Can you take garlic pills with high blood pressure medicine

Can you take garlic pills with high blood pressure medicine

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Some experts recommend taking a clove of garlic a day

Garlic may be useful in addition to medication to treat high blood pressure, a study suggests.

Australian doctors enrolled 50 patients in a trial to see if garlic supplements could help those whose blood pressure was high, despite medication.

Those given four capsules of garlic extract a day had lower blood pressure than those on placebo, they report in scientific journal Maturitas.

The British Heart Foundation said more research was needed.

Garlic has long been thought to be good for the heart.

Garlic supplements have previously been shown to lower cholesterol and reduce high blood pressure in those with untreated hypertension.

In the latest study, researchers from the University of Adelaide, Australia, looked at the effects of four capsules a day of a supplement known as aged garlic for 12 weeks.

They found systolic blood pressure was around 10mmHg lower in the group given garlic compared with those given a placebo.

Researcher Karin Ried said: "Garlic supplements have been associated with a blood pressure lowering effect of clinical significance in patients with untreated hypertension.

"Our trial, however, is the first to assess the effect, tolerability and acceptability of aged garlic extract as an additional treatment to existing antihypertensive medication in patients with treated, but uncontrolled, hypertension."

Experts say garlic supplements should only be used after seeking medical advice, as garlic can thin the blood or interact with some medicines.

Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said using garlic for medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years, but it is essential that scientific research proves that garlic can help conditions such as raised blood pressure.

She said: "This study demonstrated a slight blood pressure reduction after using aged garlic supplements but it's not significant enough or in a large enough group of people to currently recommend it instead of medication.

"It's a concern that so many people in the UK have poorly controlled blood pressure, with an increased risk of stroke and heart disease as a consequence. So enjoy garlic as part of your diet but don't stop taking your blood pressure medication."

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Can you take garlic pills with high blood pressure medicine

Eating fresh, raw garlic is one among the herbal remedies for controlling high blood pressure.

Highlights

  • Garlic is a natural antibacterial and antifungal
  • Including garlic in your daily diet can lower your blood pressure
  • You can add thin slices of garlic directly to your favourite salads

The pungent smelling herb garlic has been used for many purposes since ancient times. Including garlic in your diet can help prevent many chronic health conditions. Garlic has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. It helps in lowering cholesterol, prevents cancer and several cardiovascular diseases and simultaneously acts as a blood thinner. It can even treat gastritis. Perhaps one of the most promising actions of this natural "wonder drug" is its ability to lower blood pressure. Garlic contains sulphur containing compounds like allicin, one of the most beneficial high blood pressure natural remedies. Allinase is an enzyme that is released when we crush, chop or chew raw garlic. It then undergoes a series of reactions, resulting in the formation of allicin.

Can you take garlic pills with high blood pressure medicine

Garlic is one of the most beneficial high blood pressure natural remedies.
Photo Credit: iStock

Also read: 10 Amazing Home Remedies For High Blood Pressure

Here's how you can include garlic can lower your blood pressure:

1. Raw garlic: Eating fresh, raw garlic is one among the herbal remedies for controlling high blood pressure. Chewing raw garlic will activate allinase for releasing maximum allicin. It should be consumed within one to two hours of activating allicin for added health benefits. You can eat this regularly to control your blood pressure.

2. Garlic powder: Including garlic in your daily diet can lower your blood pressure. About 600-900 mg of garlic powder will give about 9-12% reduction in the increased blood pressure. A 600 mg dose of garlic powder contains 3.6 mg allicin and 900 mg contain 5.4 mg of allicin.

Also read: Pulses Can Control High Blood Pressure: Here's How

3. Salads: You can also add thin slices of garlic directly to your favourite salads. Minced raw garlic is also a good option to make your salads delicious yet healthy. Make this grated garlic salad a part of your daily diet and forget about other costly herbs for high blood pressure.

4. Garlic milk: This drink works as a medicine and is beneficial for your overall health. To prepare this drink you need ten to twelve peeled and minced cloves of garlic. Add the cloves of garlic into warm milk. You can even add a tablespoon of honey into the drink for better results.

Can you take garlic pills with high blood pressure medicine

This drink works as a medicine and is beneficial for your overall health.
Photo Credit: iStock

Also read: People Rather Take A Pill Than Exercising To Control Blood Pressure: Tips To Control High Blood Pressure

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

What medications does garlic interact with?

If you take an anticoagulant (blood thinner), such as warfarin (Coumadin), or if you need surgery, tell your health care provider if you're taking or planning to take garlic supplements. Garlic supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of some drugs, including saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection.

Can you take garlic pills with other medications?

Small amounts of garlic that may be eaten as part of the diet are unlikely to cause drug interactions. However, larger amounts as may be taken as supplements may interact with drugs that prevent blood clots (such as warfarin), increasing risk of bleeding.