The ills of Hypertension and how to help manage it with Ayurveda

We live in an incredibly stressful and fast-paced world right now, and competition, conflict, anxiety, and the likes are everywhere. And thus, hypertension has become one of the most common chronic health conditions.
Commonly known as high blood pressure in modern medicine, this condition significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious ailments. While conventional treatment includes medication and lifestyle changes, Ayurveda gives more holistic treatment options under the condition termed Raktagatavata.

The understanding in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, hypertension is not classified as a standalone disease but is interpreted through the lens of imbalances in the body, especially in the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Specifically, it is considered a manifestation of Vata dosha, and involves disturbed Rakta, or blood.
High blood pressure is understood in Ayurveda as a result of the obstruction and aggravation of Vata dosha, leading to improper blood flow and associated symptoms such as burning sensations, fatigue, inflammation, pain, and skin eruptions.

Ayurvedic treatment for Hypertension

The treatment for Raktagatavata focuses on balancing the aggravated Dosha and supporting healthy blood flow. And like many other Ayurvedic solutions, here too experts use a mix of herbal formulations, detoxification procedures, lifestyle adjustments, and even yoga and meditation.

In the book ‘Holistic Health: Laws and Facts’, Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna mention some amazing treatments for hypertension taken from ancient books. These include -

1. Ashwagandha Churna & Sarpagandha Churna: A clinical study involving 40 patients showed that these formulations significantly improved blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein levels. Patients taking Ashwagandha twice daily saw notable progress.

2. Rudraksha Churna: In a 12-week study involving 150 participants, this Churna, consumed in the form of tablets with water, helped reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, along with improvements in headache, anxiety, dizziness, and tiredness. The treatment also proved safe for liver and kidney functions.

3. Tagaradi Kwatha & Takra-Amalaki Shirodhara: While Tagaradi Kwatha alone showed limited results, combining it with Shirodhara, a gentle pouring of medicated herbs and liquid on the forehead, gave better results.

Other treatments mentioned
According to classical Ayurvedic texts, when hypertension is associated with Vata in the blood, treatment can also include Purgation to cleanse the body and remove toxins, Blood-letting therapies, in severe cases, to reduce pressure and purify the blood.
Some studies also show that people who practice Yoga regularly for 90 days or more show significantly lower blood pressure in patients aged 18 to 70.

Who should opt for Ayurvedic treatments

One claim that everyone agrees to is that Ayurveda does not just target a single symptom or disease, it focuses on overall well-being. Be it through Panchakarma kriyas, herbal decoctions, bloodletting therapies, or even everyday Yoga and chanting practices, Ayurveda aims to heal the body and mind, and with it, the disease too.
If you are someone who has recently been diagnosed with Hypertension, are young, and do not wish to hop onto medicines, it would be apt to try Ayurveda treatment, under an expert practitioner, for a while.