Treatment

The pharmacological treatment of hypertension is delicate and is indicated by a specialist according to the type of hypertension and the damage that occurs. Usually an antihypertensive is indicated, and this is combined with diuretics, which are drugs that increase urination. In this section, I want to focus on natural treatment as there are many ways to lower blood pressure with infusions and dietary changes. From the many scientific studies that have been done, evidence has been found that they work very well to decrease high blood pressure. At no time do I seek to replace the medications that must be taken for high blood pressure. I am simply interested in sharing all these remedies, some learned in Amazonas and others from patients’ comments, who always keep me informed of the classic popular medications I don’t know about.

Natural Management of High Blood Pressure

Antihypertensives are relatively new agents, developed only in the 20th century. However, hypertension as a disease was described by Al-Akhawayni Bukhari, a 10th century Persian physician who made important contributions to modern medicine. His book, Student’s Handbook of Medicine, the oldest document of Iranian traditional medicine, details a disease with symptoms similar to those of high blood pressure. It was attributed to an overload of blood in the body. The treatments proposed at that time resembled the current ones, suggesting changes in lifestyle, physical activity, and the consumption of some foods that currently have been shown to have beneficial effects on this disease.

What was done in the 10th century and is still in practice today?

1. Leeches Although it is not the most widely used treatment nowadays, there are still populations that use leeches as a medical tool. They are widely used in fractures and in traumas that are considered serious for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant properties in addition to the number of enzymes found in their saliva. They are used for high blood pressure because they decrease the amount of blood circulating so that the arteries do not need to exert as much pressure. In addition to leeches, bleeding therapies were used by breaking a blood vessel and allowing it to bleed in a controlled manner until the treatment was considered to be effective. Leeches are not uncommon in modern medicine; for some time, they were used as a means of securing reimplants of limbs, especially hands and fingers. In Amazonas, among the indigenous people, this practice exists for many purposes, such as improving the heaviness of legs due to varicose veins and cleansing those who suffer from bad temper or bad luck. 2. Bitter Tea Bitter tea is an infusion prepared with a flower called Jamaica (Hibiscus sabdariffa), which is widely used in natural medicine for its healing, anti-inflammatory and relaxing properties. Its benefits have been observed for a long time as to how it controls high blood pressure, which has led to scientific studies demonstrating its usefulness.

It can be taken cold or hot; it has a very particular taste that some will find very acidic, but it can be sweetened and looks fantastic. In addition to its use for high blood pressure, it is a natural diuretic, so it helps with fluid retention, relieves inflammation, and helps with sleep because it is a powerful relaxant. 3. Garlic Garlic is used both as a spread and as a poultice or included in food as an anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, and antiseptic. In the case of high blood pressure, its dilating effect on blood vessels helps to lower it by up to 10 mmHg. I have heard many strange ways to consume garlic. The strangest one someone told me about was garlic tea. According to this patient, this infusion tastes very bad, but its healing properties are worth it. She sweetens it with honey to mitigate the strong taste. There are those who eat garlic cloves raw, and others who eat it roasted; I can say from experience that it is delicious that way. There are also garlic capsules for those who cannot stand the taste or the breath but want to receive the benefits. It is not recommended in the case of bleeding or stroke because it seems to have an anticoagulant effect. In fact, this warning is specified in Al-Akhawayni Bukhari’s 10th century handbook.

My patient’s garlic tea recipe

You will need 4 cloves of garlic, 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon honey, and lemon (optional). Peel and cut the garlic cloves in half. Bring the water to a boil with the garlic cloves. Let it cook for 7 minutes, turn off the heat, and add the honey and lemon, if desired. You can consume it cold or hot up to 3 cups a day. 4. Dark Chocolate Cocoa is a typical product of my country with a lot of history. From the times when it was mixed with tobacco and smoked to the chocolate bar we know today, cocoa has been used for medicinal purposes for quite some time. Dark chocolate has at least 70% cocoa. This ensures that you can enjoy the chocolate bar and all the medicinal benefits of cocoa as well. This product is rich in flavanol, a natural chemical that increases the release of nitric oxide and dilates the blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. A one-ounce serving of dark chocolate is recommended daily to take advantage of the antihypertensive effects. Venezuelan cocoa is some of the best in the world in terms of quality. There are many cocoa-producing areas, mostly coastal zones, where they sell unusual cocoa products, such as cocoa paste, wine, cream punch, cocoa shell tea, body creams, bath splash, bath salts, scrub, handmade soaps, and special syrups for different ailments. Other foods, such as oats, almonds, berries, and potassium-rich fruits such as bananas and tomatoes, have good results in the natural treatment of hypertension, although there is no scientific evidence for the products listed above.