Garlic and Blood Pressure

The link between garlic and blood pressure is well-known for a long time and has been established in many studies.

Raw garlic and garlic supplements have been shown to be useful for controlling hypertension and lowering high blood pressure, as well as for regulating blood pressure in general.

Studies on Garlic and High Blood Pressure

Garlic is extremely effective in lowering high blood pressure and recent studies have confirmed that garlic contains certain chemical substances called hydrogen sulfide or H2S which interacts with human red blood corpuscles.

Researchers observed that this particular interaction resulted in the garlic compounds getting metabolized to H2S which helps relax the blood capillaries or vessels. The H2S produced in the vascular system acts on the cell membranes and makes the smooth muscles relax, thereby working towards controlling high blood pressure.

Also, studies carried out on both animals and humans have shown that garlic lower blood pressure. In the German journal Planta Medica, it was reported that garlic has a small peptide which inhibits the production of a certain blood pressure-raising hormone.

One study carried out on laboratory rats in 1982 examined the link between garlic and blood pressure. 3 different dosages of garlic extracts were used on the animals - the doses used were 0.1ml/kg, 0.25ml/kg and 0.5ml/kg.

For all 3 dosages, there was a significant fall in systolic blood pressure, which occurred within 30 min after administration of the garlic. The two lower dosages were not able to sustain normal blood pressure for more than an hour or two, whereas the rats given the 0.5ml/kg dose maintained normal blood pressure for up to a day.

The study concluded positively on the link between garlic and blood pressure, stating that "garlic is effective as a natural agent for the treatment of hypertension".

Another study conducted in 1993 at the Clinical Research Center in New Orleans also examined the link between garlic and blood pressure. The study investigated the use of a popular garlic preparation on 9 persons suffering from severe hypertension. This study also concluded that garlic lowers blood pressure, with no significant side effects being reported.

More recently, in mid 2008, a team at Adelaide University in South Australia, in a bid to draw a connection between garlic and blood pressure, looked at and reviewed 11 previous studies. In those studies, the patients took various garlic supplements daily for between 3 to 6 months.

And the analysis showed that garlic caused significant decreases in levels of blood pressure. It had the most pronounced effect on those who had the highest blood pressure in the first place, and, in some cases, the results gotten by the garlic supplements were even as good as those achieved by drugs such as beta blockers.

The thing is, according to the study, the amount of allicin in the supplements given was only about the amount found in a small clove of garlic. (Allicin is one of the main compounds in garlic responsible for its many health benefits.) That is very little. And yet it could achieve such good results.

These studies are just the tip of the iceberg - there are many more out there.

Garlic - an excellent herb for blood pressure

The fact is, garlic has been used as a treatment for hypertension in China and Japan for many centuries. Even in some European countries, it is prescribed for this purpose. What are the other countries waiting for? Is the connection between garlic and high blood pressure not clear and obvious enough?

According to top natural healers, garlic is the best herb for treating high blood pressure. Number one. And that applies even to emergency situations; yes, it is supposed to be that powerful. To those in the natural health community, there is no doubt with regard to the positive link between garlic and blood pressure regulation.

What is great about garlic (and most herbs), is that, unlike chemical drug medications, garlic is not only able to lower high blood pressure, but it can also increase low blood pressure. In other words, it is more of a blood pressure regulator or balancer, restoring it to healthy levels. There is thus little need to worry about one's blood pressure becoming too low after taking too much garlic.

Quality of Garlic

Unfortunately, most of the garlic supplements which are available on shelves today are of poor quality. To get the best results for garlic and blood pressure, one should consume fresh, raw, organic garlic.

Good quality garlic bulbs each contain 10 to 12 large, white cloves. If a bulb has many - 30 to 50 or so - small, yellow cloves, then it is inferior garlic. A good starting dosage would be 3 to 5 large cloves a day, although a lot more can be taken.

Conclusion

There are other useful herbs and herbal remedies for high blood pressure and hypertension. Read about them.

Also, read more about the health benefits of garlic, ways to consume it, as well as other aspects of the garlic plant, in the other related garlic articles.

Garlic Pages | Summary Article | Health Benefits of Garlic | Information | History and Facts of Garlic | Planting, Harvesting, Storing and Preserving Garlic | Eating Garlic | How to Make Garlic Butter - a simple garlic butter recipe | An Easy Garlic Bread Recipe - Making Homemade Garlic Bread | Consuming the Garlic Plant - various ways to do so | Benefits | An Overview of Health Medicinal Benefits of Garlic | Garlic Health Benefits - Some Research and Studies | Garlic for Acne Treatment | Garlic and Blood Pressure | Garlic and Cancer - Is Garlic Anti Cancer? | Garlic to Lower Cholesterol | Garlic for Heart Health | Medicinal Properties of Garlic against Microbes, Harmful Organisms, Bacteria, Fungi, Parasites and Viruses | Side Effects | Possible Garlic Side Effects, Caution and Contraindications

Read More: Information on some Herbs | Natural Healing Herbs, Herbals Formulas and Foods - My Favorites | Herbal Remedies for Various Health Conditions and Ailments | Home Page | Site Search

To find an online source of good quality herbs and herbal products at reasonable prices, click here.

	Get Quality Natural Health Supplements at Reasonable Prices. $5 or $10 discount for new customers
Get natural, herbal and homeopathic remedies for hundreds of health conditions and ailments. GO.

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read. Leave a comment in the box below.