Hypertension is a well-known and common condition in society nowadays, probably because of our diets and lifestyle. It can be hereditary or caused by individual habits and stress levels. Its physical causes can include heart and circulatory imbalance, troubled kidneys, sluggish or overactive hormones, a lack of calcium or defective calcium metabolism, obesity, clogged arteries, nervousness, and worry. The dangers of persistent high blood pressure are damage to the brain, heart, and kidneys.
The brain, kidneys, adrenal glands, and autonomic nervous system control blood pressure. Refer to “Heart Disease” for more information. Also see “The Circulatory System” in chapter 9 in order to develop a general awareness of appropriate diet, natural healing, herbs, and cleansing programs.
231 The Complete Home Guide to Herbs, Natural Healing, and Nutrition 232 The Complete Home Guide to Herbs, Natural Healing, and Nutrition – Eat sensibly and cut out tea, coffee, salt, alcohol, sugar, chocolate, fats, and cigarettes. – Avoid hot cooked spices except for cayenne capsules, and take large amounts of garlic with cool herbs like thyme, chives, marjoram, coriander, fennel, and cumin. – Search out potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, dried fruit, nectarines, melons, potatoes (with skins), broccoli, pumpkins, and potassium broth (see chapter 5).
f Good oils to take internally are those rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These can be found in the form of fl axseed oil capsules, GLA capsules, and olive oil. f Good basic herbs to support, buffer, elasticize, dilate, and clear blockages in the veins and arteries are ginkgo leaf, lime tree (Tilia) fl ower, and hawthorn fl ower, leaf, and berry.
If your high blood pressure is known to be emotionally based, then learn to relax and breathe. Consider valerian root in the short term, and oat straw and skullcap leaf in the long term, in order to feed the nervous system. f If the body is physically tense, use three parts cramp bark accompanied by one part lobelia leaf. ~ Exercise and hydrotherapy are vital for increasing circulation.
