HOW TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE NATURALLY

Part 24 : Meditation

In common with other forms of relaxation, meditation is a natural way to lower blood pressure. As it is a way to relax very deeply it is one of the most effective forms.

During meditation the heart rate slows, oxygen consumption is reduced, breathing slows and blood pressure drops and afterwards you feel mentally and physically refreshed.

In scientific studies it has been shown time and again that meditation lowers blood pressure and that those using it require fewer hypertensive drugs and suffer fewer of the effects of high blood pressure on their body.

A study published in Hypertension – the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that meditation reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of 11mmHg over 3 months and diastolic blood pressure by 6mmHg over the same period.

Don't worry, you don't have to learn a complicated routine or take up a new religion to practise mediatation. Although meditation continues to be part of religious tradition in some cultures, it has commonly been used for the last 30 years or so purely for its medical and psychotherapeutic benefits.

And you can obtain some benefit in as little as 15 to 20 minutes a day.

Meditation techniques simply mean focusing on something so that analytical left-brain thought processes are slowed and the mind is calmed. This usually involves giving your attention to one of

• an object such as a candle, a flower or a visual symbol
• a repetitive physical activity such as dancing, walking or breathing
• the verbal repetition of a phrase, prayer or chant

A walking meditation is particularly good if you don't like sitting still for long periods. You simply calm your mind and focus on your footsteps and breathing – another way of helping lower your blood pressure by getting relaxation and exercise in a single activity.

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