Homeopathic Remedies to Treat Hypertension

Roughly one-third of all American adults suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension, defined by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute as blood pressure that is consistently 140/90 mm/HG (millimeters of mercury) or higher. Hypertension can lead to stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease and other serious illnesses. Homeopathic medicine takes a unique approach to treating hypertension---and all disease---by using small amounts of substances that in larger quantities might cause the very symptoms being treated.

Rationale Behind Homeopathy

• Homeopathic medicine is based on two principles: the Law of Similars and potentization. The former, according to the Truestar Health Encyclopedia, holds that most symptoms can be relieved by administering small amounts of diluted compounds of substances that at full strength can trigger the symptoms being targeted. Potentization is the process of getting homeopathic drugs ready for use and involves a series of dilutions and vigorous shakings, known as succussions. This process is designed to make substances that might otherwise be toxic safe for human consumption.

A Cautionary Note

• The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, warns that research on the safety of homeopathic treatment has been limited, making it impossible to give these practices a comprehensive stamp of approval. It also concludes that studies thus far have turned up very little evidence to support the curative claims of homeopathic medicine. There are no uniform federal laws governing licensing and certification of homeopathic practitioners, so be sure to research the background of a homeopath and check out his state credentials.

Specific Remedies

• The NativeRemedies website offers a list of homeopathic remedies to treat high blood pressure that includes the types of individuals that are thought most likely to benefit from each. If you are impulsive, imaginative, somewhat claustrophobic and have a craving for salt or sweets, then perhaps Argentum nitricum is the homeopathic remedy for your hypertension. It is also a preferred treatment for those whose hypertension is accompanied by headache, diarrhea and giddiness. If you're experiencing stress-related hypertension in a high-pressure workplace, you may want to consider Aurum metallicum.

  If your hypertension is triggered by heat or intensity and is accompanied by severe headache, vertigo, sensitivity to noise and light, and cold hands and feet, Belladonna could be the treatment of choice for you. If you tire easily, consider Calcarea carbonica. If, however, you're the type who holds grudges and tends to fear unfavorable outcomes from relatively innocuous incidents, Natrum muriaticum may be the best choice for you.

  Hpathy.com lists some other homeopathic remedies for hypertension that you may want to consider. These include Arnica montana, which may be right for you if you're experiencing symptoms of angina, weak pulse and shortness of breath; Aurum muriaticum, which also targets tachyarrhythmia and palpitations; and Secale cornatum, a good choice if your hypertension is accompanied by congestive headaches. Still other remedies include Veratrum album, Cactus grandiflorus, Coffea cruda, Lobelia inflata and Spartium scoparium.