Ayurveda as a cure for high blood pressure?

Symptoms and treatment approaches

Ayurveda as a cure for high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is widespread in the western hemisphere. Despite countless studies, the causes of this disease are largely unknown. In order to avoid years of medication treatment, people often look for alternative treatment options.

Common symptoms of high blood pressure
Fatigue and lack of energy are among other factors the most common symptoms of high blood pressure. Anyone who also has a blood pressure value of over 140/90mmHg should start acting. At such a stage, a fundamental change and adjustment of living and eating habits is recommended, ideally in consultation with a specialist.

Counteracting blood pressure preventively
Fast pace of modern life, pressure to perform, stress: today’s world is hectic. Anyone who by nature has a certain tendency to overexertion should urgently consider preventive treatment against high blood pressure. An ayurvedic cure, for example, is suitable for this. The methodology of ayurvedic cures is based on the promotion of natural balance and thus has a long-lasting effect on the general well-being of body and mind.

Too high blood pressure values – time to react
At the latest with blood pressure values of constantly over 160/100mmHg, a visit to a doctor is indispensable. In most cases, treatment in combination with conventional medicine is even necessary to prevent the risk of a stroke or arteriosclerosis.

How does the body’s circulatory system work?
The physical motor, the heart, is at the centre of the circulation. In Ayurveda the heart is called “Hrdaya” and stands for receive (Hr), give (da) and regulate (ya). “Hrdaya” pumps “Rasadhatu” (blood plasma) through the blood vessels, which nourishes the whole body and then flows back to the heart.

The heart will make about two and a half billion beats until the age of seventy without ever resting. The main task of the heart is to maintain a blood volume of about 5 litres per minute and to adapt to environmental conditions by spontaneously increasing its performance. For this to work, two central variables are constantly changing:

• Beat frequency
  In a normal state, the heart beats about 70 times per minute, which can rise to almost 200 times per minute while maintaining its function.
• Stroke volume
  The volume per heartbeat is around 70-90ml and can rise to 140ml under stress.

On what depends the performance of the heart?

• Age: With the age, the efficiency of the heart gradually decreases (cardiac insufficiency). Among other things, natural death is ultimately defined by the cessation of heart activity.
• Exercise status: The heart can be strengthened by regular physical exercise and becomes more adaptable to external influences at the same time. A healthy balance should be strived for: High-performance sport and motionlessness are equally damaging. Daily exercise such as walking, jogging, cycling or swimming, with a beat frequency of up to 140 beats per minute (depending on constitution), has a rejuvenating effect.
• Constitution: Family predispositions are a decisive factor in the tendency to develop diseases of the coronary arteries, the heart muscle and the heart rhythm. Experience has shown that Vata-dominated constitutions are the most at risk, since they tend to develop premature cardiac insufficiency, pain, dysrhythmia and psychocardiological complaints.

The Ayurvedic teachings of Vata, Pitta and Kapha
Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three Doshas. A dosha is a Sanskrit term in Ayurveda that denotes an error. However, it can also be interpreted as “that which can cause problems”. In classical Ayurveda, the functional aspects of the doshas in relation to the heart are described as follows:

• Vata creates a connection between heart and breathing activity. Targeted breathing has a direct influence on the performance of the heart. In this way, the vegetative nervous system can also be positively influenced, for example through meditation. Vyana Vata is responsible for the moving power of the heart and for the associated blood circulation (for example, the circulation of the heart’s vessels).
• Pitta is less involved in the physical action of the heart, but is considered a carrier of knowledge and memory and is located in the heart and the brain. It is responsible for the flow of electrical energy, which is responsible for the activity of the heart muscle.
• Kapha nourishes and protects the heart. Kapha allows the heart to expand and contract smoothly, thus fulfilling its suction and pumping function.

In brief: How does Ayurveda help with high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can be easily diagnosed by the increased dosha dominance and by the individual symptom picture. The treatment of high blood pressure is done by corrections of the individual doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). The supporting pillars of this treatment include the cleansing of the blood vessels, the relief and strengthening of the heart, physical and mental relaxation and psychological regeneration. Further, both nutrition and life adjustments are designed.

How does an Ayurvedic cure at the Giardino Hotels work?
At the beginning, the person concerned receives a comprehensive anamnesis including clinical tongue and pulse diagnosis. If necessary, laboratory tests are also carried out. Afterwards, a therapy strategy is developed together with the team of Ayurveda specialists.

The hotel to the story:
Hotel Giardino Ascona

More details about Ayurveda by Giardino