Blood pressure can be unpredictable, with sudden spikes often triggered by stress, alcohol consumption or neglecting to take prescribed medication. Home remedies like lemon and garlic are frequently suggested as quick fixes for high blood pressure, but do they really work?
Dr Max Fritschka, a cardiologist from Charité Berlin, sheds some light on the matter pointing out some home remedies to the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper that do have some scientific backing. However, it’s worth noting that once your blood pressure reaches a certain threshold medical intervention will be necessary and you can’t rely on home remedies to keep the health woes at bay.
One of these home remedies is a glass of lemon juice on an empty stomach. Usually it’s actually touted as an easy way to boost your metabolism and help you lose weight, but the doctor highlighted it could have some unexpected effects on your blood pressure too.
Lemons have a high vitamin C content, and previous studies have shown this vitamin can be very effective as an at-home treatment for high blood pressure. A 2012 study found 500mg of vitamin C every day for eight weeks could lower blood pressure by 4.85mmHg.
The expert was quick to add: “However, a short-term effect of lemons on high blood pressure could not be proven.” Elsewhere, the cardiologist actually thwarted the claims that a different refreshing drink could have similar effects.
Many people claim peppermint tea can lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels due to the menthol content in its leaves. However, the expert pointed out that the tea has such low levels of menthol it’s unlikely to have any significant effect on blood pressure.
Instead, a 2020 meta-analysis revealed that peppermint essential oil has a much higher menthol concentration when consumed orally. This is slightly disputed among experts, though, as studies have shown inconsistent results.
Overall, the cardiologist warned: “These home remedies cannot replace adequate medication to lower blood pressure – prescribed and controlled by a specialist.” He also added that dietary changes alone are unlikely to give strong results and need to be paired with other physical measures like staying hydrated and active.
He added: “Yoga or meditation can help to lower blood pressure in the short term, using deep breathing techniques, among other things. Stress reduction and physical activity or exercise are considered to be extremely helpful for high blood pressure.”