How to Get Rid of Body Acne

Body acne mostly occurs in the neck, chest, back, upper arms, buttocks and shoulders. In fact, it can develop anywhere in the body excluding the palms and the soles. Body acne is more or less similar to facial acne. It is also observed that those with facial acne are shown to develop body acne to some extent. Nevertheless, as the body skin is thicker than the facial skin, body acne tends to develop severe lesions and scars. Even though not many people report body acne cases, it is so common that majority of the people worldwide get body acne at some point of their life.

The causes of acne are hyperactive oil glands, excess accumulation of dead skin cells and infestation of bacteria, which are responsible for development of acne. It is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Hence, it is obvious that body acne runs in families. Irritation on the skin, especially when wearing tight, and/or sweaty and damp clothes, may trigger the development of body acne. Regarding the best acne treatment, proper skin care along with over-the-counter medications respond effectively.

Speaking about the ways to get rid of body acne, they are different in comparison to facial acne. This is due to the fact that the number of pores and sweat glands are more in the body than the face area. Regarding the best way to get rid of body acne, there is no simple and fast tip as such. However, having better knowledge about caring for body acne and tips to get rid of body acne will help in acne control and also in preventing recurrent body acne outbreaks.

Frequent Bathing: The best way to get rid of body acne is frequent bathing with lukewarm water. Soaking the acne affected areas in warm water will help in loosening dead skin cells and opening the pores. Do not irritate the skin by scrubbing the affected areas with a loofah or body scrubber. If possible, take shower baths several times a day to wash off perspiration. Doing so will minimize the chances of bacterial infestation over the portions that are prone to development of body acne.

Use Mild Cleansers: Regular usage of fragrant soaps are not advisable for cleaning body acne. Rather, a mild cleanser can be used for cleaning the affected areas several times a day. There are also specific skin care cleansers that are formulated for body acne. Such products contain active ingredient, which help in the removal of accumulated oils and dead cells. Use the skin cleanser as per the directions provided with the product.

Exfoliate Skin: Skin exfoliation helps in the removal of dead skin cells, which are one of the major reasons for clogging of pores and development of body acne. Use a prescription skin product with exfoliation beads to exfoliate the affected skin area. According to beauty experts, skin exfoliation should be done at least twice a week.

Comfortable Clothing: As skin irritation worsens body acne, wearing loose and comfortable clothes is a good tip for body acne prevention. The fabric of the clothes should be such that it will absorb sweat and perspiration effectively. Woolen clothes should be strictly avoided, as these materials tend to scratch skin, which in turn aggravates body acne.

Diet Plan: As far as the diet plan is concerned, it should include ample amounts of fruits and vegetables. Since these food items contain a high amount of antioxidants, they are effective for combating free radicals and improving the immune system. Also, refrain from eating too much of oily food for getting rid of body acne. In order to flush body toxins, it is advisable to drink plenty of water everyday.

In case of painful, large and persistent body acne, it is advisable to consult a qualified dermatologist for proper diagnosis and correct treatments. The physician may prescribe topical ointments as well as oral medications to treat moderate to severe cases of acne.

Bright Orange Urine during Pregnancy

Every new sign during pregnancy can make you feel anxious and give you jitters. These jitters are difficult to deal with, as you are obviously taking utmost care of yourself and most essentially the baby. This may be all the more frustrating when you see signs bothering you rather than making you feel comfortable and at ease with your body. The most prominent sign that disturbs mums-to-be is the change in the urine color. The color may go through a number of changes in terms of color and odor that it emits, when thrown out of the system. It is due to this very reason that one needs to know what the changing urine color means.

Why Urine Color Changes

The kidneys are responsible for producing urine. Kidneys filter the blood and thus processes blood plasma, allowing water, sugar, amino acids, vitamins and other vital substances to re-enter the blood stream. As this filtration continues, this process in turn sorts out waste substances like urea, uric acid, hormone waste and toxins. These are toxins and waste matter that is excreted out in the urine. In normal circumstances, the color of urine is pale yellow, and this color is due to the pigment urochrome. The cause of concern is when the pale color of urine is altered. This generally happens when there is a detection of kidney diseases. It is during this stage that the filtration process of urine production becomes faulty. Due to this, certain elements like red blood cells, white blood cells, proteins, dyes, etc., also get filtered through, thus passing into the urine. This leads to a change in the urine color. In certain cases, you may also witness traces of blood in the urine. This is a condition causing hematuria. It's this meaning of urine color that is used to reach a temporary diagnosis.

