Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, and many of them are looking for ways to support their numbers beyond medication alone. Chinese herbal medicine does not replace blood pressure drugs – that needs to be said clearly at the start – but it has a long tradition of addressing the patterns that sit underneath hypertension: tension, poor sleep, excess weight, fluid retention and age-related decline. Used carefully alongside your doctor’s care, Chinese herbs for high blood pressure can be a useful part of a bigger plan.
Important: Work With Your Doctor
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, which is exactly why it is dangerous. Never stop or reduce a prescribed medication because you have started herbs. The right approach is to keep taking your medication, monitor your readings at home, and let your physician adjust the dose if your numbers improve. Tell both your doctor and your herbalist everything you are taking.
How TCM Looks at High Blood Pressure
Classical Chinese medicine did not have a blood pressure cuff, so it described hypertension through its symptoms – headache, dizziness, a red face, tinnitus and irritability. Today, TCM practitioners recognize several patterns:
- Liver Yang rising – headaches at the top of the head or temples, a flushed face, anger that flares quickly, dizziness. Common in stressed, high-pressure lifestyles.
- Phlegm-dampness – heaviness, a foggy head, excess weight, high cholesterol, a thick tongue coating.
- Kidney Yin deficiency with Liver heat – the older adult with dry mouth, night sweats, low back weakness and a rising pressure.
- Blood stasis – a dusky complexion, fixed pain and long-standing hypertension with vascular changes.
Chinese Herbs Commonly Used for Blood Pressure Support
Tian Ma (Gastrodia) and Gou Teng (Uncaria)
The classic pair for Liver Yang rising. Both are “wind-extinguishing” herbs used for dizziness and headache, and they form the heart of the formula Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin, one of the most prescribed TCM formulas for hypertension.
Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum)
A gentle cooling flower that clears Liver heat, eases headaches and benefits the eyes. Chrysanthemum tea is a traditional daily drink for people with high blood pressure.
Jue Ming Zi (Cassia Seed)
Used as a tea for Liver heat with constipation and raised cholesterol – often both present in the same person.
Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark)
A Kidney-tonifying herb traditionally used for low back weakness. It is frequently included in formulas for older adults with hypertension.
Shan Zha (Hawthorn Berry)
Supports digestion of fatty foods and is widely used for cardiovascular wellness. See our page on Chinese herbs for cholesterol, where hawthorn also appears.
Dan Shen (Salvia Root)
A Blood-moving herb used for circulation and chest discomfort. Caution: it can interact with blood thinners.
Classic Formulas
- Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin – for Liver Yang rising with headache and dizziness.
- Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang – for the phlegm-damp pattern with heaviness and a foggy head.
- Qi Ju Di Huang Wan – nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin; for the older adult pattern with dry eyes and dizziness.
Lifestyle From a TCM Perspective
- Reduce salt, alcohol and greasy food, which build dampness and heat.
- Celery, chrysanthemum tea, mung beans and seaweed are traditional blood-pressure-friendly foods.
- Walking, tai chi and qigong lower stress and move Liver Qi; they are among the best-studied lifestyle measures for blood pressure.
- Protect sleep. Poor sleep drives Liver Yang upward. Our sleep page covers herbs that help.
Safety and Interactions
- Some Chinese herbs lower blood pressure further. Combined with medication, this can cause dizziness. Monitor at home.
- Licorice (Gan Cao) in large or long-term doses can raise blood pressure and is reduced or removed in formulas for hypertensive patients.
- Ma Huang (Ephedra) raises blood pressure and is not used.
- Dan Shen, Dang Gui and Chuan Xiong may interact with warfarin and other anticoagulants.
- Seek emergency care for readings above 180/120, chest pain, sudden weakness or confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chinese herbs lower blood pressure?
Some formulas have been studied for modest reductions, especially in the Liver Yang pattern, but the evidence is not strong enough to use them instead of medication. Think of them as support for the underlying pattern – stress, sleep, weight, circulation.
Is chrysanthemum tea good for high blood pressure?
It is a mild, pleasant daily tea used in China for exactly this purpose. It will not replace medication, but it is a safe habit for most people.
How is a consultation different from buying a supplement?
A practitioner identifies your pattern and adjusts the formula to your medications and constitution, which is far safer than guessing with an over-the-counter blend.
Talk to a Chinese herbal practitioner in Cliffside Park, NJ. The Oriental Herb has served Bergen County since 1995 with personalized herbal consultations and high-quality Chinese herbs. Book a consultation, call (201) 840-6700, or visit our Chinese herb store at 692 Anderson Ave.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Chinese herbs are not a replacement for diagnosis or treatment from your physician. Always tell your doctor and your herbalist about every medication and supplement you take.