If you’re concerned about your heart, then you should consider drinking hibiscus tea. Turns out, hibiscus tea is just as effective as hypertension drugs when it comes to lowering your blood pressure. And it does so without any negative side-effects such as, lack of strength, impotence, fatal liver damage and so on. (updated March 12, 2023)
Historically, folk medicine has used hibiscus for the treatment of high blood pressure, liver diseases, and fevers. The tea’s benefits were first confirmed in 1996, when researchers in Nigeria showed that hibiscus flowers reduced blood pressure in laboratory animals. (1)
Then in 2008, researchers in Iran showed the same benefit in people (2). Another study published in 2010, showed that anthocyanins and other antioxidants present in hibiscus tea worked together to protect blood vessels from damage and becoming narrow. (3)
It’s recommended to drink three cups daily to get the full benefits of the hibiscus.
How Does Hibiscus Lower Blood Pressure?
It has diuretic properties, it opens the arteries, and it appears to act as a natural angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which means it slows the release of hormones that constrict blood vessels. (4)
This is exactly what the prescription combo of lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide does, but to a milder degree and without side effects.
In addition, hibiscus boosts immune function and provides valuable antioxidants.
Hibiscus Tea Recipe
Here’s a simple recipe for a delicious and refreshing hibiscus tea.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of water
- 3 tbsp dried or 4-5 tbsp fresh hibiscus flowers
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- juice of 1 orange
Instructions:
- Bring water to a boil.
- Add the cinnamon stick and hibiscus.
- Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. (a minimum of 6-10 minutes is required for the tea to be effective)
- Strain the tea.
- Add the honey.
Enjoy!
Warning
While hibiscus tea is good at reducing blood pressure it’s also highly acidic, hence the reason why it’s so sour. (5) In fact, if you drink any kind of tea (citrus, green, dark, herbal), make sure to swish your mouth with water to remove the acid from your teeth. (6) Another more effective method would be to use coconut oil instead of just plain water.