The 9 Best Herbs for Lowering Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, impacts almost 50% of all American adults.

Doctors note that hypertension is the most preventable risk factor for heart disease.

This article looks at the scientific research behind the best herbs for lowering blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Overview:

High blood pressure (called hypertension) occurs when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal.

High blood pressure can cause atherosclerosis (i.e. hardening of the arteries), which can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or other complications.

High blood pressure is also tied to an increased risk for an aneurysm. Increased pressure can cause your blood vessels to weaken and bulge, forming an aneurysm. If an aneurysm ruptures, it can be life-threatening.

Blood pressure is typically measured using two numbers:

• Systolic: Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.
• Diastolic: Diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

If you are looking to lower your blood pressure, below are some of the best herbs and spices for blood pressure management.

Best Herbs to Lower Blood Pressure

Below are the best herbs to lower blood pressure.

1. Olive Leaf Extract (with Oleoropin)

Olive leaf extract is one of the best herbs for high blood pressure.

Research indicates that olive leaf extract may help to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Olives are one of the most popular foods in the world, however, the leaf of this beloved plan is often overlooked.

In particular, olive leaf contains a phytochemical called oleuropein, which appears to be the active component that helps to lower blood pressure.

In an 8-week long double-blind, randomized study of individuals with pre-hypertension, olive leaf extract (500mg taken twice daily) was compared against Captopril. Captopril is a pharmaceutical drug used to treat high blood pressure, it’s known as an ACE inhibitor. In the comparative study, the olive leaf extract group reduced systolic blood pressure by ~11.5 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by ~4.8 mm Hg.

These results were similar to the Captopril group, which had a reduction of ~13.7 mm Hg and ~6.4 mm Hg respectively. The researchers noted that the olive leaf extract was similarly effective as Captopril in the ability to lower blood pressure, with the additional benefit that the olive leaf group also saw a decrease in triglyceride levels.

A human clinical trial involving 60 pre-hypertensive participants looked at the impact of taking 142mg daily of an extract containing oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol. The control group took a placebo. After six weeks, it was discovered that the oleuropein group had a 3-4 point decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Another clinical trial involving pre-hypertensive identical twins looked at the impact of olive leaf extract on blood pressure. Individuals were given either 500mg or 1,000mg of olive leaf extract over the course of 2 months. The 500mg group showed a 6 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure and a 5mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure. The 1,00mg group showed a 13mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure and a 5mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure.

A human clinical trial looked at the impact of a combination of olive leaf and hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in individuals with high blood pressure. There were 134 participants who were divided into three groups, a Captopril group (i.e. a standard pharmaceutical approach), a low dose hibiscus/olive leaf group, and a high dose hibiscus/olive leaf group. The results were similar across the three groups, with the following report results:

• The Captopril group had a 16.4/9.9 mm Hg (p < .0001) decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• The low dose hibiscus/olive leaf extract group saw a 15.4/9.6 mm Hg (p < .0001) reduction
• The high-dose hibiscus/olive leaf extract group saw a 14.9/9.4 mmHg (p < .0001) reduction

A meta-analysis study found that 500-1,000mg of olive leaf extract daily appears to be helpful in reducing high blood pressure levels.

An open pilot study involving 663 pre-hypertensive individuals found that taking two capsules per day (100mg daily of oleuropein and 20mg daily of hydroxytyrosol) helped to reduce high blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) by 13 and 6.6 mm Hg respectively.

2. Hibiscus

Another effective herb that may work to lower blood pressure is hibiscus.

Hibiscus is a tropical plant known for its beautiful bright red flowers. While often used as a flavoring agent in beverages, recent research shows that this plant may be helpful for blood pressure.

A meta-analysis review of clinical studies conducted on hibiscus for hypertension found that, on average, hibiscus helps to lower both systolic blood pressure by -7.58 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 3.53 mm Hg.

A clinical trial involving 46 individuals with stage 1 pre-hypertension looked at the impact of hibiscus tea on blood pressure. At the end of the study, the researchers found that the group that was given 2 cups of hibiscus tea a day had a 7.43 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 6.7 mm Hg reduction in diastolic blood pressure.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 65 mildly hypertensive adults not taking blood pressure-lowering medications. The study participants were split into two groups and given either three cups of hibiscus tea or a placebo. After 6 weeks, the hibiscus tea group saw a decrease in systolic blood pressure by 7.2 mm Hg compared to 1.3 mmHg for the placebo group. Diastolic blood pressure was also lower, although this change did not differ from the placebo (-3.1 vs. -0.5 +/- 7.5 mm Hg).

The researchers noted that the study participants with higher baseline blood pressure numbers had a greater positive response to hibiscus treatment.

A small-scale pilot study found that drinking hibiscus tea helped to reduce high blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

An