HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (Hypertension)

AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE ON HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

What is High Blood Pressure?

The concept of blood pressure is simple - it refers to the force of blood pressing against the walls of your arteries. Healthy blood pressure is around 120/80mm Hg. When your blood pressure reaches or exceeds 140/90 mm Hg, you may be diagnosed with hypertension by a doctor. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood and causes atherosclerosis, as well as increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also damage other organs. Heart disease as a leading cause of death in America. So, high blood pressure should be treated as early as possible.

Many pharmaceuticals used to treat high blood pressure have strong side effects. Fortunately there are many foods, herbs and lifestyle changes you can implement to prevent high blood pressure, reduce the dosage of your medications, or bring your blood pressure back to a normal, healthy level. These home remedies are slowly gaining recognition as complementary choices to western medicine. However individual results may vary and it is always a good idea to check with your medical doctor before beginning any new health & wellness program.

What Does High Blood Pressure Feel Like?

Blood pressure is often referred to as a 'silent killer' because many people do not know they have it. Some individuals may experience a pounding feeling in their head or chest, a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness, or nosebleeds. You may have a flushed face, or notice blood spots in your eyes where vessels have burst. It is important to note that these symptoms may not occur until your blood pressure has reached dangerous levels. If your blood pressure is extremely high you may experience:

Severe headache Fatigue or confusion Vision problems Chest pain

Difficulty breathing Irregular heartbeat Blood in the urine Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears

When your doctor measures your blood pressure, he or she uses a sphygmomanometer. A sphygmomanometer measures systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure on the blood vessel when the heart beats. When your heart relaxes between beats, the pressure in your arteries naturally drops. This is the diastolic pressure, and is the second number in your reading. For instance 120/80 Hg mm means that your systolic pressure is 120 and your diastolic pressure is 80. Doctors may also use an opthalmoscope, a device used to see if blood vessels in eyes are thickened, narrowed, or burst.

Complications

Prolonged high blood pressure causes damage over time to both your heart and vascular system, such as the following complications:

• The heart can grow larger or become weak. This leads to heart failure, a condition in which your heart lacks the strength to pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
• Aneurysms. Continual strain on the walls of an artery causes the tissue to weaken and lose tone. This can result in an abnormal bulge in a compromised arterial wall. The bulge may burst, a life threatening condition. Common locations for aneurysms are the aorta, the arteries in the brain, legs, and intestines and the artery leading to the spleen.
• Narrowing of blood vessels in kidneys. This results in kidney failure.
• Heart attack. When a blood clot detaches from a vessel wall and lodges in the heart, thereby cutting off blood flow to the heart muscle itself.
• Stroke. Similar to a heart attack. In a stroke, the blood clot lodges in the brain.
• Amputation of part of the leg. When blood flow is cut off to a part of the body, the tissue dies resulting in amputation. The legs are the most common site for this complication.
• Vision damage or blindness. Blood vessels in the eyes that burst or bleed cause damage to the eyes and even blindness.

Main Risk Factors

sedentary lifestyle stress obesity salt (sodium) sensitivity potassium deficiency alcohol intake or tobacco products consumption of high fructose corn syrup.

Are older than 60 genetic mutations family history elevation of renin sympathetic nervous system overactivity insulin resistance vitamin D deficiency

Some additional risk factors include Cushing's syndrome (excess production of stress hormones), hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, obesity/metabolic disorder, pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, as well as certain prescription and illegal drugs. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210006)

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

See how reducing blood pressure works pharmacologically. When your circulation is poor your heart has to pump harder to move your blood. The result is high blood pressure. Your heart literally pushes through resistance in the blood vessels. Like swimming up river against a strong current, "pushing through" is a strenuous undertaking.

Here are some other lifestyle practices to incorporate into your daily routine for the new healthy-blood-pressure-you!

• Moderate exercise strengthens your heart.
• Slow down. Begin the day with a peaceful, quiet morning to set the tone for a gentle day (that's when stress hormones are highest). Avoid that cup of coffee - which will only increase your anxiety.
• Good posture is essential to the smooth flow of blood. When you stand with poor posture, your blood gets stagnant in contracted parts of your body, causing your heart to work hard. Relax your muscles and stand tall. This elegant, yet strong stance can help you reduce your blood pressure.
• Contemplative Practice - A helpful slogan in Alcoholics Anonymous is "living life on life's terms." Meditation and prayer, encouraged by AA, is the best way to learn how to do this. Focus on the true source of hope in your life and this will help relax tension.
• Relaxing Tension - Breathe in, breathe out, and relax tension. And feel the pressure subside in your veins, arteries, heart, mind, and spirit. While there are many problems in life, your contemplative practice will help you keep it all in perspective.

