Herbal Remedies for Hypertension, Ayurvedic Treatment – Causes & Symptoms

Our heart acts like a pumping organ and blood pressure can be experienced when blood exerts pressure against our blood vessels. Blood pressure is a changing phenomenon and is affected by a number of factors like activity, rest, exercise, temperature, cold, diet, emotional state, posture, medications etc. high blood pressure (Hypertension) is an indicative of many problems. Normal blood pressure of a healthy individual is 120mmHg systolic and 80mmHg diastolic.

CAUSES

• Poor nutrition
• Poor digestion
• Stress and hectic lifestyle
• Smoking
• Excessive intake of intoxicants
• Due to hardening of the arteries or abnormal condition of the blood vessels
• Due to overweight
• Due to metabolic disorders
• Excessive intake of salt
• Use of medicines for a long period of time
• Use of steroids and birth control pills
• Due to kidney problems
• Insomnia
• Hormonal disorders
• Eating junk, fried, packed and processed foods in large quantity

SYMPTOMS

• Loss of vision
• Headache
• Kidney failure
• Heaviness in the body
• Restlessness
• Respiratory problems
• Tiredness in the whole body
• Sleeplessness or disturbed sleep
• Increased heart beat and heart attack
• Chest pain
• Irritation and anger
• Nose bleeding may also occur
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Raised body temperature
• Altered consciousness

AYURVEDIC VIEW AND TREATMENT ACCORDING TO CHANDIGARH AYURVED CENTRE

According to Ayurveda, Hypertension known as raktagata vata is defined as the elevated pressure of the blood in the arteries. The increase in blood pressure depends upon a person’s age, sex, physical and mental activities, family history and diet.

Ayurveda believes that most of the food that we eat contains preservatives and chemicals that create digestive problems. Impaired digestion leads to the accumulation of toxins in the body which then mixes with the plasma and makes it sama that is heavy. The subsequent rakta dhatu thus formed is heavy and sticky. This heavy blood circulates through various channels and toxins start accumulating in the channels of the body. When toxins get accumulated in these channels, they cause narrowing of the channels. The blood then has to exert more pressure to circulate within the srotas or the channels, leading to the condition of high blood pressure.

Ayurveda treatment for hypertension aims at:

• Correcting the ama dosha in the body
• Improving and strengthening the digestive power
• Eliminating the toxins from the body
• Practicing yoga and pranayama to make the mind relax and stable

Single herbs useful in case of hypertension are:

• Ashwagandha
• Triphala
• Jatamansi
• Arjun
• Rudraksha
• Tulsi
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Celery seeds

Ayurvedic formulations needed in this condition are:

• Sarpagandha Vati
• Arjuna Ksheer Pak
• Arjunarishta
• Rudra Pearl Capsules
• Lashun Rasayan
• Lashunadi Vati
• Chandra Prabha Vati
• Mukta Vati
• Hingvadi vati
• Chitrakadi Vati

DIET AND LIFESTYLE

• Avoid meat, eggs and other non-vegetarian foods
• Limit the intake of salt in your diet
• Avoid consuming alcohol and caffeine
• Avoid smoking
• Prefer eating Indian gooseberry, grape fruit, watermelon, garlic, lemon, parsley in diet
• Do regular exercises
• Practice yoga asanas in case of hypertension.
• Avoid anger, anxiety, stress, tension, frustration and irritability as these factors further increases the hypertension.

HERBAL REMEDIES

• Prepare the juice containing 3-4 garlic cloves, 10-12 basil leaves and one fourth cup of wheat grass. Drink this once a day.
• Mix one teaspoon of onion juice with an equal quantity of honey. Take this once a day atleast for one week.
• Mix one gram of garlic paste with a glass of buttermilk. Drink this buttermilk two times a day.
• Chew 2-3 garlic cloves every day as it slows down the pulse rate and hence reduces the blood pressure.
• Take one teaspoon of dried watermelon seeds and add one teaspoon of cuscus powder. Crush the mixture and have this twice a day.
• Crush 4-5 Indian gooseberries and place the paste on a sieve. Press the paste to extract the juice. Take two teaspoon of this juice and add one teaspoon of honey. Mix well and drink this every morning.