I have high-blood pressure and am taking medication for this. Is there any herb I can take to help lower my b.p.? Also, I am 37 and I am wondering if there is any herb that can be taken to keep the bust from sagging as you age that is safe in combination with high b.p. medication.
Diet, exercise, herbs and stress management activities like meditation, and yoga are often helpful in reducing high blood pressure. Every person with high blood pressure has different needs. I recommend that you visit a well trained and experienced herbalist or naturopath for assessment. There you will be given recommendations specific to your needs, that are safe with your medications.
In general, your diet should be high in fresh fruit and vegetables, low in saturated fats, and include a daily intake of essential fatty acids like freshly ground flax seed, hemp seed and oily fish such as sardines, mackerel, herring and wild salmon. Foods that help to reduce blood pressure include olive oil, celery, calcium and potassium-rich foods like leafy greens. Herbs that are often helpful include:
- garlic: reduces high cholesterol and high blood pressure
- hawthorn berries: improves blood circulation around the heart
- Linden flower: calming, and relaxes the muscles in the blood vessel walls to allow better blood flow
- Yarrow: improves blood flow to the peripheries of the body, decreasing blood pressure
The only reference I can find to sagging breasts is Nicholas Culpeper in his 1826 "Complete Herbal", reprinted in 1992 by Magna Books, Leicester, UK. Culpeper recommends Lady's Mantle both internally and externally for "over-great flagging breasts". The tea is made by infusing one to two teaspoons of the dried herb in boiling water for 15 minutes. This tea can be taken internally and used to massage the breasts externally. Lady's mantle is easily grown, but not often available in stores. Richters sells the potted herb, the seed and the dried herb.
Alternatively, you could try herbal breast enhancers. To review information on possible breast enhancement herbs, please go to our website at
www.richters.com, choose "Q&A" from the main menu, then choose "Search Richters Q&A", and enter the word "breast" for the search.