A herb is a plant or plant extract, including leaves, bark, berries, roots, gums, seeds, stems and flowers. It is recognized from other plants by its stem, which is not woody and it dies back at the end of each growing season, leaving only its root system alive. Another important distinction is the herb’s nourishing and healing elements. The discovery of the healing effects of herbs dates back to the pre-civilization era.
Herbs for a Healthy Life
How to Save Money on Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices are a great way to spice up a meal, as well as offering a number of health benefits and healing properties to boot, but can run up quite a bill when getting them at the store. This is especially true due to the wide variety of these herbs and spice available. Luckily, there are ways to buy the ones that are needed while still saving a bundle on the overall cost.
Herbs That Can Elevate Blood Pressure
Hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure, afflicts over 30% of non-institutionalized people over the age of 20, according to statistics released by the CDC. Not everyone requires prescription medication to treat this condition, and there are some common herbs that should be avoided which can elevate the blood pressure and could cause problems. It is also recommended that you check with your health care professional before implementing any kind of herbal remedy program.
Blood pressure is the measurement of the force of the blood pumping through the veins and arteries of the body. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the chronic elevation of this measurement. Left untreated, hypertension can lead to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart failure. It is called the “silent killer” because often no symptoms are presented, and the only way to diagnose the condition is by regular monitoring of the blood pressure. African Americans are more likely to suffer from hypertension, and it is estimated 73 million Americans are affected.
Blood pressure can fluctuate, and stress often is a factor. Some people suffer from “white coat syndrome”, in which the blood pressure is elevated only when in a doctor’s office. This is attributed to the stress and worry some people feel when visiting their physician. Therefore, regular monitoring is important and can be done from home.
Since herbal remedies have become more popular, before implementing an herbal program to promote good health, education about possible side effects or interaction with prescription medications is imperative. Many common herbs can have an effect on blood pressure, so it’s good to be aware of what they do and of which ones to be cautious.
Some herbs regulate blood pressure, as opposed to just elevating it. This means that certain herbs and herbal remedies will lower the blood pressure if high, or elevate the blood pressure if low. These herbs must be used carefully, and their effects closely monitored, if you use them, on a regular basis. These regulating herbs are:
• Ginseng
• Garlic
• Parsley
• Ginger
• Evening primrose
• Hawthorne
• Hyssop
• Yarrow
• Chamomile
• Chervil
• Wood betony
• Passion flower