Hypertension: 8 Ayurvedic Remedies To Manage High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading cardiovascular disorders causing morbidity and mortality in today’s modern lifestyle. It is a serious condition of increased blood pressure caused by stressful lifestyles in which the blood vessels are continually under pressure, causing the heart to work harder. As a result of this increased heart pressure, vessels supplying body tissues and organs are also under increased pressure, causing damage to those organs.

Did you Know?

India is known as the global Hypertension capital. According to the International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research, Hypertension affects an estimated 1.13 billion people globally, with 26.4 percent of the world's adult population suffering from the ailment in 2020, and 29.2 percent expected to be affected by 2025. 

Hypertension is an early stage of pathogenesis and a risk factor for the development of diseases affecting organs like the heart, brain, kidneys, etc. It is also referred to as a silent killer since many people with Hypertension go for a long time without being diagnosed, and get diagnosed incidentally or only discover the problem after an attack.

The following blog provides a complete understanding of Hypertension from an Ayurvedic perspective and discusses and suggests the best Ayurvedic treatment for Hypertension.

Ayurveda and Hypertension

Systemic Arterial Hypertension is explained in Ayurveda by the involvement of all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), the heart, blood vessels, and related srotas (micro-channels). We can detect indications and symptoms of Vata dosha disturbances, which are mostly caused by 'Vyana Vayu.' The treatment is likewise based on the restoration of Vata dosha balance. Pitta dosha vitiation is also common and should be addressed. People with Pitta and Vata dominating constitutions are more susceptible to Hypertension than others.

Unprocessed anger, frustration, irritability, anxiety, and fear lead to maladaptation of the endocrine system, which leads to conditions like Hypertension. Some Ayurvedic scholars correlate Hypertension with the Raktagata Vata. According to Maharishi Charaka, it is not essential to give a specific name to every disease. In those conditions, the physicians should treat the patient while considering the nature of the disease, its sites, etiology, and Dosha-Predominance.

Symptoms of Hypertension as per Ayurveda

1. Vata Dosha Predominant 

When Vata dosha is predominant, high blood pressure is accompanied by worry, strain, overwork, anxiety, or insomnia. It is commonly linked to nervous system problems. Therefore, in such a scenario, psychological conditions should be treated.

2. Pitta Dosha Predominant 

When Pitta dosha is predominant, anger, nose bleeds, irritability, violent headaches, sensitivity to light, etc., all these contribute to high blood pressure..

3. Kapha Dosha Predominant 

When Kapha dosha is prominent, symptoms such as a dull headache, edema, lethargy, obesity, and so on persist. Arteriosclerosis is usually always the cause of Kapha Hypertension.

Line of treatment for Hypertension

Listed below are methods for treating Hypertension in Ayurveda: Nidan Parivarjan, lifestyle modification, and Shaman Chitsa.

1. Nidan Parivarjanam 

Taking steps to avoid disease etiology is called Nidan Parivarjanam. In order to prevent Hypertension, it is imperative to avoid the following factors:

• Excessive intake of salt,  vegetable oils,  chilies,  fast foods, junk foods, spicy foods, tea, coffee, etc.
• Alcohol consumption and smoking.
• Day sleeping and awakening at night.
• Excitation, provocation, quarreling, worries, and anxieties.
• Tight clothing
• Excessive indulgence in sexual activities

2. Lifestyle Modifications

Here are some lifestyle changes suggested by Ayurveda to help manage Hypertension:

• Weight reduction
• Regular exercise which includes 30 minutes of brisk walking.
• Proper sleeping and waking cycle
• Regular practice of Yoga and herbal Meditation
• Avoid the intake of food that is oily, salty, sour, and spicy
• Intake a balanced diet, consume more fruits and green vegetables in the diet
• Increasing consumption of wheat,  barley,  sorghum,  green gram, horse gram, bitter gourd, bottle gourd,  turnip, carrot,  radish,  Indian gooseberry, cucumber,  black grapes, pomegranate, apple, pineapple, milk, etc.

