Complementary and Alternative Treatment for High Blood Pressure

You can have high blood pressure for years and you may not experience any symptom at all. But silence isn’t always golden in such situation. Once your blood pressure goes up and becomes uncontrolled, it can affect other organs of the body, including the heart, kidneys, and the brain.

If you recently found out that you have high blood pressure and you’re not keen at taking medicines, you can try these complementary and alterative treatments to control your blood pressure.

The Washington School of Medicine also suggests non-pharmacologic treatment for two weeks on new cases of high blood pressure. They advocate low fat and low salt diet, weight control, and exercise for at least 15 minutes a day (preferably brisk walking).

Integrative therapies that appear to have value for high blood pressure

Omega-3 fatty acids. This is found in fish oil and in some plant and nut oils. There is little research on the effect of Omega-3 fatty acids on blood pressure. However there’s evidence that it is beneficial in reducing heart disease risk and mortality. Therefore, consuming Omega-3 fatty acids or taking fish oil supplement makes sense.

Calcium and magnesium. These supplements may modestly reduce blood pressure.

Dark chocolate. Cocoa polyphenols in dark chocolate can lower systolic blood pressure to about 5 mm Hg and diastolic to about 3 mm Hg.

Blond psyllium. Preliminary research concludes that the high fiber content of blond psyllium may modestly lower blood pressure.

Wheat bran. Like psyllium, the fibers in wheat bran can lower blood pressure.

Paced respiration. This refers to slow and deep breathing exercises. Deep inhalation and exhalation improves blood circulation and may lower blood pressure.

Yoga. Yoga does not only control blood pressure. It is also good for diabetics and those with high cholesterol levels. It is safe. If you suffer from back and spine problems, glaucoma, and atherosclerosis of the neck, just be careful.

Qi gong. If combined with conventional therapies, this is very helpful. There are many different forms. Be careful about some hoax. Check if the practitioner is a Qi gong master.

Accupuncture. Insertion of acupuncture needles to various treatment points improves blood flow and energy flow. There’s mixed evidence on its effectiveness. Find an experienced practitioner.