Rosemary for Blood Pressure

A healthy blood pressure below 115/75 will decrease your risk for heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Rosemary is a medicinal herb used by alternative health care providers for a variety of ailments, from viral and bacterial infections to digestive problems and arthritis. Rosemary may also have effects similar to diuretics in reducing blood pressure. If you're considersing taking rosemary to manage high blood pressure, you should first talk to a doctor.

Diuretics and Blood Pressure

Diuretics, also known as water pills, are a group of drugs frequently used to manage high blood pressure. Diuretics help to eliminate water and salt from the body, reducing fluid volume and therefore blood pressure levels. Diuretics are particularly beneficial for overweight individuals and for those who have heart or kidney disease associated with high blood pressure, indicates the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.

Rosemary Has Diuretic Qualities

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According to a study published in the August 2000 issue of “Journal of Ethnopharmacology,” rosemary has diuretic properties. This study was conducted in animal subjects, using a daily dose of 10 ml/kg of 8 or 16 percent rosemary extract in distilled water. At these doses, rosemary extract was found to have diuretic properties by eliminating water and electrolytes from the body.

Warnings

Rosemary may enhance the action of water pills and should be used cautiously, because this combination may promote excess loss of fluid and dehydration. Rosemary may also interfere with another group of anti-hypertension drugs called ACE inhibitors, as well as with lithium, blood thinners and anti-diabetes drugs.

Considerations

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Using rosemary as an herb in your food is safe. However, if you consider taking this herb in supplement form, you should consult a qualified health care provider to find out whether or not rosemary may help you manage hypertension. Maintaining a healthy weight, reducing salt and alcohol intake, and getting regular exercise may help you better manage your blood pressure. Keep in mind that rosemary does not replace and should not be used to replace any conventional drugs prescribed for high blood pressure.