Q. I have high blood pressure and would like a natural way to lower it. I have tried the herb hawthorn but it doesn’t seem to do much. I would really appreciate any information you can send me.
A. Hawthorn is an herbal medicine prescribed in Europe for mild cases of congestive heart failure. We have seen no good evidence that it can lower blood pressure.
There are actually a surprising number of natural approaches to blood pressure control. If you are overweight, losing several pounds can make a big difference.
The DASH diet rich in vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products has also been shown to lower blood pressure. Other options include beet juice, Concord grape juice or pomegranate juice. Even dark chocolate may help.
We are sending you our new Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment with information about non-drug approaches along with the best prescription medications.
