Garlic for high blood pressure: A natural remedy with scientific backing

Garlic for hypertension: A pure treatment with scientific backing

By Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey OBU

Hypertension, or hypertension, is a major threat issue for cardiovascular ailments, strokes and kidney failure.

For hundreds of years, conventional medication has emphasised the significance of dietary modifications and pure treatments to handle hypertension.

One such treatment that has acquired appreciable consideration is garlic. Greater than only a flavourful addition to meals, garlic has demonstrated potential as a pure therapy for controlling hypertension.

Amongst pure treatments, garlic ranks simply behind turmeric by way of analysis assist. As of this text’s publication, over 8,616 peer-reviewed research have explored garlic’s skill to stop and enhance a variety of well being situations (PubMed, 2025).

The function of garlic in hypertension

Garlic (Allium sativum) has lengthy been recognised for its therapeutic advantages, notably in cardiovascular well being. A number of research point out that garlic might assist decrease blood stress, particularly in people with hypertension.

The first compound answerable for these advantages is allicin, a sulfur-containing substance launched when garlic is chopped or crushed. Allicin has been proven to supply varied well being advantages, together with selling vasodilation (the relief of blood vessels) and enhancing nitric oxide manufacturing, each of which contribute to decrease blood stress (Ried et al., 2016).

A meta-analysis of randomised managed trials confirmed that garlic supplementation considerably lowered each systolic and diastolic blood stress in hypertensive people (Ried et al., 2013).

On common, systolic blood stress was lowered by 8-9 mmHg, whereas diastolic blood stress dropped by 5-6 mmHg in contributors with hypertension. These findings spotlight garlic’s potential as a pure adjunct to standard hypertension therapies.

Mechanism of motion

Allicin, the lively compound in garlic, helps scale back blood stress via a number of mechanisms. It’s believed to stimulate the manufacturing of hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide in blood vessels, each of that are important for stress-free and dilating blood vessels (Mie et al., 2015). This course of enhances blood circulate, lowering the resistance the center faces, which finally lowers blood stress.

Moreover, garlic has a gentle diuretic impact, serving to the kidneys remove extra sodium and fluid from the physique, additional contributing to a discount in blood stress. This mix of enhancing vascular well being and lowering fluid retention underscores garlic’s function in managing hypertension.

Scientific proof supporting garlic’s effectiveness

Quite a few medical research present compelling proof for garlic’s function in lowering blood stress. In a single large-scale trial printed in Maturitas, researchers discovered that garlic dietary supplements considerably lowered blood stress in sufferers with uncontrolled hypertension. Individuals who took 4 capsules of aged garlic extract (960 milligrams) every day for 3 months noticed their blood stress lower by a median of 10 factors (Ried et al., 2010).

One other research demonstrated that people with hypertension who consumed aged garlic extract for 12 weeks skilled vital reductions in each systolic and diastolic blood stress in comparison with those that took a placebo (Ried and Fakler, 2014).

Moreover, a randomised, double-blind research printed within the Journal of Diet in 2016 concerned 55 sufferers identified with metabolic syndrome. The research confirmed that aged garlic extract helped scale back plaque buildup in coronary arteries, highlighting its potential advantages in stopping coronary heart illness and lowering blood stress in sufferers with metabolic syndrome.

Garlic’s broader well being advantages

Along with decreasing blood stress, garlic has been proven to offer different well being advantages. Analysis signifies that garlic may help enhance levels of cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and scale back the danger of sure forms of most cancers.

As an example, a research involving diabetic rats demonstrated that garlic extract improved general well being by lowering blood glucose, ldl cholesterol and triglyceride ranges. One other research discovered that garlic considerably lowered whole and LDL (dangerous) levels of cholesterol whereas elevating HDL (good) ldl cholesterol in sort II diabetes sufferers (Ashraf et al., 2005).

Moreover, garlic’s bioactive sulfur compounds, equivalent to ajoene and S-allylcysteine, have been linked to most cancers prevention. Elevated garlic consumption has been related to a lowered threat of assorted cancers, together with these of the abdomen, colon and breast (Nationwide Most cancers Institute, 2025). Some research recommend that garlic compounds can induce most cancers cell demise and gradual the development of sure cancers.

Learn how to incorporate garlic into your food plan

To achieve the blood pressure-lowering advantages of garlic, it’s endorsed to eat it uncooked or crushed, as this prompts allicin. Garlic could be added to salads, soups or smoothies for a wholesome increase.

When you favor dietary supplements, aged garlic extract is accessible in varied types, together with capsules and tablets, offering a extra concentrated dose of lively compounds. The everyday really useful dosage for managing blood stress is 600-1,200 mg of aged garlic extract per day, however it’s all the time greatest to seek the advice of a healthcare supplier earlier than beginning supplementation (Ried et al., 2016).

Conclusion

Garlic affords vital potential in managing hypertension, because of its lively compounds, notably allicin, which enhance blood vessel perform and scale back vascular resistance.

Whereas garlic generally is a helpful addition to a heart-healthy food plan, it ought to complement—not exchange—standard antihypertensive therapies. As all the time, people ought to seek the advice of with a healthcare supplier earlier than making any modifications to their therapy routine.

>>>The creator is a Professor of Naturopathy, a Lawyer (Gambia Bar) and a Chartered Well being Economist. e-mail: [email protected]

References

1. Ashraf R, Aamir Okay, Shaikh AR, Ahmed T. Results of garlic on dyslipidemia in sufferers with sort 2 diabetes mellitus. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2005 Jul-Sep;17(3):60-4. PMID: 16320801.
2. Ried Okay, Frank OR, Shares NP. Aged garlic extract lowers blood stress in sufferers with handled however uncontrolled hypertension: a randomised managed trial. Maturitas. 2010 Oct;67(2):144-50. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.06.001. Epub 2010 Jul 1. PMID: 20594781.
3. Ried Okay, Fakler P. Potential of garlic (Allium sativum) in decreasing hypertension: mechanisms of motion and medical relevance. Integr Blood Press Management. 2014 Dec 9;7:71-82. doi: 10.2147/IBPC.S51434. PMID: 25525386; PMCID: PMC4266250.
4. Banerjee SK, Maulik SK. Impact of garlic on cardiovascular issues: a assessment. Nutr J. 2002 Nov 19;1:4. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-1-4. PMID: 12537594; PMCID: PMC139960.
5. Challier B, Perarnau JM, Viel JF. Garlic, onion and cereal fibre as protecting elements for breast most cancers: a French case-control research. Eur J Epidemiol. 1998 Dec;14(8):737-47. doi: 10.1023/a:1007512825851. PMID: 9928867.

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