Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

Garlic As Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

Garlic As Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (Hypertension) is one of the common cardiovascular diseases worldwide!    High blood pressure can be serious as it burdens the heart to pump sufficient blood to the body and it is one of the causes for atherosclerosis.  Garlic has proven to be useful as natural remedies for high blood pressure!

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls.  Our normal blood pressure is 120/80 (Systolic/Diastolic blood pressure).  When blood pressure is 120-139/80-89, it’s considered as Pre-hypertension.  High blood pressures, stage 1 is at 140-159/90-99 and stage 2 is at 160 and above/100 and above.

Causes of high blood pressure are unknown, however, the following are some factors that may have a role in causing hypertension:-

• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• High salt in daily diet
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Smoking
• Elderly or Age factor
• Adrenal and thyroid disorders
• Chronic kidney disease
• Genetics

There are various types of anti-hypertensive available in the market based on their mode of action.  They are normally known as the following:- 

• Diuretics
• Adrenergic receptor antagonists
• Adrenergic receptor agonist
• Calcium channel blockers
• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
• Aldosterone antagonists
• Vasodilators
• Centrally acting adrenergic drugs

Besides these medications, herbal products have also proven to be useful and effective treatment for high blood pressure.  Plants can be quite promising in treating hypertension.  Orthosiphon and Andrographis are good examples of these natural herbal remedies.

One of the very common plants - garlic, has been found by a various studies to be useful in controlling blood pressure.  Garlic appears to lower blood pressure by 5 – 10% and it can also lower the cholesterol level by reducing the triglyceride (TG) levels.

Nevertheless, garlic was also found to cause thinning of blood.  Hence, it’s advised that garlic should be taken as adjunct therapy with warfarin or pentoxifylline.  In total natural remedies, Garlic can be used in combination with vitamin E or ginkgo.

Garlic should be avoided for a few weeks before and after any type of surgical procedures.

As hypertension is associated with CV events, garlic should not be taken as a substitute for any antihypertensive medications.  It has a role in helping better blood pressure management and as supplementary treatment for high blood pressure, as many studies had shown positive outcome of garlic in lowering the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

There are many ways to prepare the remedies from garlic.  Some of the remedies preparations are:

Fresh Garlic: Eating garlic regularly can help to lower blood pressure, blood sugar levels and cholesterol.

Garlic Juice: good for prevention of atherosclerosis.

Capsules: Powdered garlic can be prepared in capsules.  Garlic capsules are available as commercial products.

Citric Acid for Blood Pressure

Citric acid, is in its fresh form in lemon and limes, transforms during metabolism into alkali. This is helpful to your blood. Our  diet tends to be more acidic from coffee, sodas, alcohol, and certain proteins. An acidic condition tends to be more inflammatory.  Citric acid is required for  the Krebs cycle, Citric acid, together with Malic acid, are involved with complex chemical actions, resulting in the production of carbon dioxide, and its removal from the cells. Citric acid is also used as a natural preservative to retain freshness of many products. Citric Acid is a naturally available substance with no known side effects

Orthosiphon Stamineus / Cat's Whiskers

 Anti-hypertensive from Orthosiphon stamineus
Orthosiphon stamineus is a common medicinal herb found in tropical areas; especially in South East Asia (Malesiana), tropical Australia, and southern China.
Orthosiphon is also known as the Cat’s Whiskers or Misai Kucing (Kumis Kucing) in Malay words. Orthosiphon Stamineus is also known as Java Tea in Europe and US.



Research has been indicated it’s medicinal uses as anti-allergic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.  It is used as a remedy for arteriosclerosis (capillary and circulatory disorders), high blood pressures, kidney stones, diabetes and nephritis.   
The Cat’s Whiskers has been used as natural remedies for treatment of kidney or bladder stone, urinary tract infection, liver and kidney problems, diabetes, rheumatism and gout.
Many recent researches published the efficacy of Orthosiphon in treating or controlling hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) and hypertension (high blood pressure).  Controlling of high blood pressure has also been studied in Andrographis paniculata plants.  The plants contain natural diuretics as antihypertensive agents.
Common species of Cat’s Whiskers is Orthosiphon stamineu, with two subspecies Orthosiphon stamineus “purple” and Orthosiphon stamineus “white” have essential medicinal properties which are able to high blood pressure, kidney and urinary disorders, treat Diabeties  and bone or muscular pain.

The Cat’s Whiskers can be easily planted and managed in tropical garden.  As one of the natural remedies, the matured plants are harvested, washed and cut into smaller parts, followed by sun-dried.  The dried plants can be treated as “tea leaves”.  One can make tea from the dried plants and drink as tea everyday.  The Orthosiphon tea is also known as Java Tea, one of the well-known herbal tea.
Similar to other natural remedies, should symptoms persist, medical professionals should be consulted.  If swelling or edema occurred, patients should stop taking the Orthosiphon Tea and seek for professional medical advice.

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