Alternative Medicine that can be Taken for High Blood Pressure

Every time my mom visits her doctor she comes home with a bag full of medications, including several for high blood pressure. She looks as though she has just been trick-or-treating and I always ask her if they "loaded up her sack with some more goodies." Her "treats" seem complicated; diuretics, beta blockers, and Angiotensin-converting inhibitors seem as intimidating as medical terminology can get. My mom takes the medications faithfully, often complaining about the aftertaste and other side effects. They lower her blood pressure and lessen her headaches and dizziness.

A definite cause for high blood pressure has not been declared, though the Mayo Clinic says 5% of the cases are secondary-caused by other diseases. Kidney abnormalities, tumors of the adrenal gland, certain prescribed medications, and illegal drugs are among the conditions that cause high blood pressure. Some factors that increase your chance of getting high blood pressure are family history, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, stress, diets high in salts or saturated fat, diets low in potassium and vitamin D, and alcohol use. Race is also a factor; Blacks tend to get high blood pressure more often than other races at an earlier age.

My mom's stressful lifestyle as well as poor diet choices made her a likely candidate for high blood pressure. Her doctor says she will be taking all of those medications for life, enduring many unpleasant side effects. Hoping to alleviate the load on my mom's "goodie bag," I began to look for alternative medicines for high blood pressure. I found five that I have discussed with her and she is willing to try, under her doctor's close supervision. Always consult with a doctor before changing your medications.

Alpha-linolenic acid. ALA is an essential fatty acid that is one of the Omega 3. The University of Maryland Medical Center states the body turns ALA into the other two Omega 3 acids, EPA and DHA, which are more readily used by the body. The Omega 3 acids are found in high concentrations in the brain, retina, and nerve tissue. Omega 3 acids improve cognitive, behavioral, and growth functions while lowering blood pressure and inflammation. ALA occurs naturally in foods like flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans and soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil, purslane, perilla seed oil, walnuts and walnut oil. Some fish increase blood pressure so it is safer to incorporate these ingredients into the diet as an alternative medication.

Arginine. The Mayo Clinic states L-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that the body makes naturally. Some conditions cause deficiency in L-Arginine, making supplemental intake of it necessary. It turns into nitric oxide which relaxes blood vessels. Relaxed blood vessels improve conditions like clogged arteries, atherosclerosis, and thereby reduces blood pressure. Arginine is found in favorites like chocolate, oatmeal, yogurt, roast beef, ham, peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds chicken, turkey, seafood, and wild game. With that wide variety of sources, it is a readily available alternative medication for high blood pressure.

Q-10. Dr. Ronald Hoffman from the Hoffman Center reports that co-enzyme Q-10 reduces resistance of blood vessel walls which in turn lessens blood pressure. Q-10 can be easily incorporated into the diet by eating oily fish, organ meats such as liver, and whole grains. It is a widely accessible and natural alternative medication for high blood pressure.

Hawthorn. Hawthorn is a small tree in the rose family. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that hawthorn relaxes blood vessels. It improves heart function and blood flow; lowers cholesterol in the blood and reduces pain; and fights against plaque buildup in the arteries. You can dry hawthorn leaves and brew them into a bitter but healthy tea, a great alternative medication for high blood pressure. If it is difficult to find hawthorn leaves, look for it over-the-counter wherever herbal supplements are available.

Garlic. Garlic helps with blood pressure by warding off vampires who would drink your precious blood. All joking aside, garlic is a wonderful antioxidant, meaning it lowers free radicals in our bodies and helps with the damage that may have been caused by them. The University of Maryland credits garlic with the ability to help cardiovascular health. It lowers cholesterol and makes the blood flow more easily which is good news for people with high blood pressure. I do not have to tell you how easy it is to access garlic-garlic cloves, garlic salt, and garlic powder are highly used ingredients in many main dishes. Next time you reach for the spice rack remember garlic is a great alternative medicine for high blood pressure-and many other things!