High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition; it is thought that at least fifty million Americans suffer from the condition.

In the human body, the heart pumps blood through the arteries in order to bring oxygen to the cells. Blood pressure is the arteries' resistance to the force of the blood that is pumped by the heart. The heart has a lot of work to do. It must move about ten pints of blood through as many as 100,000 miles of blood vessels at the rate of five quarts a minute by beating once a second. The arteries in a healthy person are relatively elastic, and they change their diameter to regulate the flow of blood. As they become narrower, the blood pressure is raised.

But, high blood pressure is not just the result of the physical condition of the blood vessels. It may also depend on the presence of excess fluids in the body. The more fluid, the greater the blood volume, and, thus, the greater the blood pressure. One way to lower blood pressure is to take a diuretic, which helps the body eliminate fluid. The amount of fluid in the body is regulated by the kidneys. If one has eaten too much salt, for example, the kidneys should eliminate the sodium and fluid through the urine. If the kidneys cannot eliminate the sodium, the fluid stays in the body, keeping the total blood volume high and raising the blood pressure.

Traditional Herbal Remedies

Traditional herbalists have prescribed a number of remedies for hypertension, including a mixture of hawthorn, linden blossom, yarrow, cramp bark, and valerian. Additionally, the linden blossom, hawthorn, and yarrow act as a diuretic, and the linden blossom, valerian and cramp bark have a reputation as relaxing agents.

If the hypertension also includes headache, wood betony might be added to the mix. If there is stress involved, one might add Siberian ginseng and skullcap.

Other dietary factors may be used to lower blood pressure. A low-salt diet often tends to make blood pressure go down. Additionally, eating food that are high in potassium -- green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, fish, potatoes, and low-fat milk -- may also bring blood pressure down. Cutting down on intake of fatty foods, restricting the use of alcohol and tobacco should also be useful.