Best Essential Oils for High Blood Pressure

Posted by Jeff Callahan

Have High Blood Pressure?

While the smell of some essential oils might get your heart racing, essential oils are actually very useful in the management of (especially stress-related) high blood pressure. Many high blood pressure patients have given up conventional medicine as prescribed by their general practitioner after the successful treatment of their condition through aromatherapy sessions (under guidance of medical professional). A good number of massage therapists have also gained regular patients who have been able to bring down their high blood pressure using essential oils in aromatherapy and massage blends.

Essential Oils used for High Blood Pressure Management:

Update: An Essential Oil Benefits reader also suggested Helichrysum and Lemon Essential Oils for managing high blood pressure.

Oils to Avoid When you Have High Blood Pressure

How it Works

When blood vessels constrict because of daily stress or poor diet, the pressure in them increases.  But if a patient can relax under the right conditions, the blood vessels expand and the pressure drops. It is this basic truth that massage therapists and other aroma therapists capitalize on when curbing high blood pressure.

How to Use it To Lower Blood Pressure

To use essential oils in an aromatherapy-based treatment you should mix several oils, such as rose and lemon balm and add them to a diffuser. The resultant essential oil vapor is diffused throughout the air and the scent is inhaled from a distance. This olfactory signal is received in the medulla where your blood pressure is controlled in the brain. The smooth muscles that make up the blood vessels relax and the blood pressure then subsides much like a traditional vasodilator.

Special Warning

If stress is a contributing factor to your high blood pressure, essential oil aromatherapy may be a great option for you. The use of essential oils in high blood pressure does not mean that people should necessarily stop taking their medication. Your doctor’s opinion should always be sought before using any essential oils (especially sage, basil and rosemary). Only the purest form of the oils should be used and should be FDA certified as safe for use.

Experts don’t always agree on which oils are best for managing blood pressure. This study concludes various aromatherapy texts of the past and their conclusions on hypertensive essential oils.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *