The Sunlight Experiment

Herbal Actions

Antihypertensive

Lowers blood pressure

Helps lower raised blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, gently increasing urine flow or calming the nervous system. Used with lifestyle change and monitoring; take care alongside blood-pressure medication, which it can add to.

How it works

Antihypertensive is not one mechanism but several overlapping ones. Each of these is its own herbal action — follow a link for the herbs strongest in that mechanism.

Vasodilator Widens blood vessels to ease blood flow and lower the heart’s workload; can add to blood-pressure medication. Vasoprotective Protects and strengthens blood-vessel walls. Antiplatelet Reduces platelet aggregation — a blood-thinning effect. ACE Inhibitor Inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme, relaxing blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. Vasoconstrictor Tightens blood vessels — useful for lax veins and bleeding.

Indications:

Herbs with a antihypertensive action (33)

Key herbs

Herbs for which antihypertensive is a headline action.

Cacao

Theobroma cacao

AntioxidantStimulantBronchodilatorCardiotonic

Coleus

Coleus forskohlii

AntihypertensiveAntiplateletAntispasmodicCardiotonic

Dan Shen

Salvia miltiorrhiza

CardioprotectiveAntihypertensiveAntiplateletHepatoprotective

Garlic

Allium sativum

AntimicrobialAntihypertensiveHypolipidemicCirculatory-stimulant

Guamura

Cecropia mexicana

CardiotonicAntihypertensiveAntiasthmatic

Olive Leaf

Olea europaea

AntihypertensiveAntioxidantBitterAntiviral
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Astragalus

Astragalus membranaceus

AdaptogenAntioxidantAntiviralCardiotonic

Cacao

Theobroma cacao

AntioxidantStimulantBronchodilatorCardiotonic

Cat's Claw

Uncaria tomentosa

ImmunomodulatorAnti-inflammatoryAntioxidantAdaptogen

Chinese Skullcap

Scutellaria baicalensis

AntiviralAnti-inflammatoryAntiallergicAntibacterial

Codonopsis

Codonopsis pilosula

AdaptogenAntihypertensiveNootropicHypolipidemic

Coffee

Coffea arabica

AntioxidantBronchodilatorCardiotonicDiuretic

Coleus

Coleus forskohlii

AntihypertensiveAntiplateletAntispasmodicCardiotonic

Dan Shen

Salvia miltiorrhiza

CardioprotectiveAntihypertensiveAntiplateletHepatoprotective

Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium

Anti-inflammatoryVasodilatorEmmenagogueAperient

Garlic

Allium sativum

AntimicrobialAntihypertensiveHypolipidemicCirculatory-stimulant

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

CarminativeAntiemeticAntispasmodicCirculatory Stimulant

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba

NeuroprotectiveNootropicCirculatory-stimulantAntioxidant

Guamura

Cecropia mexicana

CardiotonicAntihypertensiveAntiasthmatic

Gynostemma

Gynostemma pentaphyllum

AntidiabeticAdaptogenVasodilatorAntihypertensive

Hawthorn

Crataegus oxyacantha

CardiotonicDiureticAstringentAntihypertensive

Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

NervineAntioxidantAntihypertensiveEmollient

Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

CardiotonicNervineAntispasmodicFemale-tonic

Olive Leaf

Olea europaea

AntihypertensiveAntioxidantBitterAntiviral

Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

AnalgesicAntibacterialAntifungalAntidepressant

Stevia

Stevia rebaudiana

HypoglycemicAntihypertensiveAnti-inflammatoryVasodilator

Stinging Nettle

Urtica dioica

AlterativeAnti-inflammatoryAntilithicAntimicrobial

Tea

Camellia sinensis

AntioxidantDiureticNeuroprotectiveStimulant

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

Anti-inflammatoryAntioxidantCholereticCholagogue

Ylang Ylang

Cananga odorata

SedativeNervineAntidepressantAnxiolytic