High Blood Pressure Due to Congested, Stagnant Blood (Kapha Type)

Typically, all three three doshas are involved in high blood pressure. Thick Kapha blood is often a root cause behind high pressure. Since blood is fiery in nature, high blood pressure is also related to Pitta. Circulation is governed by Vyana-vayu (a subdosha of Vata), making blood pressure fundamentally related to Vata dosha.

Kapha type high blood pressure is the easiest type of blood pressure to understand in Western terms. Kapha is associated with congested, thick blood. Thick blood moves through vessels with more difficulty. Sluggish blood means the heart has to pump harder to move it through your body, placing extra burden on your heart. Sometimes, the blood vessels themselves become hard, thick, and inflexible, a condition called atherosclerosis, which also translates to increased blood pressure. High blood sugar, high triglycerides, and high cholesterol are just some of the reasons why kapha blood is thicker than other body types. Blood thinning herbs, removing excess fluids and fats, and tonifying the heart are all very important when dealing with heavy kapha type high blood pressure.

Subdosha	Avalambaka Kapha
Elements	Earth, Water
Tastes	Sweet, Salty
Gunas	Heavy, dull

Common Herbal Actions Useful for Kapha High Blood Pressure

• Diuretic herbs reduces the amount of water in your body and blood vessels. Reducing the volume of water in your blood vessels is essentially equivalent to letting air out of a balloon, which reduces the pressure in the balloon, and in your blood. Diuretics are particularly useful to kapha individuals who suffer from edema and water retention. Reducing water not only lowers blood pressure in these cases, but also improves circulation in general, making you feel lighter and energetic. Examples include dandelion, hawthorne, and punarnava.
• Cardiac Tonic herbs are helpful in all types of blood pressure as they improve tone and function of the heart itself. Examples include hawthorne, arjuna, and punarnava.
• Blood thinners are herbs that reduce total peripheral resistance (TPR). It takes a lot of work to pump the blood through your blood vessels. Thick blood is even harder to push through the vessels. These types of herbs are especially useful for kapha type. Herbs that cleanse the lymphatic system, like CCF tea, inadvertently thin the blood. Examples include guggulu, turmeric, and neem.

Herb Formula for Kapha Blood Pressure

• 5 Punarnava - diuretic, heart tonic, reduces kapha
• 3 Hawthorne Berry - cardiac/vascular tonic, natural beta-blocker antioxidant
• 2 Guggulu - Blood thinner, reduces arterial plaque,
• 1 Cardamom - Moves stagnant blood, improves peripheral circulation, cleanses stomach

Other Useful Herbs for Kapha High Blood Pressure

• Cinnamon - increases circulation and reduces blood sugar which thins the blood
• Cat's Claw - vasodilator, diuretic
• Dandelion - Bitter diuretic
• Celery Seed - diuretic
• Ginger - increases circulation, thins blood, relaxes muscles.
• Cumin, coriander, and fennel tea - Diuretic, detoxicant, cleanses lymphatic system

Healing Foods & Practices

• Avoid wheat, dairy, red meat, sugar, and other 'blood thickeners'
• Favor bitter green vegetables like kale, chicory, & red leaf lettuce to thin the blood
• Eat a High fiber diet which cleanses the bowels, reduces cholesterol
• Enjoy Garlic, a vasodilator that cleanses your lymphatic system, bowels, and liver.
• Do "Breath of Fire" daily to improve circulation and cardiac function.

High Blood Pressure Due to Hot Blooded Emotions (Pitta Type)

Hot Blooded Pitta Types experience blood pressure spikes when frustrated or angry. If you have this type of high blood pressure, your face and ears becomes red and hot. This is the stereotype of steam coming out of someone's ears. Cooling herbs are especially useful, as well as alteratives and blood purifiers that renormalize blood chemistry.

Subdosha	Sadhaka Pitta, Ranjaka Pitta
Elements	Fire, Water
Tastes	Pungent, Salty
Gunas	Sharp, Hot, Oily

Common Herbal Actions for Pitta High Blood Pressure

• Anti-inflammatory herbs reduce irritation and pressure in the vascular system.
• Vasodilators relax blood vessels. Many of these herbs are helpful for short term high blood pressure. They are most effective for stress (Vata) or emotionally induced (Pitat) blood pressure spikes.
• Cholagogues pull heat, anger, and frustration out of the liver, cooling the blood. Examples include bitter tasting herbs like neem, sour foods like vinegar, and other foods like aloe vera.
• Refrigerants
• Anxiolytic herbs calm down anxious emotions.
• Muscle relaxant allow tight muscles including cardiac musculature to relax, allowing smooth blood flow.
• Alteratives & blood cleansers - Renormalizes blood pressure so you feel less emotional. Examples include manjistha, neem, & red root.

