With the economy appearing to tank, people simply don’t seem to have the financial resources to deal with illnesses and general discomforts that impact us all. Yet these cannot be ignored.

So is it possible to adequately address at least some of our ailments without incurring huge medical expenses? The good news is that for high blood pressure, there are indeed affordable options.

If you’re worried about your blood pressure and want to know more about natural cures for when it is excessive, read on.

An Introduction to Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is very common. However, excessively high blood pressure tends to be genetic and affects approximately 15 to 17 percent of people. Technically, there’s no cure for this condition, but you can make changes in your life to reduce it to a manageable level.

The greatest drawback to high blood pressure is that it can be very dangerous, but there are no unique visible or external symptoms associated with the condition. If your blood pressure is extremely high or it goes up very quickly, you could experience headaches or blurry vision.

Most high blood pressure treatments focus on lowering the internal pressure and maintaining a safe and healthy level. Typically, most treatments use a combination of drugs and lifestyle changes for treatment. More holistic or natural approaches may use certain herbs along with diet changes.

For an overview of some common and popular natural cures, keep reading.

Gotu Kola Tea

To treat high blood pressure, try drinking gotu kola tea three times a day. You can also ingest gotu kola in capsule form once or twice a day. It’s a fairly safe herb with minimal side effects. However, some individuals report experiencing nausea and cramping. Gotu kola can also cause drowsiness, so avoid using it if you are already taking any other drugs that can cause drowsiness.

Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil has been shown to be effective in reducing high blood pressure, probably due to the effects of the Omega-3 fatty acids it contains. Although cold-water fish have higher levels of Omega-3’s, Flax (along with almonds) is one of the few plants that does contain it. When it’s exposed to air, flaxseed oil can go bad, so you should keep it in a cool place and use it within a month or two of opening it up.

When you bring a bottle of flaxseed oil home, store it in your refrigerator. Alternatively, you can buy your own flax seeds. Simply keep them in a cool place and then when you’re ready to use them, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder or with a pestle. Once ready, sprinkle them over your cereal, into soups or over a healthy salad.

Garlic

Studies indicate that blood pressure can be lowered with garlic - on average by between 5-8 points. You can supplement sandwiches, soups, salads, and marinades with it. Since high temperatures can ruin some of its healing benefits, you should consider eating it raw most of the time.

When taking garlic as part of a program of natural cures for high blood pressure, two cloves every day is normally enough. Garlic is widely sold in capsule or pill form as well.

Tags: Health and Fitness