The Best Essential Oils To Support High Blood Pressure
When you go to the doctor, does the blood pressure sleeve get so tight that you begin to worry something's malfunctioning? And that your arm is going to fall off?
This happens more when the practitioner uses a machine, not when they check it by hand. If this happens, say something to your provider and ask if they can go a sleeve size up, or do it by hand.
If you suffer silently and don't say anything, the reading you get will be off, and you won't know if you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, or not.
Who's at Risk for Hypertension?
Some people are more likely to have high blood pressure than others. It depends on lifestyle factors, age, and genetics.
The healthier you are, overall, the better your blood pressure should be - but that's not always the case.
Whether you're making lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure or you just got a surprising hypertension diagnosis, there are things you can do.
Your doctor will discuss changes with you, though they likely won't mention one of the most powerful tools in your treatment toolbox: essential oils.
While oils aren't a replacement for medication of advanced hypertension, you can use essential oils for high blood pressure treatment. Want to learn how and which to use?
Read on, below.
How to Use Essential Oils for High Blood Pressure Treatment
One thing that leads to high blood pressure is high-stress levels. Whether that's physical or mental stress, it holds true. And essential oils have been shown over and over to be relaxing.
They're even able to lower blood pressure and cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, while and directly after exposure to essential oils for high blood pressure.
Essential oils have fewer side effects than traditional high blood pressure medicine and, most times, are more affordable.
But not all oils will help you calm down and give your heart a much-needed break. Only use, mix, and relax with the ones below.
Essential Oils to Use for HBP
There are hundreds of different essential oils. If it exists as a plant, it likely exists as an oil, too. For high blood pressure treatment, you want to find cooling and calming oils, which decrease your body's stress reactions.
Clary Sage Essential Oil
This isn't the same kind of sage you cook with, though they are related. Clary sage is a pink or purple flower that grows in North Africa and Central Asia.
It's been used for thousands of years for its clarifying properties, and you can even use it (diluted) to help achieve clear skin.
When it comes to treating high blood pressure, this oil may help slow down your breathing, which, in turn, lowers your heart rate and your blood pressure.
Some people even find that this oil can help them with their depression symptoms, giving them more energy and mental clarity.
If you're using a diffuser, use five drops for every 100 ml of water.
Are you using a roller bottle? Keep the dilution at 5%.
Bergamot Oil
Another uplifting oil that can help you calm down and lower your blood pressure is Bergamot, a cousin of the common orange.
Bergamot grows in tropical climates and is often used to scent natural cosmetic products, so don't be surprised if the oil smells familiar.
The sweet, floral notes of the oil help your body relax and often place you in a better mood. When you feel better, ie, happier, your blood pressure goes down.
Use this oil when you need a mood boost, along with some natural stress relief. Have a stress headache? Professionals believe that this oil is an analgesic, which means it can relieve mild pain.
It's the perfect oil for when your boss is breathing down your back, and you feel your body going into stress mode.
Diffuse five drops for every 100ml of fluid, and don't go over a rollerball dilution of 3%. Why so low? It's a citrus relative, so the oil can be acidic at higher densities.
Rose Essential Oil
A rose by any other smell .... can help lower your blood pressure? Yes, it's true.
The scent of your classic romantic rose has an anti-anxiety and anti-depression effect on your brain. Perhaps it's because it reminds you of lovers past, or because humans respond biologically well to floral scents.
Either way, diluting a rose scent is a great way to lift your mood, slow your heart rate, and temporarily lower your blood pressure.
Rose has a very subtle scent, but if you use too much, it becomes overwhelming.
To avoid a sickeningly strong floral scent, combine rose oil with clary sage, and grounding sandalwood.
Since the rose scent is considered so romantic, it's the best blend to use at work. Instead, use it at the end of a long day when you need to decompress and relax, especially if you're doing so to connect with your partner. You'll find rose in our romance blend.
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil is a stronger smelling oil and should only be used topically if it's well-diluted. It can also be consumed in its natural herb form, combined with using it for aromatherapy, for a stronger effect.
Rosemary is thought to slow the hardening or building up of plaque in the arteries, which is one thing that leads to higher blood pressure. It's also believed that it helps regulate your heart rate, so it's a good oil choice for those with diagnosed heart problems and arrhythmias.
You can find rosemary teas, if you don't mind the taste, and diffuse it when you're cooking at home.
If you find the scent too strong, use it on the bottom of your feet before you go to bed. Start with two drops in a 10 ml rollerball and don't use more than 5.
Lemon
If you've never smelled lemon oil, think of it as the oil equivalent of lemon curd. It's sweeter and more subtle than lemon-scented chemical cleaners that are sold in stores.
This oil is thought to help prevent heart palpitations and reduce blood pressure when used as aromatherapy.
It blends well with clary sage and even rosemary if you want a very gourmet-smelling blend.
For a subtle blend, use two parts Bergamot, 1 part clary sage, and 1 part lemon balm. This blend is both calming and energizing, with an uplifting mood effect and is perfect for the 2 pm work slump. If you need an extra boost of energy, add one drop grapefruit to the mix above. You'll feel like you just came out of a yoga class, but also like you had the best cup of coffee.
It is a citrus oil, so dilute it topically more than you would other less acidic oils.
Lavender
Where would any list of relaxing oils be without the classic lavender? The oil from the gorgeously fragrant purple flower is not only thought to calm the body and lower blood pressure but has effects on your neurological wellbeing.
Be careful using lavender during the day, however, as many sleep-aids use lavender as one of their calming factors.
You don't want your brain to smell the lavender and think that it's time to go to sleep in the middle of the day! This is a great blend to use before bed, along with another calming oil, like Bergamot or even rosemary.
To blend with rosemary, use three parts lavender to one part rosemary.
If the smell doesn't make you sleepy, then rock on - and blend the floral scent with two parts lav, two parts rose, and 1 part lemon.
Everyone will wonder why you're smiling so wide and how you seem so calm. The answer? The magic of the earth!
Ylang-Ylang Oil
Ylang-Ylang, which is often pronounced "yang "yang," is said, "ee-long, ee-long."
Pronunciation troubles aside, it's one of the most researched oils in terms of effects on this list. It's a sharp but pleasant scent that is sometimes used to bring people back from fainting episodes instead of smelling salts.
Along with bringing people back from fainting spells, it's also used to help regulate breathing and heart rate during a traumatic episode.
You would think that an oil this powerful has an overwhelming scent, but it's rather pleasant. Think of it as a floral citrus scent and dilute it thoroughly before using it.
If you ever need to relax, like when you're right about to give a presentation, open your Ylang Ylang bottle and take a little sniff.
You should feel your body calming down and walk into your presentation, feeling confident, and collected.
Finding Quality Essential Oils
One of the hardest parts about using essential oils for high blood pressure treatment is finding oils that are high-quality enough to bring into your home.
Once oils got popular in the mainstream a few years ago, people rushed to the market, trying to make a profit without caring about quality. Our company is not one of those! You can read about our lab testing processes and see results on our website.
To shop all our oils, click here!