Causative Factors of Bright Orange-colored Urine

If the urine color during pregnancy is orange, thus making you anxious, the first thing that you need to do is to relax. The orange color of the urine does not mean that something is necessarily wrong. The reasons could be as elementary as drinking considerably less water or something that you have been eating that is contributing to the color. It may also be due to the fact that you have been consuming prenatal vitamins that has been causing the urine color to change. To make you feel all the more comfortable, let this article state that many women experience the same signs of urine color changing, yet have had an absolutely normal and healthy pregnancy.

Dehydration
You might have observed that when you are not pregnant, your urine color changes from clear to pale yellow when you have not had enough water to flush out the system. During pregnancy, the scenario remains unchanged. All you need to do is to keep yourself well-hydrated and ensure that you are getting enough water to drink throughout the day. Make a conscious effort to drink water even if you are not very religious with your habit of drinking water. You may notice that the urine could just be more concentrated than usual, thus resulting in a darker yellow color. Thus, it is very important that you get enough water during your pregnancy.

What You Eat
What you eat can also cause bright orange urine during pregnancy. Asparagus, beets and carrots can also change the color of your urine. Follow a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, and don't worry about the effect it has on the color of your urine. It is important that you have a good and well-balanced diet, so that the urine color does not change.

Prenatal Vitamins
Vitamins play a major role in changing the color of urine. What your body does not absorb from the vitamins with the current intake, is instead removed from the body via the urine. Prenatal vitamins are no exception. Vitamins are packed with very beneficial ingredients that promote the well-being for you and your baby. But your body probably doesn't need to absorb all of them. Vitamin B12 is the primary factor that causes bright orange or yellow urine during pregnancy. Don't stop taking your prenatal vitamins just because of the change in the color of the urine.

Make sure that during your pregnancy, you drink more water, follow a well-balanced diet, and keep taking your prenatal vitamins. If however you experience any discomfort during your pregnancy, along with dark orange urine, make it a point to let your doctor know about the issue. Generally, bright orange urine occurring while pregnant should not be an issue requiring an urgent concern.

Pulmonary Hypertension: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Pulmonary hypertension is a disorder which is caused when the blood pressure in the lungs' arteries, also known as the pulmonary arteries, is very high and at an abnormal level. If a person is suffering from this condition, he generally has a truncation of breath after travail and energy loss. Some may even feel weak and exhausted, or may lose consciousness. Chest X-rays and scans, electrocardiography, and echocardiography are needed to diagnose this disease. However, the mensuration of the level of blood pressure in the right heart ventricle and the pulmonary artery is required for confirmation.

What is Pulmonary Hypertension?

The lungs' arteries are responsible for carrying blood from the heart's right side into the lungs, after which carbon dioxide is removed from the blood and oxygen is put into it. Generally, these arteries have a low pressure, which makes the heart's right side less muscly than the left one. The heart's left side is more muscly as it pumps blood to the whole body. Pulmonary hypertension is caused when the blood pressure in the arteries rises to an abnormally increased level. In such a condition, the heart's right side has to take extra efforts to pump the blood through the arteries into the lungs. If the heart functions in such a manner for a considerable amount of time, the right ventricle thickens and expands, thus causing the heart to fail.

Causes

There are various causes which contribute to pulmonary hypertension, such as HIV, drugs, lung diseases, and hypoxia. Left-sided heart failure is the most common cause, and occurs if any valve in the heart doesn't work normally, the pressure of the blood is abnormally high in the left ventricle, or due to previously experienced heart attacks. It can also be caused due to a disease which disables the heart muscles in their pumping function. If the lungs are affected by any disease, an extra effort is required to pump blood through them. Low levels of oxygen in the blood can make the pulmonary arteries narrow, which may contribute to pulmonary hypertension. If a person stays at a place which is at a higher altitude for a longer time, it can lower the level of oxygen in the blood.

Symptoms

If a person is unable to breathe properly after exerting his body, it is considered as a primary symptom of pulmonary hypertension. One who has breathing problems immediately needs to be checked and diagnosed for this disease. He may also feel weak or dizzy after exercising or a workout. It is because of the body tissues not getting sufficient amounts of oxygen. He may even experience cough and sneezing due to a lung disorder, and swelling due to a leakage of the fluid in the blood vessels into the tissues. Swelling normally occurs in the legs, and is a signal that the heart's right side is about to stop functioning.