Herb Formula Traditionally Used for Pitta High Blood Pressure

• 5 Bhumi-amalaki - Cholagogue
• 3 Hawthorne berry - cardiac/vascular tonic, natural beta-blocker, antioxidant
• 2 Lemon Balm - excellent for calming emotions. Sweet and soft with a pleasing aroma that takes the edge off.
• 1 Rose Petal - Pleasant aroma calms pitta
• Take with 1/4c Aloe vera juice. Aloe vera removes excess heat and is a cholagogue to draw heat & frustration out of the liver

Other Herbs Traditionally Used for Pitta High Blood Pressure

• Mint - Cools blood, Relaxes blood vessels => person feels calm. Supporting herb not primary.
• Cumin Coriander Fennel Tea relaxes blood vessels and calms the nerves.
• Manjistha - Blood purifier and thinner
• Brahmi - Cools the mind & blood

Healing Foods & Practices

• Pomegranate Juice - a natural ACE inhibitor that helps keep blood vessels relaxed.
• Favor bitter green vegetables like kale, chicory, & red leaf lettuce. These bitters cleanse the liver and bring hot emotions out of the head and blood back down into the body.
• Coconut oil soothes an overheated liver, especially a liver that is exhausted and deficient.
• Shitali Pranayama - a cooling breath practice that soothes a hot temper.
• Lime - cleanses the liver and cools a hot blooded temper

High Blood Pressure Due to Heart Racing, Fear, Stress & Anxiety (Vata Type)

Tense, anxious vata types who suffer from anxiety and stress sometimes experience high blood pressure. Under stress, the heart races, blood vessels constrict and muscles tighten, leading to increase pressure in the vascular system. Sometimes known as "Ideopathic" hypertension, meaning there is no known physical cause, this is an anxiety based high blood pressure. Do you know someone whose heart races during stressful situations, say, at the doctor's office? This condition, lovingly referred to as white-coat syndrome, falls into this category. Antispasmodic, muscle relaxants, vasodilators, sedatives, and nervines are especially useful for acute high blood pressure spikes. The root cause of Vata anxiety, however, is deficiency. Therefore, include herbs that nourish Vata.

Subdosha	Vyana Vayu
Elements	Air
Tastes	Bitter, Astringent
Gunas	Mobile, Rough, Hard

Herb Formula Traditionally Used for Vata type High Blood Pressure

• 3 Dashamoola - Calming & grounding
• 2 Ashwagandha - calms anxiety, grounding, warming, nourishing
• 2 Lemon Balm - soothes the mind, brings calm, antispasmodic
• 2 Hawthorne Berry - cardiac/vascular tonic, antioxidant
• 1 Ginger - calms vata systemically by warming action, improving circulation, and relaxing muscles
• Take 1/4 tsp with warm almond milk and 1 tsp ghee.

Other Herbs Traditionally Used for Vata High Blood Pressure

• Lavender Essential Oil - calming nervine for anxiety
• Kava - calming nervine for stress/anxiety
• Tincture of milky oats

Healing Foods & Practices

• Hot milk and sesame oil - nourishing, calming, soothes the mind, increases buffer
• Warm cooked foods at regular times
• Daily alternate nostril breathing

Experiment with and see how these herbs and foods affect your blood pressure. You may find a great deal of relief. Remember to check with your medical doctor before taking any herbs or changing your health and wellness plan.

Emotional Tips for Lowering Blood Pressure

Learning to accept things as they are is a lifelong venture, but a worthy one. When you and your heart let go and accept reality for what it is, you'll notice less pressure in your life in general.

The first step to letting go of pressure inducing tension is to breathe deeply. When you breathe deeply, you release tension held in the muscles of your chest and abdomen. Deep breathing also calms your mind and gives you some perspective on life, and is guaranteed to reduce the pressure you feel in your life.

The emotions associated with high blood pressure include frustration, anger, worry, and impatience. Many people who experience high blood pressure are full of passion, opinions, and fire. Internally, these intense emotions wear down the very organ of passion, your heart. Whether boiling internally with unexpressed emotions, or overflowing with them into your life, the heart takes the hit.

If you are full of fire and passion, practice taking a reflective breath before responding to whomever has made you angry. Give yourself some time to respond - to ensure your anger is motivating you towards actual rather than destructive solutions. Live your life slowly. It is not easy to bring calm into an environment that is traditionally difficult for you.

Speak the truth. Not only does lying require a lot of mental energy, it increases blood pressure. Finally, laugh more! Laughter is proven to decrease adrenaline and cortisol production, two hormones that increase heart rate and create a "fight or flight" reaction in your nervous system.

Images of High Blood Pressure

Large