Maintain your blood pressure with hibiscus tea

High blood pressure, known scientifically as hypertension, is a chronic medical condition. Hypertension can be dangerous, and is associated with an increased risk of potentially fatal conditions, including heart attack and heart failure, stroke, aneurysm, and kidney failure. Fortunately, there are a number of effective natural treatments for hypertension, including exercise, diet, and herbal remedies. This article focuses on one herbal remedy for naturally lowering blood pressure that is safe, inexpensive, and widely available: hibiscus tea.

What is Hibiscus Tea?

Hibiscus tea Melbourne is a drink made out of the sepals of the roselle plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa. This drink is popular as a beverage in a number of countries worldwide, particularly in the Caribbean, Africa (where it is called karkade in North Africa, bissap in Senegal). Hibiscus tea is sour, aromatic, and has a deep purplish-red color. Hibiscus tea can be easily brewed at home by steeping the dried sepals in water just as you would any herbal tea.

Studies of Hibiscus Used to Lower Blood Pressure:

Hibiscus has been studied more thoroughly than a number of herbs and has been found to be effective for lowering blood pressure. Both the extract of the plant, and hibiscus tea itself have been directly studied in recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. The mechanism of action is also beginning to be understood: it is thought that hibiscus acts as an ACE inhibitor, a well-known and well-studied class of hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) drugs. Perhaps more importantly, the quantity of hibiscus tea used in one study suggests that the benefits of this treatment are available to people who consume a moderate amount of hibiscus tea daily.

Comparison with Medications:

There is a wide variety of prescription medications used to lower blood pressure, and only a few of them have been compared to hibiscus in scientific studies. One study found hibiscus to be roughly comparable in effect to captopril (brand name Capoten), an older drug. It was found to have a weaker effect than lisinopril (also known as Prinivil, Tensopril, Zestril, or Hipril), a newer and more powerful drug.

Safety & Side Effects:

Hibiscus tea has been widely consumed as a beverage worldwide, for thousands of years. It is an ingredient in many herbal teas and is generally considered to be a safe beverage ingredient. In addition, the clinical studies have observed a noticeable absence of strong side effects--in pharmacological language, the tolerability of hibiscus is outstanding.

Andrew Joseph is a marketing manager for steuartstea.com.au and he is working since couple of years.