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Ayurveda approach
According to Ayurveda, hypertension falls under
three types: vata, pitta and kapha.
Vata is responsible for the blood vessels constricting
and this often happens to people in their old age (around 65).
The blood vessel walls thickens and the passage becomes narrow,
and this results high blood pressure.
Pitta on the other hand, is related to the rushing
of blood with more force, increasing the blood pressure.
Like vata, kapha too narrows the arteries but it
is related to increased blood viscosity as a result of fatty deposits
in the artery walls.
Some causes for high blood pressure includes anger
and anxiety, emotional and physical stress. Heavy responsibilities
tension at work or stressful situations too can send the blood
pressure up. These conditions can constrict the blood vessels
and can increase blood pressure for a long time and at an accelerating
rate.
With your doctor’s approval and guidance,
you can try some of these Ayurveda remedies and if they prove
helpful in controlling your hypertension, you may want to gradually
reduce your medication and replace them. Your doctor will supervise
you.
Start by changing your diet. The following food
for hypertension can be effective in lowering your blood pressure:
· Watermelon
Eat watermelon with a pinch of cardamom and coriander makes a
mild diuretic and this helps regulate blood pressure.
· Mango and Milk
Drink a cup of mango juice. About an hour later, take ½
cup warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg and cardamom and if you do
not have high cholesterol level, also add a teaspoon of ghee.
· Peach juice with cardamom
Drink 1 cup of freshly squeezed peach juice with a pinch of cardamom
and a teaspoon of coriander. Take this drink twice or 3 times
a day to reduce high blood pressure.
· Honey Water
Drinking honey water helps reduce cholesterol, helps regulate
blood pressure and maintains vasodilatation. Mix a teaspoon of
honey with 5 to 10 drops of apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot
water and drink this early in the morning.
· Orange juice with coconut water
Mix 2 parts fresh orange juice with 1 part coconut water (taken
from the inside of a fresh coconut). Drink ½ to a cup twice
or 3 times a day.
· Cucumber raita
Raita is a yogurt-based condiment often used in Indian cooking
and using cucumber as an excellent source of diuretic, you can
add this cucumber raita in your meals to help regulate blood pressure.
See below for recipe (taken from page 138, “Vasant
Lad and Usad Lad, Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-healing”, Albuuquerque,
Ayurveda Press, 1994):
2 cucumbers
4 curry leaves
1 small handful fresh cilantro leaves
3 tablespoons ghee
1 pinch hing
1 pinch cayenne or ½ small chilli, chopped
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
½ cup fresh plain yogurt
Skin cucumbers and grate. Pour and discard any remaining
juice. Heat the ghee over a medium heat in a saucepan. Add the
cumin, mustard, hing and curry leaves and cook til the seeds crackle.
· Add in the cilanto and the chilli or cayenne.
Shake the pan and remove from heat. Set aside to cool. Next stir
the yogurt and grated cucumber in a bowl and add the cooled spices.
Mix well and serve as a side dish.
· Mung dal soup
Make a soup of mung dal with a pinch of tumeric, cilanto and cumin
is said to be an excellent remedy for people with high blood pressure.
· Shitali pranayama breathing exercise
This breathing exercise can help regulate blood pressure. Make
a tube with your tongue and inhale through this tube into the
abdomen. Hold breath for a few seconds. Then continue by breathing
out through your nostrils.
· Yoga asanas
Try Yoga Mudra and the Moon Salutation for helping control high
blood pressure.
· Meditation
Meditation can effectively control hypertension and research studies
by National Institute of Health reveals that it has none of the
negative side effects frequently associated with drugs for high
blood pressure.
· Exercise with care
If you have high blood pressure, do not increase it by doing the
Headstand, carrying anything extremely heavy or strenuous or do
vigorous exercises without your doctor’s advice.
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