Imagine if garlic were created in a test-tube and was manufactured as a drug! It would sell like hotcakes. Especially if it were to be used in the treatment of high blood pressure symptoms. This pungent smelling herb has been used for several centuries for varying purposes. Garlic is known as a natural antibacterial and an anti-inflammatory agent.
Hence including garlic in your diet could prove to be beneficial as it helps in lowering cholesterol levels significantly, prevents cancer and several cardiovascular diseases and also acts as a blood thinner. Additionally, it is also known to treat gastritis.
How to Use Garlic for High Blood Pressure?
One of the most effective methods to consume garlic is to swallow a crushed clove of garlic. A fresh clove of garlic (4grams) contains around 1 percent of allicin. Additionally, you could also chop up one-three fresh cloves of garlic daily and add it to your meals. However, it must be noted that this may leave you with unpleasant breath.
Alternatively, you could also use garlic supplements and these are available in several forms such as pills, powders, oils, and extracts and their dosage could range from 100mg to 5,000mg. It is also to be noted that you check the label before buying the supplements, as some of these supplements have little to no allicin in them.
The dosage for garlic is variable and depends on the individual and the severity of their condition. However, generally, you could take anywhere between 600mg-1200mg divided equally into three doses per day. Before adhering to this regimen it is strongly advised that you check with your doctor/physician in regards to the dosage and if you could use these supplements.
[Also Read: How to Reduce Blood Pressure]
Benefits of Garlic
Is garlic good for blood pressure? Yes, it is. It is a well-known fact that consuming garlic regularly can prevent several chronic health conditions. Several clinical studies have shown that garlic is a natural antibacterial and antifungal and helps in lowering cholesterol naturally whilst acting as a blood thinner.
Additionally, it also boosts the immunity owing to its antioxidant properties. Garlic has been called the natural wonder drug, with the promising medicinal benefits. Also, when compared to its pharmaceutical counterparts, it fares scales beyond as it doesn’t have any altering side effects that may affect the body.
All of these medicinal benefits could be attributed to allicin, one of the chemical compounds that are present in garlic. Additionally, it also contains gamma-glutamylcysteine, a natural ACE inhibitor. One of the major causes of the increase in blood pressure in the body is due to an enzyme called angiotensin I- converting enzyme, or ‘ACE’.
There are several conventional medicines that could help reduce the production of this enzyme, called ACE inhibitors. However, they have their own myriad of side effects. The gamma-glutamylcysteine, present in garlic in combination with allicin gives garlic the ability to dilate arteries, thereby lowering blood pressure.
In the recent light of events, garlic’s medical benefits have been surface and several studies have been conducted about the same. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), garlic is known to reduce blood pressure significantly.
According to a report published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders(1) in 2008, scientists analyzed around 11 previously published clinical trials and found that garlic was superior to placebo in reducing blood pressure among people who were suffering from hypertension.
The same year, Annals of Pharmacotherapy(2) published another study that reviewed 10 clinical trials evaluating garlic’s effects on blood pressure. It was observed that the use of garlic was associated with a decrease in blood pressure among patients with elevated systolic blood pressure. Additionally, it was also noticed that garlic was unable to cause any drastic impact on patients that didn’t have any elevated systolic blood pressure.
There was another study(3) that was conducted to observe the variation of dosage of garlic extract on 79 patients suffering from high uncontrolled systolic blood pressure. They were each given either garlic extract (at a dose of 240,480, or 960 mg daily) or a placebo for 12 weeks.
After the 12 week period, it was observed that those who took 480mg or 960mg of garlic extract showed significant improvement in their systolic blood pressure. However, the ones who were on 240mg did show a change but it wasn’t anything drastic.
[Also Read: Foods to Control High Blood Pressure]
Precautions
As we have mentioned earlier that garlic is a natural blood thinner (anticoagulant), if you are taking garlic supplements alongside blood thinning medications it could compound the effect and make it very risky, Hence it is recommended that you completely avoid garlic if you are on blood thinning medications.
Additionally, if you are consuming raw garlic, it is recommended that you stick to around 3 a day divided equally, as more of this could cause indigestion and acidity in your stomach. Also, if you are on any ACE-inhibitor blood pressure medication, it is highly recommended that you consult an integrative physician before beginning garlic supplements.
Garlic for blood pressure could be one of the best methods to fight against high blood pressure, however, it must be noted that garlic supplements/garlic cannot be used as a substitute for standard care of hypertension. It is recommended that you use this as adjuvant therapy, whilst practicing other natural remedies/therapies. Hence use this remedy wisely and control your blood pressure.
[Alos Read: Herbal Remedies for High Blood Pressure]
FAQs
1. Does Garlic Lower Blood Pressure?
Yes! Garlic contains allicin, which is considered beneficial in healing high blood pressure symptom remedies. Also, garlic is a natural antibacterial and antifungal. It helps with lowering cholesterol levels.
2. How Much Should Garlic Should You Eat?
Ideally, you should have 1/3 to 1 1/2 grams of fresh raw or dried garlic is recommended, approximately,1/10 to 1/2 a garlic clove daily.
3. What are the Best Garlic Supplements for Blood Pressure?
Supplements or products that increase coenzyme Q10, L-arginine, L-arginine or garlic are considered good garlic supplements. Moreover, Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, high-dose fish oil supplements are also effective.
