High blood pressure has been called the ‘silent killer’ because there is usually no indication that you are suffering from this until the damage has been done. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney failure and can cause aneurysm, heart attacks or failure, or stroke. Some high blood pressure, or hypertension, is caused by obesity, alcohol use, stress, or smoking, but sometimes no real cause can be found for it. If you have high blood pressure it is generally detected when you visit the doctor for another cause altogether.

Usually, when someone discovers that they have high blood pressure, they will be prescribed one of several medications to deal with it. Unfortunately, these medications have side effects, and some of them can be severe and debilitating in themselves. Side effects from these powerful drugs can cause fatigue, joint pain, swelling of the extremities, a change in heart rate, depression, or constipation. While it is true that high blood pressure is a serious medical condition, it is also true that a more natural and gentle way of dealing with it be investigated.

When the blood vessels are dilated (opened up more) blood will be able to travel through them more easily, and an increase in healthy circulation will also increase the health of the heart. Hawthorn can cause just such an effect on you if you have hypertension – it actually decreases the chance of experiencing heart failure. Another natural remedy that is useful in maintaining the health of the heart is passion flower.

Helping to keep the heart muscle strong and healthy is way to keep your blood pressure in the normal range. Gingko biloba (Maidenhair tree) and cramp bark both will support and nourish that very important muscle.

Obesity is a major cause of high blood pressure, but losing weight can be difficult for anyone. Fortunately, there are natural herbal products, as well as biochemic tissue salts that can help you take off those unwanted pounds without the use of dangerous and habit-forming chemicals. A sluggish digestion can cause your body to take more calories out of your food than is necessary. Guarana is an herbal product that can help to provide for a normal digestive process, and many find that ginger and cayenne pepper also help you digest your meals properly. The tissue salt calc phos will be valuable not only with digestion, but also with converting what you have eaten to energy. If you feel more energetic, the chances that you will exercise more, helping both your weight and your blood pressure to become more normal.

Stopping smoking can often be necessary in order to control high blood pressure, but the addictive nature of tobacco makes stopping very difficult. Cravings seem too mild a word to describe the feeling of not being able to breathe. It is easy to understand why so many people are unable to quit. Preparing yourself for quitting is important, if your body and mind are strengthened beforehand quitting will be easier. St. John’s Wort can help in this regard, calming the mind and keeping serotonin levels stable.

A gain in weight is discouraging when trying to quit smoking. The addition of a few pounds often has the person running for a cigarette. In order to help prevent the weight gain that often accompanies quitting, chromium picolinate can maintain the correct level of blood sugars. Malabar tamarind is another natural remedy that can prevent weight gain as the body detoxifies.

It is easy to become irritable and grouchy when kicking the nicotine habit, and this is another area when natural remedies can really help. St. John’s Wort, wild oats, skullcap, nat phos, and kali phos can all help to keep your nervous system calm and settled during this difficult period.

High blood pressure has a variety of causes, but they can be dealt with naturally and holistically with the remedies the good earth has provided. Taking care of this import aspect of your health is easier when you depend of nature’s remedies.