AYURVEDA IN HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT

Hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the most common lifestyle diseases affecting people today across the world. It is also known as the silent killer, as it can lead to a host of other conditions and lower the quality of the person’s life. Those affected by hypertension are at higher risk of heart disease and stroke as well. Symptoms include dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, and breathlessness.

In Ayurveda, it’s considered that Vata and Pitta dosha imbalances causes hypertension. Unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking and alcohol, unchecked consumption of fried foods, and salt, which leads to high cholesterol levels and hardening of the arteries, can all cause blood pressure variations. Stress and anxiety can also wreak havoc on the endocrine system, which leads to hypertension in the long run.

As with every other disease, Ayurveda primarily advocates preventing the disease rather than curing it afterward. Rather than medications, Ayurveda recommends lifestyle, nutritional and routine changes, and regular exercise, all of which help the heart regulate blood pressure.

Here are some of the methods suggested by Ayurveda.

1) As stress and anxiety are considered the leading causes of hypertension, yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises should be part of one’s daily routine. Also, remove yourself from situations that cause anger and anxiety, be it a job or a relationship, as your health is more important than any of those.

2) Regular exercise, including daily walking and jogging, can decrease body fat and cholesterol levels.

3) Avoid overly salty, spicy, and fried foods. It’s ideal to avoid red meat and meat altogether and switch to baked and boiled foods.

4) Amla, or the Indian gooseberry powerhouse of nutrients, is readily available in India. Having one raw every morning is ideal. If not, take it in juiced or powdered form.

5) Garlic can lower cholesterol, chewing a few cloves every morning on an empty stomach can do wonders for your blood pressure levels. Another superfood for BP is buttermilk, and so you can combine the two and drink buttermilk flavored with garlic every day.

6) Triphala, the all-in-one Ayurvedic herb, can also help regulate blood pressure levels and be consumed in powdered form. Alternately, take a teaspoon of honey on an empty stomach every morning.

7) Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds in water every night and consume the water the first thing the following day. If you don’t mind the taste, chew the seeds as well.

8) Moong dal is considered highly beneficial to treat blood pressure in Ayurveda. Add a bit of cumin, turmeric and coriander leaves to moong dal soup and consume every day with lunch.

9) Orange, coconut water, cucumber, and watermelon are all beneficial for the heart and hypertension. You can try out innovative methods and make a salad of them and have it once a week. Add a few Tulsi leaves to add an extra boost of nutrients.