High blood pressure is one of the most dangerous threats to the cardiovascular system. The great pitfall is that high blood pressure often occurs without symptoms and is not detected for many years. If left untreated, there is a risk of consequences for the cardiovascular system, including a heart attack or stroke. The world-famous abbess Hildegard von Bingen already believed that hemp could have positive health effects. Cannabis sativa appears to be able to lower blood pressure and thus indirectly prevent heart disease. Let’s take a look together at how this works and what role hemp tea can play.
High blood pressure and its effects - a gradual process
People suffering from high blood pressure usually feel perfectly healthy and have no symptoms. This is the greatest danger, because the cardiovascular system suffers even before noticeable problems such as constant headaches, dizziness and reduced exercise tolerance occur. Such symptoms usually occur when grade 3 hypertension is already present. Medicine classifies it as follows:
- A blood pressure of 140/90 is considered highly normal, but in many cases already in need of treatment.
- First-degree hypertension is defined as values between 140 – 159 and 90 – 99.
- Moderate 2nd degree hypertension is present at values between 160 and 179 and 100 and 110.
- Severe high blood pressure is always present when the systolic values are above 180 and the diastolic values above 110.
If high blood pressure is not treated, there are various physical consequences. Heart disease is the most common consequence of high blood pressure, as the heart needs more strength to pump the blood through the blood vessels. There is a risk of heart attacks, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and more.
Kidney disease is also typical of high blood pressure that has not been treated for many years. With their fine arterial system, the kidneys filter toxins out of the body and if the blood flow rate is too high, the fine vessels are damaged, which can lead to serious illness and even kidney failure.
General vascular disorders of the blood vessels are also to be feared in the case of high blood pressure without treatment. This poses considerable health risks, ranging from strokes and heart attacks to blindness due to vascular damage in the eye.
High blood pressure treatment - how doctors prevent heart disease
The treatment of high blood pressure always depends on the individual circumstances of the people affected and the severity of the condition. Mild hypertension (grade 1) can often be optimized through a change in lifestyle. This includes measures such as
- Quitting smoking
- Reduction of salt in the diet
- Avoiding alcohol consumption
- Optimal stress management
- Physical exercise
- Weight reduction in case of obesity
Some natural remedies are said to help lower blood pressure. Well-known examples include garlic (pure or in capsule form), lemon balm, omega-3 fatty acids and raspberry leaves.
If the blood pressure is very high or the person concerned suffers from pre-existing conditions, rapid effects are important in therapy. In this case, medication is used whose ingredients work in different ways. So-called ACE inhibitors are used most frequently. They block the formation of a hormone that is responsible for the constriction of blood vessels.
Angiotensin receptor blockers are another type of medication; they relax the blood vessels and thus facilitate blood flow. Beta blockers are not only suitable for high blood pressure, but also for lowering the heart rate. A fourth group are calcium channel blockers, which have a relaxing effect on the heart rate and blood vessels.
In cases of severe high blood pressure, one ingredient is often not enough. Doctors then combine several medications to give the patient the best possible effect. The disadvantage of this is that antihypertensive drugs can have considerable side effects.
Relief for the blood vessels - how hemp tea is said to work
Whether as hemp oil or hemp tea – according to this study, the components of the hemp plant have a positive effect on the blood vessels. Regular use is said to cause the blood vessels to dilate. This in turn reduces high blood pressure, as the blood can flow more easily.
This study investigated the influence of CBD on men with regard to their blood pressure. Nine healthy participants were given either a placebo or 600 mg cannabidiol during the double-blind study. The results indicated that CBD reduced blood pressure at rest (upper value), with no effect on pulse rate.
Another aspect makes the effect of CBD on cardiovascular diseases so interesting. It has been proven that high blood pressure can also be triggered by stress. As hemp oil has a positive effect on stress according to studies and research, an indirect effect is being considered here. The above-mentioned study with nine men showed that the test subjects treated with CBD reacted to stressful situations with less severe high blood pressure. This gives reason to hope that hemp oil can not only lower blood pressure, but also counteract it preventively.
For whom are cannabinoids suitable for high blood pressure?
More and more studies are proving that the cannabis plant has therapeutic potential. The special thing is that hemp products made from industrial hemp have no psychoactive effect. The decisive factor is that legal products are made from certified hemp varieties and plants with a THC content of less than 0.2%.
In principle, the use of hemp leaves (as tea) or classic hemp oils is always suitable if a medical examination has taken place beforehand. In around 90 % of cases, no cause for high blood pressure can be identified; medicine then speaks of idiopathic hypertension. However, if there is a cause, it must be treated. Hormonal disorders, kidney disease, stress or side effects of medication can all be possible triggers for high blood pressure.
If the hypertension is idiopathic, the doctor will initiate treatment. If the hypertension is not severe, the focus is on lifestyle changes and the use of natural products. Cannabinoids can also play a role here, as many doctors now recognize the positive side of these hemp components. Ask your doctor whether hemp tea or hemp oil could be helpful in your case.
Important: Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in civilian society. Before taking hemp oil and using CBD to treat your high blood pressure, always speak to your doctor. Heart disease should be taken seriously and a thorough cardiac examination is essential. CBD is not a miracle cure, but rather serves to support the therapy prescribed by your doctor.
Does hemp tea for high blood pressure have side effects?
One of the most important side effects of antihypertensive drugs is an irritating cough. It mainly occurs with ACE inhibitors, but is also frequently observed with the new types of sartans. It is important that you do not stop therapy immediately if side effects occur, but consult your doctor. Many people reduce their medication if they experience unpleasant effects. This can lead to a rapid rise in blood pressure, which can be dangerous.
Hemp tea or hemp oil are among the low-side-effect remedies that are supposed to help with high blood pressure. Although they do not replace prescribed medication, they can support you in the fight against high blood pressure. Side effects cannot be completely ruled out here either, but they can be minimized by slowly increasing the dosage. Typical consequences of too high a dosage of hemp oil or too strong a hemp tea are
- Drops in blood pressure accompanied by dizziness and light-headedness
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Reduced or increased appetite
- Fatigue and drowsiness after use
Important: Hemp tea or hemp oil, or CBD in general, can interact with antihypertensive drugs. To be on the safe side, please consult your doctor before using CBD.
Make your own hemp tea - you need to know the recipe
If you don’t want to buy ready-made CBD, you can make your own hemp tea. To do this, you need dried hemp leaves, which you put in a tea strainer. Pour boiling water over everything and leave the brew to infuse for up to 10 minutes. Initially, it is sufficient to let your hemp tea steep for a shorter time to avoid side effects.
Conclusion: hemp tea and CBD appear to help with high blood pressure
There is serious evidence that CBD and hemp can help against high blood pressure. If you experience symptoms that indicate high blood pressure, always consult your doctor first before using CBD.
