As per Ayurveda, high blood pressure or hypertension involves a disruption of balance in the blood (doshas) primarily by vata dosha with pitta and kapha being the secondary doshas. This leads to changes in various organs causing the disease.
According to Ayurveda, hypertension can be attributed to 2 types of causes:
Diet-related Causes (Aharaj-nidana):
-These include excessive salt intake (atilavana), alcohol intake (atimadyapana), and meat consumption (mansa-sewan)
Lifestyle-related Causes (Viharaj-nidana):
-These causes chiefly include staying awake at night (ratrijagarana), sleeping during the day (divasvapna), holding on to natural urges like urination (vegavidharana), sedentary lifestyle (avyayama), overexertion (ativyayam), stress and anxiety (manashetu).
MANAGEMENT
-For hypertension, the main objective of Ayurvedic approach is to cure the disease, vitalize the body’s immunity to improve healing and to prevent its occurrence.
-As hypertension is a lifestyle disease, hence, ancient Ayurveda has clearly defined dietary and lifestyle changes along with medications to regulate blood pressure.
1 . Dietary Changes
-Consume green gram, lentil, spinach, fenugreek, lemon, carrot, papaya, dry grapes, cumin, black pepper, honey, buttermilk, old rice, barley, and tribulus (gokshura).
-Avoid red meat, curd, salt, excessive fatty foods, alcohol, junk foods and bakery foods.
2 . Lifestyle Changes
-Exercise daily, follow a regular routine and an ethical regimen, and lead a stress-free life.
-Avoid sedentary lifestyle, excessive exercise, suppression of natural urges like that of urine, daytime sleeping, excessive stress, excessive anger, and staying awake during night.
-Individual drugs like Gokshura, Guggulu, Gomutra (cow urine), Arjuna, Punarnava, Ashwagandha, and Triphala can be used for the treatment of hypertension.
-The prepared formulations like brahmivati, brahmi rasayana, and sarasvatarishta can be helpful due to their sedative effect.
-Different classical yogas (formulations) mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic books including Prabhakarvati, Sarpagandavati, and kamdudharasa are also recommended by the physicians.
Also Read: Ashwagandha Uses
4 . Panchakarma
-Procedure of full body massage (Sarvanga Abhyanga) with medicated oils followed by induced vomiting and purgative therapy (Vaman and Virechan) or medicated enema (basti) may be administered depending upon the vitiated dosha and condition of the patient.
5 . Yoga
-Meditation and other relaxing techniques can help you in stress reduction.
-You can also benefit from Pranayama, Shavasana, Vajrasana, Makarasana, Dhanurasana, and Sukhasana, if practiced regularly and appropriately.
USEFUL TIPS FOR PATIENTS
-Garlic powder in the dosage of 600-900 mg per day is a useful remedy for high blood pressure
–Arjuna bark powder when taken in the dosage of 4 gm twice daily causes significant improvement in hypertension.
-Two tablets of Sarpagandha vati (250 mg) taken twice daily have shown good results in reducing blood pressure.
-Having Ashwagandha powder 2 gm with milk also helps to reduce blood pressure.
You must always consult an Ayurvedic doctor before starting any medication.