, it was found to be higher in blood pressure lowering nutrients such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. The 2003 Joint National Committee maintains that adopting the DASH diet can provide an approximate decrease of SBP in the range of 8 to 14 mmHg.
Garlic
According to Dr. Ellen Tattleman, MD in her article “Health Effects of Garlic,” garlic’s antihypertensive effects remain controversial despite both human and animal studies. The review article “Effect of Garlic on Cardiovascular Disease: A Review” by Sanjay Banergee, discusses the history of garlic use in many cultures of the world as a cardio-supportive medicine. Dr. Tatttleman discusses one placebo-controlled trial of garlic that resulted in an approximate 3 percent reduction in SBP, while Banjeree quotes a meta-analysis of garlic suggesting that “garlic powder preparation may be of some clinical use in subjects with mild hypertension.”
Olive leaf
The leaves of olives, high in the active ingredient oleuropein, have been studied for their antihypertensive benefits, says Dr. Gaetano Morello, ND in his “Ask the Doctor” article on blood pressure. According to a technical article on olive leaf, by the Provital Group, the leaf’s proposed benefit is as an inhibitor of angiotension converting enzyme-the blood vessel constricting chemical made in the body. This is the same mechanism exploited by the blood pressure prescription class known as ACE-Inhbitors. The technical data also suggests that it acts as a diuretic and has no known adverse effects.
Hawthorne
According to the article, “Crataegus oxycantha—A Cardioprotective Herb,” published in the 2007 issue of the “Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology,” Hawthorne is one of the most popular cardiotonic herbs available. Widely used in Europe, Crataegus has many active ingredients, including antioxidants, and has also been reported to have angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting effects. This study references a multi-center double blind study of standardized Crataegus versus the commonly prescribed ACE inhibitor, Captopril. Hawthorne showed comparable blood pressure reduction, in addition to other cardiovascular supporting properties.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Sarah Molyneux in her article on CoQ10, asks whether there is a clinical role and case for the use of this nutrient. Molyneux discusses a meta-analysis of CoQ10 in the treatment of hypertension, which concludes that it lowered systolic blood pressures, ranging from 11 to 17 mmHg and diastolic pressures by 8 to 10 mmHg. The antioxidant and vasodilatory effects were considered dose-dependent and caused no known side-effects.
About this Author
A passionate practitioner, an esteemed professor, and commissioned writer and speaker, Dr. Shavon Jackson-Michel is an expert in the field of health and wellness. A graduate of the University of Bridgeport doctoral program in naturopathic medicine, Dr. Jackson-Michel provides individualized consultations on alternative/integrative medicine approaches to chronic disease at her Montclair, N.J., office.
