Hypertension – Ayurvedic Management

Ayurvedic Approach to Hypertension: According to Ayurveda, high blood pressure involves all the doshas, the heart, and the blood vessels.We can see signs and symptoms of derangement of vata dosha mainly that of ‘Vyana vayu’ in high blood pressure. The treatment is to correct the balance of vata dosha.Pitta visiation is also seen often and should be trated.People with Pitta and Vata predominante constitution and Pitta and Vata imbalance, are more prone to hypertension than any other. Unprocessed anger, frustration, irritability, anxiety and fear leads to mal-adaptation of the endocrine system, which then leads to conditions like hypertension. Treatment is based on bringing these imbalances back to normal. In the treatment of hypertension; nutrition, exercise, breathing exercises (Pranayama), yoga, meditation, behavioral modification along with various herbs and minerals are prescribed.

Diet:

Avoid meat, eggs and saltReduce protein intakeFollow the following vegetarian diet:Vegetables: Garlic, lemon,parsley,Fruits: Indian Gooseberry,Grape fruuit, watermelon,Dairy: Milk,Cottage cheese,clarified butter.Coffee, which contains caffeine, enhances the action of adrenaline and noradrenaline and both are important in increasing blood pressure levels.Limit sodium in the diet.Cigarette smokers tend to have high blood pressure. Nicotine increases the resting heart rate and increases the release of the adrenalineCorrect your diet and control your weight. One important thing to do is lose any excess amount of body fat you have. One of the good reasons to be slim (lean) is to keep your blood pressure low, losing body fat will lower the pressure enough that a person need not take medicine to control blood pressure. Either you have normal blood pressure or you have hypertension with high cholesterol levels your diet should definitely of low fat, low saturated fat, and low cholesterol diet.With practice of dietary measures recommended in Ayurveda while elaborating ‘Medoroga Chikitsa’ will definitely beneficial in weight reduction. It will be helpful to minimize the risk of fatty cholesterol deposits and will prevent complication of high blood pressure.

Life Style:

If you master the techniques of keeping your blood pressure down, you have much less chance of having hypertension later and you are less likelihood of having fatty -cholesterol deposits in your arteries. Even though you have normal blood pressure, you can benefit yourself with simple adjustment in lifestyle.Regular Exercise is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure. Exercise has to be of right kind. A good exercise programme, particularly endurance exercises such as jogging or athletics, will cause the peripheral resistance to decrease. Exercise helps to eliminate body fat, lower total cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol that prevents fatty – cholesterol deposits. According to Ayurveda exercise improves the body, depletes excess fats, brings lightness of the body.Improving your lifestyle by adoption of ethical elements mentioned in ‘Achara Rasayana’ is must if you really want to stay away from mental and physical stress and from eventual hypertension. It is certain that stress can cause hypertension. Anxiety, secondary to acute stage can cause rise in your blood pressure. Relaxation and removal of stress will help to lower mildly elevated levels of blood pressure.Nurture love and affection. Love and affection and affectionate touch can significantly drop, your blood pressure.Speak truth. Lying has been found to boost blood pressure, because it require a lot of mental exercise. The more you lie, more you add tension, hence you are likely to get more stress, speak gently; don’t get annoyed, speaking loudly and rapidly can significantly raise your blood pressure during conversation. Sudden risk can shoot up your blood pressure higher. Chronic anger produces elevation in blood pressure and it can be a serious risk factor for coronary – heart – disease. So be cool, speak softly and even if it is event of extreme displeasure.Laughter is the best medicine.

Laughter is as good as relaxation therapy, exercise or other methods used to overcome stress. Study shows that laughter decreases adrenaline and cortisol production. Laughter can help you if you are having high blood pressure. If you are frustrated, unhappy, angry, just laugh and find yourself away from rage. It is of the effective medicine you always have with your, without spending a penny for it.

Ayurvedic medications :

Herbs For hypertension

Sarpagandha : For centuries Rauwolfia serpentina has been used to treat hypertension

Arjuna : Terminalia arjuna produced dose-dependent hypotension in anaesthetized dogs. Action of mechanism for this particular herb is that it acts like a beta-blocker and is a powerful antioxidant, liver protectant and contains cardio-protective, hypolipidemic, anti-angina and anti-atheroma properties.

Gokshura: Tribulus terrestris(gokshura) is a natural herb used for treating many diseases including hypertension. It has shown to be diuretic and an ACE inhibitor.

Punarnava: Boerhaavia Diffusa has diuretic and Ca2+ channel blocking activity.

Home Remedies
Rasona or garlic is most important substance helpful in alleviating vata dosha controlling blood pressure. Garlic lowers cholesterol and triglyceride that have impact on heart disease. A paste made of about 1 gm of garlic should be mixed with a glass of buttermilk. Drink this buttermilk twice a day. It will bring your blood pressure down.Eating 2/3 raw clove of garlic (prior to soaking it in buttermilk) on empty stomach in the morning will correct any vitiation of vata dosha and will help to lower your blood pressure.Soak 1tsp fenugreek seed in water for a night and munch them early in the morning on empty stomach. It will reduce your cholesterol and excess fats.

Powder of ‘Triphala’ should be taken regularly at night with warm water. This will help maintain constipation and bowels will remain clean.