Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

[CougBride07]

Hi Everyone! This is my first time posting here- I have been posting on the nest but obviously, my opinions are not being very well received. Hopefully I will find some sanity here. I just got back from an appointment with my midwife, and for the last 3 weeks, my blood pressure has been about 138/96. All of my blood tests have come back normal. No protein in my urine, no headaches, vision problems, and swelling is normal. She did say that if my blood tests do come back abnormal (I got blood drawn today and will find out tomorrow) that she will want to transfer me to an OB/GYN. The thought of this raises my blood pressure! I have been so dedicated to having a natural, peaceful, water birth and I am kind of freaking out about the possibility of having my baby in a hospital. I am planning on trying acupuncture this week, but was wondering if anyone had any ideas for lowering blood pressure naturally? I have been taking digestive enzymes, lowering sodium. Should I be walking more? Help!

[whalemilk]

Don't restrict sodium *too* much, that's generally not helpful. Instead, use sea salt instead of table salt whenever you can.

I have had a lot of luck with hawthorn tincture. It took about a week to start working, and then it has steadily improved my bp ever since. I am down to 110/55! I have a bp cuff at home and have been monitoring and it has stayed steadily lower. I take 30 drops in water 3x per day, the Herb Pharm brand hawthorn blend.

My readings are consistently somewhat lower at home than in anybody's office. I'd recommend getting or renting your own cuff and taking measurements at home and keeping a record. If you really just have "white coat" hypertension, it will help to have this record of more normal bp readings. Sit in a comfy chair with your arm supported at heart level (so on the arm of a couch for instance) for 5 minutes before the reading.

[Zannah]

I had high bp earlier in my pregnancy too. My MW recommended trying a high protein diet. Google Brewer diet. It seemed to work for me. My blood pressure improved within the first week of being on the diet.

[witchygrrl]

I've been having a daily banana, and at least some cucumber daily. My blood pressure, usually around 120/70, went up to 130/70 several weeks ago. Since the daily banana (I believe it's the potassium), the first reading the week after was 115/62, and last time was 118/68.

Be sure to drink plenty of water also.

Good luck!

[honeybunch2k8]

Ginger is supposed to be good for BP. I second the banana idea.

[Changed]

There's a remedy with dream of tartar and lemon juice that works pretty well. You can find it easily on google. Good luck!

[CougBride07]

Thanks!

Great Ideas! I just went and bought some Hawthorne Blend- hopefully it works. Should I be concerned that it says it contains grain alcohol at 40-45%? I'm almost 39 weeks along so there is no time for messing around. I have an appointment for acupuncture tomorrow. It is just so weird, my blood pressure was find my whole pregnancy and then at 37 weeks it was really high. It is driving me crazy that there is no cause that they know of.

[whalemilk]

Tinctures as a rule are made with alcohol but it's such a tiny amount that it's not likely to hurt anyone at all. I mean 30 drops three times a day adds up to maybe what, a teaspoon and a half? It's a miniscule amount, not worrisome to me personally at least.

[StarMama]

If your bp is up due to stress magensium can really help. The Calm products are nice, and there is even a mama calm (that I haven't been able to find locally).

High protein diet helps as well, I'd really check into that as well.

[Engineering_Mama]

My bp has been a little on the high side (140/80) since the beginning of my pg. I actually think it was that way before I got pg. My MW was a little concerned that it was staying that high. I asked my chiropracter about it and he's been doing adjustments for the bp (as well as my SI joint pain) for the last 4 weeks. My bp has steadily dropped since then.

Best of luck!