Treatment

The treatment for this disease is to be commenced immediately after the disease has been diagnosed. Vasodilators, medicines to dilate blood vessels, like calcium channel blockers and prostacyclin analogs are helpful for individuals suffering from HIV, dermatosclerosis, and chronic liver diseases. However, these medicines have not proven to be helpful for individuals suffering from an underlying lung disorder. Those with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension can take vasodilators such as prostacyclin which drastically lower the blood pressure in the lungs' arteries. If prostacyclin is given to the patient through his vein using a catheter (a thin flexible tube inserted into the body), it meliorates the survival chances and sustains the time until lung transplantation is needed. However, before treating the patient with prostacyclin, physicians check its effectiveness on the patient, as it can also be harmful to some individuals. Nowadays hypodermic and inhaled forms of prostacyclin are also available.

People who are mildly affected with pulmonary hypertension are treated orally with endothelin receptor blockers, bosentan, and ambrisentan. 'Iloprost', a medicine which has effects similar to prostacyclin may also be used by inhalation. For patients who have a low amount of oxygen in the blood, oxygen may be supplied through nasal prongs or oxygen masks which may lower the blood pressure in the arteries, and may help the patient to breathe normally. Anticoagulant medications may be used as well to prevent blood clots. Though lung transplantation is a recommended procedure for treating patients with this disease, it can only be carried out with patients who are healthy enough to withstand the potential effects and hardships of the process.

If one is experiencing the above mentioned symptoms, he needs to immediately consult a doctor and undergo a medical examination to find traces of pulmonary hypertension.

How to Cure High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is also known as hypertension, which refers to an elevated blood pressure. Blood pressure usually refers to the pressure or force, exerted by the circulating blood on the arterial wall. So high blood pressure means that the pressure or force with which the circulating blood is pushed against the wall of the arteries is higher than the normal level. Normal blood pressure is 120/80, where 120 is the measure of systolic pressure, while 80 is the normal level of diastolic pressure.

Hypertension is a complex disorder, which is usually classified as essential or primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. There are no known medical causes for primary hypertension, while secondary hypertension is caused by tumors or kidney diseases. The main risk factors for primary hypertension, are obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, vitamin D deficiency, alcoholism, sodium sensitivity, insulin resistance and an increased level of renin enzyme. In addition to these, genetics is also believed to play an important role in increasing its risk. On the other hand, secondary hypertension is caused due to abnormalities of the adrenal glands, kidney problems, pregnancy, medications and sleep disorders. Hypertension is a leading cause of coronary heart diseases, strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure and so it is very essential to control this disorder.

High Blood Pressure Treatment

The usual treatment options for hypertension are medications, along with lifestyle and dietary modifications. However, in recent times, the popularity of herbal remedies has increased considerably.

Medications
There are no permanent cure for this condition, but it can be controlled with several medications. The medications commonly used in its treatment are ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and diuretics and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Sometimes, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers and renin inhibitors, are also used to treat this condition. However, most of these medications can cause side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, a dry mouth, depression, constipation and sleeping problems.

Lifestyle Modifications
Lifestyle modifications, like regular exercise and dietary changes, can be quite effective in naturally controlling this health problem. Even physicians strongly recommend changes in lifestyle along with medications to regulate the level of blood pressure. Regular aerobic exercise can effectively lower the risk associated with it by regulating blood pressure and reducing weight and improving blood circulation. It is also important to lower the intake of sugar and sodium in the diet.

A diet that contains a large amount of vegetables and fresh fruits, is ideal for people dealing with this condition. It has been revealed through several studies, that the intake of calcium, potassium and magnesium can significantly lower blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium. Vitamin A and C can also reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, which is a serious complication associated with it.

Herbs
Today, alternative medicines like herbs are being increasingly used for treating a number of ailments including high blood pressure. Some of such popular herbal remedies are garlic, turmeric, cloves, hawthorn, Ginkgo biloba, ginger and olive leaf extracts. Garlic and clove are quite beneficial in reducing the level of cholesterol and blood pressure, while the leaves, flowers and berries of hawthorn can be used in maintaining proper heart functions and stabilizing an irregular heartbeat.