3. Shaman Chikitsa 

The drugs or remedies listed below (single or combination drugs) are routinely used to prevent, control, and manage High Blood Pressure/Hypertension.

a. Single Drugs 

These drugs are generally administered in the form of Churna (Powder), Swarasa (Juice), Kwatha (Decoction), and Sita kashaya.

• Sarpagandha
• Ashwagandha
• Jatamansi
• Brahmi
• Shankhapushpi
• Lasun
• Mandookparni
• Yashtimadhu
• Arjuna  Twak etc.

 b. Compound Drugs 

• Churna: Sarpagandha  Churna,  Ashwagandha  Churna, Shatavari  Churna, Yashtimadhu  Churna, Arjuna  Twak Churna.
• Modak: Vrihat    Ashwagandha    Modak,    Himsagar Modak
• Avaleha: Brahmi Rasayana
• Vati: Brahmi Vati, Sarpagandha Ghana Vati
• Rasaushadhi: Chintamani Chaturmukh Rasa, Rasaraja Rasa
• Asava-Arishta: Saraswatarishta,  Ashwagandharishta, Arjunarishta, Punarnavaasava
• Pishti: Mukta  Pisti,  Praval  Pishti, Jaharmohara Khatai Pishti.
• Bhasma: Mukta Bhasma
• Taila: Himsagar Taila, Brahmi Taila

Note:

Along with medication, patients must adhere to a strict lifestyle regimen based on a traditional medicine system. Patients are strongly recommended to refrain from self-medication. They should go to the nearest Ayush treatment centre or consult a top doctor online at HealthyBazar for advice and personalized treatment.

Treatment according to Doshas predominance

Vata Dosha:

• Take 125 mg of Serpagandha and Jatamansi, 3 times per day, for 2-3 months.
• Eat the entire crushed clove (with honey) once or twice a week.
• Take Saraswat powder in warm milk.

Pitta Dosha:

• Use tranquilizing herbs (for example, 250 mg of Brahmi, or Brahmi Rasayana, Saraswat powder) at night.
• To purify Pitta, take 1 gm of Sariva (Indian Sarsaparilla) for 15 days.

Kapha Dosha

• Take 1 gm of Guggulu or Arjuna, 2 times per day, for 3 months.
• Take 250 mg of Shilajit 3 times per day, for 3 months.
• Take 1 gm Triphala Guggul, daily for 3 months.

Yoga & Meditation for Hypertension

Excessive mental, emotional, and physical stress can aggravate the symptoms of many chronic conditions, including Hypertension. This is due to the fact that stress induces hormonal changes and other physiological responses that disturb the neurological system and hinder the body's ability to restore itself. However, practicing integrated yoga regularly can aid in the development of mental peace and resistance to stress.

Practice asanas (Shavasana, Sukhasana, Dhanurasana, Makarasana, and Vajrasana) with breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation. These relaxing postures, or asanas, lower sympathetic-adrenal system activity in the body, which helps to decrease catecholamine activity and progressively reduce blood pressure.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a lifestyle condition that can be easily managed through dietary and pharmacological changes. To manage blood pressure, numerous anti-hypertensive allopathic drugs are available in modern science. These antihypertensive drugs can help manage blood pressure, but they do not cure Hypertension. When a person discontinues medication, their blood pressure and other health problems tend to return. So, for a healthy future, everyone should follow Ayurvedic Hypertension regimes because Ayurveda provides an advantage in treating Hypertension by focusing on its root cause. Ayurveda treats each ailment according to its samprapti (pathogenesis), which is quite useful.

If you are looking for a permanent cure and the best Ayurvedic medicine for Hypertension, consult one of the top Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr Ajay Kumar at HealthyBazar.com. He is also a Panchkarma specialist. Furthermore, the site also offers the best Herbal, Ayurvedic, and Unani medicine of various brands at an discounted price, along with lifestyle and diet tips to keep you healthy.