In this era of high tension and stress, High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a silent killer. According to the latest figures of the National Family Health Survey, one in eight Indian suffers from high blood pressure. A lifestyle disease, its symptoms aren’t obvious till it is too late. Like many other lifestyle diseases, you just need to make a few tweaks to your lifestyle to protect yourself from the disease. Ayurveda is a very effective tool to combat this killer.
Ayurvedic medicines like Jatamansi, Sarpagandha, and Amalaki can be helpful. Dry ginger, herbs like Malabar nut (vasa), silk cotton tree (Katankari) or green potato (Parol)as well as sandalwood, lotus, and Shatavari can be of help. Panchakarma or the set of 5 therapies that help in clearing toxins from the body is a very effectivile tool to detoxify the body, which helps on lowering the risk of such lifestyle diseases. Moringa (drumstick) leaf juice with honey is also a great treatment for hypertension.
Lifestyle changes are primary in reducing high blood pressure. Steps like avoiding excessive spicy, sour and salty foods like chilies and papad, garam masala, foods with preservatives like ready-to-eat preparations and pickles, breads and flour (maida) products, untimely food habits, excess eating after sunset and refrigerated food items can help reduce hypertension. Instead, add foods like moong, wheat, fruits like pomegranate and amla, garlic, ghee and milk to your diet. A fat and oil-free diet is also recommended as it may aggravate vata and kapha qualities in the body. Drink an adequate amount of water in specified intervals and include more greens in the diet.
Along with Ayurveda, certain yogasanas that can help you beat hypertension are Pranayam, Shavasan, Anulom-vilomma, Mayurasan, Shirshasan, Veerbhadrasan, Bhujangasana, and Vajrasana. Itoozhi Ayurveda specializes in therapies for lifestyle diseases and is amongst the best known Ayurvedic centers in Kerala.