Turmeric is beneficial in lowering cholesterol, preventing the formation of blood clots, improving blood circulation and strengthening blood vessels. Ginkgo biloba is also effective in improving blood circulation and in dilating arteries. Similarly, olive leaf extracts can lower blood pressure and alleviate an irregular heartbeat. However, some of these herbs can clash with certain medications and supplements and therefore, it is advisable to take such herbs only under the guidance of an expert or professional.

So regular exercise and a healthy diet, along with medications, are of prime importance in order to treat high blood pressure and reducing the associated complications. In addition to all these, avoiding alcohol and smoking are also crucial to effectively control this condition.

Urine Color Chart

Whenever you pass urine, you should always notice its color. Why? Because, urine color will help you spot dehydration symptoms in your body. Dehydration can occur if you do not drink enough water during the day. Dehydration can lead to many serious health related problems and maybe even death. Apart from dehydration it will also help you spot signs of urinary tract infection. If you are able to understand the urine color you pass, you may be able to spot an underlying health condition. The following chart for hydration as well as infection will help you match your urine color and assess your health situation.

Causes of Dehydration
There can be many causes of dehydration. It may happen due to severe diarrhea and vomiting. Body loses water faster than it can replenish the fluids. This leads to severe dehydration. It can also occur by drinking a lot of caffeinated drinks. It causes your body to lose more fluids leading to dehydration. Avoid drinking sugary drinks to quench your thirst. Instead of replenishing the body fluids, sugary drinks cause dehydration. This is because each sugar molecule requires one molecule of water for its metabolism. Excessive running, walking, exercises may also lead to dehydration. Excessive sweating may also cause loss of body fluids.

Causes of Other Health Problems
Many times one may observe changes in urine color due to a urinary tract infection. At times, kidneys that are not functioning to the optimum level also cause change in urine color. Thus, bacterial infection, kidney ailments, liver problems, etc. can lead to color changes of the urine.

Urine Color Chart for Hydration
If you are wondering if you are experiencing dehydration or if your body is well-hydrated, then the following table will prove to be a helpful guide.

The colors are just representative of the urine color. Match the shade of your urine to the nearest color in the chart for interpretation.

URINE COLOR CHART TO INDICATE DEHYDRATION
H y d r a t e d
		Level 1	This is the normal color of urine. If this is your urine color, it means you are well-hydrated and healthy.
		Level 2	Slightly darker color urine also indicates you are okay. All you need is to drink a little more water.
		Level 3	This still indicates you are hydrated, but need to drink about 1/2 bottle of water in an hour. You could even drink a whole bottle (1/2 liter) of water. This advice should be followed especially by those who are outside and/or sweating.
D e h y d r a t e d
		Level 4	This indicates you are dehydrated and need to drink at least 1 bottle (1/2 liter of water immediately.
		Level 5	You are definitely dehydrated and need to increase your water intake. If you are drinking excess caffeinated drinks, stop immediately. Your body is experiencing severe loss of water.
		Level 6	This is the most severe sign of dehydration. You should be drinking liter water and seek medical help without delay.

Consequences of Dehydration
In the above urine color chart for dehydration, level 1 and level 2 indicate normal urine colors. Level 3 urine color indicates dehydration to some extent, whereas 4 and 5 point towards severe dehydration. Dehydration results in impaired performance of an individual. Other dehydration symptoms include nausea, weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps and unsteady gait. If you notice dark urine along with the symptoms of dehydration you need to stop all physical activity. You should loosen your clothes and sit down. Drink water, but not in gulps. Instead sip water slowly. If you gulp water down, it will lead to severe nausea and even vomiting. Sipping will help your body replenish water and overcome dehydration. If one suffers from vomiting, confusion, agitation, convulsions, high body temperature due to dehydration, call for medical help immediately. The person needs to be laid down on a flat surface and loosen all clothing. Give him sips of water if the person is conscious. You can pour cold water over the person or apply ice on their skin to cool them.

Urine Color Chart for Health Problems
As mentioned above, urine color can also indicate health problems. The following table will cover information that will help you understand possible health causes for a particular urine color.

The diagnosis given is to help readers understand the possible causes. This is not a diagnostic tool. One should visit a medical professional and carry out proper diagnostic tests, in order to confirm the underlying health issues.

