9 Essential Oils For High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated -

Many people use essential oils for high blood pressure (hypertension), due to their fast-acting ability, wide availability and anti-inflammatory capacity. The most effective essential oils for high blood pressure include geranium oil, mandarin oil, marjoram oil, rosemary oil, cypress oil, frankincense oil, vetiver oil, neroli oil and ylang ylang oil.

High blood pressure is also known as hypertension, and is when the force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels and arteries is too great. Over time, this can increase your risk of various cardiovascular complications. When the heart pumps blood at a high rate, more force is required, particularly when there are obstructions in the heart and arteries. For example, cholesterol can become deposited as plaque in the blood vessels and arteries, requiring the heart to work harder to properly pump blood throughout the body through narrower veins and arteries. This can slowly weaken your cardiovascular system over the course of many years.

High blood pressure affects between 20-30% of the population, depending on where you live. Some countries tend to have better heart health than others, based on their activity levels and diet. Aside from those factors, things like kidney problems, thyroid disorders, sleep apnea, smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, certain medications and other medical conditions can increase your risk of high blood pressure. Many people also experience primary hypertension, which can effect anyone as they age, regardless of other risk factors. Some of the most common symptoms of high blood pressure include frequent headaches, difficulty performing physical tasks, shortness of breath, stress and anxiety, and even nosebleeds. If you want to keep your hypertension under control, using essential oils for high blood pressure is an excellent strategy. [1]

9 Best Essential Oils for Hypertension

Let us see how these essential oils are good for high blood pressure.

Geranium Oil 

By improving circulation and aiding those with sleep disorders, geranium oil is able to provide the body with the rest it needs, while also keeping your energy levels up. This will help you keep your mind calm and your stress levels low, which can also prevent high blood pressure. [2]

How to Use – You can mix this oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil and then apply it to your chest, neck and wrists, which should help to give your body an extra charge, while simultaneously calming the mind.

A machine monitoring the blood pressure and pulse

Visit your doctor to get your blood pressure checked regularly. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Mandarin Oil

The anti-inflammatory and digestion-regulating powers of mandarin oil can help the body run more efficiently, and detoxify itself faster. The rich antioxidant and vitamin content in this oil is also helpful for balancing the metabolism and ensuring that the cardiovascular system works properly. [3]

How to Use – You can add a few drops of this to a steam inhalation treatment, or simply diffuse this refreshing and invigorating oil throughout your home to keep your nerves soothed and your blood pressure low.

Marjoram Oil

Excess nervous energy can lead to anxiety and stress, which can raise blood pressure and threaten heart health. Marjoram oil is known to impact the central nervous system and relieve stress, while also promoting a balanced metabolism, all of which can help aid hypertension symptoms. [4]

How to Use – Instead of using dried marjoram in your next recipe, replace it with 1-2 drops of this highly potent oil. You can also simply smell the fumes from a bottle of this essential oil to help calm the body and mind.

Rosemary Oil

One of the best stress-relieving essential oils is rosemary oil, so it is also highly effective for high blood pressure. Many people’s hypertensive issues are almost solely due to a stressful lifestyle and an inability to control stress hormones. Rosemary oil can soothe that inflammation, clear your mind and lessen the strain on your heart. [5]

How to Use – This oil is quite powerful, so there is no need to diffuse it all day long, but a few hours of diffusing this oil each morning can provide your body with a neutral base for the day, helping to keep your blood pressure down.

Cypress Oil

Cypress has the ability to improve circulation and calm the body and mind, which is ideal for those with high blood pressure. It also has therapeutic benefits for other aspects of health, such as sleep and metabolic activity, all of which can help those with hypertension. [6]

How to Use – This is a very popular oil in aromatherapy, due to its pleasant aroma, and the fact that its aromatic compounds are more than enough to calm the nervous system and suppress high blood pressure.

Frankincense Oil

This anti-inflammatory oil is ideal for lowering your blood pressure because it can help to soothe the cardiovascular system and slow the pumping of blood. This slightly sedative oil will calm you down and provide a good night’s sleep, while also protecting your heart. [7]

How to Use – Blend this oil with a carrier oil (4-5 drops per tablespoon of carrier oil), and then apply it to your chest like a vapor rub, or on your neck, before you go to sleep. Some people also like to diffuse this oil, due to its rich aroma.

Vetiver Oil

If your emotions are going in all directions, it can seriously impact the activity of your heart. To calm these emotions and give your cardiovascular system a break, vetiver oil can be used, as it will induce healthy, restful sleep and provide the time for your body to re-charge. [8]

How to Use – This oil can be used topically, on the chest, neck or wrists, or it can be mixed with another massage oil, such as coconut oil, and then applied to larger parts of the body for greater effects.

Neroli Oil

For those who need to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, the uplifting scent of neroli oil can definitely help. These negative emotional patterns can increase blood pressure and stress hormone levels in the body, which can easily lead to chronic hypertension. [9]

How to Use – As one of the easiest essential oils for high blood pressure to use, you simply need to inhale from a bottle of neroli oil for the effects to occur. Some people also like to use this powerful oil in aromatherapy of a steam inhalation treatment.

Ylang Ylang Oil

This ancient essential oil is known to relax nervous tension and relieve stress in the muscles and mind. This can help promote more normal blood flow and less strain on the blood vessels and arteries. This oil is also a great sleep aid, which can prevent sleep apnea from elevating your blood pressure. [10]

How to Use – Many people enjoy the aroma of this floral oil and therefore place a few drops directly on the skin of their neck and wrists, so it can have an effect and be smelled occasionally throughout the day.

A Final Word of Warning

Given the serious nature of hypertension, and the serious risks it can mean for your long-term health, it is critical that you speak with your doctor before using essential oils for high blood pressure. Not only can essential oils cause inflammation in certain cases, but they can also result in allergic reactions, gastrointestinal distress, dangerously low blood pressure or low blood sugar, sedation and hormonal imbalances. Every essential oil is different and their individual components and active ingredients must be considered. Some essential oils can also have adverse interactions with medication, so if you are currently on a prescribed medication, particularly for hypertension, check with a medical professional about your specific risks.

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About the Author

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

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