URINE COLOR CHART TO INDICATE POSSIBLE HEALTH AILMENTS
	Pale yellow, clear or cloudy	Clear urine indicates your health is fine. You should continue eating healthy food and follow the correct diet that suits your body type. If the urine has no color, it may indicate diabetes insipidus that causes large amounts of severely diluted urine. In some cases, it may indicate liver disease, like hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, or diabetes mellitus. Cloudy urine may indicate cystitis.
	Dark yellow or golden color	Dark urine is a sign of dehydration. It may also indicate of over-consumption of vitamins or food supplements containing B complex vitamins as well as laxatives containing cascara and senna. Consumption of medications like chloroquine and nitrofurantoin, primaquine, methocarbamol, metronidazole may also cause the urine to darken. It may also indicate other medical ailments like liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and acute glomerulonephritis. At times people eating excess of Fava beans, aloe and rhubarb may also find their urine color turning golden-yellow.
	Deep yellow, orange or amber	Orange urine color indicates dehydration as well excess consumption of certain food dyes. At times, laxatives also lead to orange urine. Other than that, eating excessive carrots, vitamin C ,and foods high in carotene also change the color of the urine into amber, deep yellow or orange color. Use of certain medications like pyridium can cause orange color of urine.
	Pink or red color	Pink or red colored urine indicates kidney infections or bladder infections. Excessive consumption of beets, berries and food dyes can also cause the urine to turn pink or red. Porphyria, is disease that attacks the skin and nervous system of a patient. It causes the urine to turn dark reddish pink in color. Hematuria causes blood in urine, that can be due to a bacterial infection or blood from the kidneys.
	Green or Blue	Green urine can be caused due to a side effect of medications like amitriptyline, indomethacin. It can also occur due to excessive consumption of asparagus and food dyes. Blue urine can be caused due to "Blue diaper syndrome", also called,familial hypercalcemia. This is a rare disorder that turns the color of urine blue. It is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder seen in infants. It causes a peculiar bluish discoloration of the infant's diaper.

This was all about urine color chart for dehydration. You can speak to a medical expert about urine color and what it means for more information related to your health. You should drink about 8 to 10 glasses of water daily to avoid dehydration. Staying hydrated is also good for your skin, hair and other body organs. Water helps flush out toxins from the body as well as other infectious agents. So, make sure you drink enough water to remain healthy and active.

Excessive Vomiting

Vomiting is nothing but an involuntary action of the body to expel stomach contents through the mouth. It may also be voluntarily induced. Vomiting can happen only from the stomach and so it must not be confused with coughing or spitting up mucus from the lungs. Vomiting may or may not be accompanied by nausea.

What to Do With Excessive Vomiting?

The main concern with excessive vomiting is dehydration as it causes the body to lose substantial amount of fluids. The main symptoms of dehydration include:

• Dry mouth
• Dry lips
• Lethargy
• Reduced urination
• Rapid breathing
• Reduced perspiration
• Sunken eyes
• Sunken fontanels in infants

Another major indication of dehydration is yellow or amber urine. To prevent complications, it is essential to get rehydrated once the vomiting stops. This is more important in small children. Fruit juices or sports drinks help in replacing electrolytes lost from the body during vomiting. Herbal teas such as agrimony tea, fennel seed tea, ginger tea, etc., are also helpful. Some people may prefer fluids which are clear liquids. Also, during excessive vomiting, sipping fluids, instead of slurping, helps the stomach to adjust and heal. In case of children, they can be given oral rehydration solution available in most drugstores.

If vomiting stops then you can start your meal with bland foods like non-buttered toast or crackers. Jell-O is considered the best post vomiting treat. As you start feeling better than before, you may go for light protein meals like chicken breast or fish. Avoid fatty, greasy foods and cream soups as they worsen vomiting.

In case of cyclic vomiting syndrome (excessive vomiting that keeps recurring), there is no specific cure but treatment methods to ease the symptoms. A patient might need anti-nausea drugs, sedatives, or medicines to suppress acid. If the condition has high risk of causing dehydration, then hospitalization may be required. Some people with CVS might feel better with medicines that are formulated to treat migraines.

Mostly, excessive vomiting does not indicate a severe problem. But if the same persists for more than a few days or is accompanied by symptoms of dehydration, or other symptoms such as blood in the vomit, stiff neck, slow thinking, abdominal pain, diarrhea, blurred vision, fever or fainting then it is important to get prompt medical attention.

What May Cause Severe Vomiting?

Medical conditions that are commonly associated with the problem may include:

Gastroenteritis	Vertigo
Gastroparesis	Gallbladder disease
Appendicitis	Motion sickness
Hydrocephalus	Ulcers
Brain tumor	Cancer
Brain infarction	Brain hemorrhage
Crohn's disease	Food poisoning
Irritable bowel syndrome	Meningitis
Traumatic brain injury	Intestinal blockage

The severity of the vomiting would depend on how severe is its underlying cause. For instance, meningitis is usually associated with excessive vomiting in most people. Sometimes, severe vomiting could be induced by certain medicines too.

Most episodes of vomiting do not last longer than a day or two. But some people may suffer from bouts of severe vomiting that may last for hours and sometimes even for days. Such a condition is known as cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). Mostly, children between 3-7 years of age are affected by this condition. CVS follows a particular pattern that helps distinguishing it from other similar disorders. Usually, the problem begins with nausea and vomiting which get severe with time, and this is followed by a phase when no such symptoms occur and the person becomes normal again.

CVS does not have any specific or known causes. But doctors have identified factors which may contribute to the problem. These may include motion sickness, psychological stress, allergic reactions, menstruation, overeating, migraines or having family members with migraines, mutation in the mitochondrial DNA, autonomic dysfunction, and flu.

Excessive or severe vomiting is commonly associated with alcohol overdose. Alcohol is an irritant to the stomach. By inducing involuntary vomiting the gag reflex of the body works to get rid of the excess alcohol which the body is unable to process.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended in any way to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.

Herbs for High Blood Pressure

Hypertension refers to the high levels of blood pressure, which is often considered as a lifestyle disease. Almost 90% of hypertension cases develop gradually through the years and do not have a specific cause, but there are some risk factors attached to this disorder. The risk factors include age, family history, obesity, pregnancy, stress, high levels of sodium intake, use of tobacco, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption, deficiency of vitamin D and potassium. Hypertension is a very common disorder in adults, but nowadays, children are also prone to this condition. This is due to their unhealthy dietary habits, lack of physical activity and poor lifestyle.

With higher incidence of this disorder, more and more people are resorting to herbal medicine and other stress relieving techniques to tackle high blood pressure. Here are some herbs, which are found to be effective in controlling hypertension.

Garlic
Garlic has already proved its worth as a culinary herb, but has many health benefits too. It is believed to be very much beneficial in controlling hypertension and in promoting cardiovascular health. It is also good for lowering the levels of bad cholesterol and is antibacterial in nature. Some studies were conducted regarding the use of garlic supplements for controlling hypertension. The results were in favor of its usage in people with high blood pressure, but never use these supplements without consulting your doctor. It may cause side-effects, if taken with some prescription drugs.

Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba, a herb of Chinese origin, has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. It is found to be effective in lowering blood pressure, by dilating arteries and improving blood circulation. This in turn facilitates increased blood flow to the brain, which can help in enhancing the memory power.

Turmeric
This herb commonly used in Indian cuisine has many medicinal properties. The active ingredient in turmeric, called curcumin, which has antioxidant properties help to control bad cholesterol, and improves blood flow by making the blood vessels strong. Turmeric is also good for liver metabolism.

Hawthorn
Hawthorn, otherwise known as mayblossom, is a herb which has been used traditionally to treat hypertension. It is believed that this herb can enhance blood flow by opening the arteries. Hawthorn reduces the possibility of hardening of coronary arteries and strengthens the muscles of the heart. It is better to take hawthorn in the form of tea.

Ginger
Ginger is also popular as an indispensable part of Asian cuisine, but its health benefits include its ability to improve blood circulation, relaxing muscles around the blood vessels, aids digestion and prevents nausea.

Olive Leaf
The extracts of olive leaves are found to be useful in controlling high blood pressure. It can also help in normalizing irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia.

There are many other herbs used in the treatment of hypertension. They include a Chinese mushroom called maitake, mistletoe, rauwolfia, coleus forskohlii, lime blossom, saffron, asparagus and hibiscus. To ensure the efficacy of herbs, it has to taken in prescribed quantities and make sure that the herbs are of good quality too. Never start any herbal medication without consulting your doctor.