Blood Pressure: Complementary Treatment and Stress Management

Most patients with high blood pressure who wish tofeel stressed.
try complementary therapies don't know how to goIf you want to learn to relax, you may find that
on about finding someone to consult. Whicheverthere are local evening classes in relaxation
therapy you choose to try, be it Western ortechniques. Sometimes these are combined with
complementary medicine, the most popular thing is toexercise classes, when they are called "stretch and
find someone who is adequately qualified. At therelax classes" or something similar. Some firms offer
moment, there is little to prevent someone withtheir employees stress management courses
minimal training - or even no training at all - setting(although you may find that the offer is only open to
themselves up in business as a practitioner andmembers of management - for some reason, firms
treating clients. In untrained hands, complementaryoften feel that their managers and executives suffer
therapies can do harm.stress more than the rest of their staff) or similar
However, reputable practitioners of the variouscourses (usually at considerable cost) from various
therapies are trying harder to improve their ownindependent training companies. There are also
practices and to give the public more informationvarious books on relaxation available - your general
about their qualifications and training. The Britishpractitioner or local library may have some that you
Complementary Medicine Association, the Council forcan borrow.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine and theThe complementary therapies which can aid
Health Education Authority are useful sources ofrelaxation are meditation, yoga, the various forms of
further information, or you could ask your ownmassage and aromatherapy.
general practitioner or health center for names ofMeditation and yoga (in which stretching and
reputable local practitioners. Some practices nowbreathing exercises are performed slowly and
offer come complementary therapies themselves.deliberately - itself a form of meditation) are more a
Cost may be a factor that you want to take intoway of life than occasional activities and require
consideration. These therapies are not often availableconsiderable commitment and self-discipline. If you
on the National Health Service and they can provewant to try them, you may find meditation classes
expensive.advertised locally. There are different forms of
Most individuals who have very stressful jobs wondermassage, varying from the very gentle to the
if there are ways they could learn to relax and if thispositively painful. The level of training varies
would help control their high blood pressure. So areenormously and people can set themselves up as
there any complementary therapies that would helpmassage practitioners after only a few days of
these individuals relax? Stress management maytraining. Aromatherapy is treatment with essential oils.
work for some people, but as stress is not the mainThese are scented oils extracted from the roots,
cause of high blood pressure of most people,flowers or leaves of plants by distillation. It often
management of it is not likely to prove a successfulinvolves massage, but the oils can also be inhaled or
treatment. Having said that, there are obviously manyadded to baths. Aromatherapists would recommend
other good reasons for reducing the amount ofthat people with high blood pressure avoid buying the
stress in your life, regardless of any possible effectsessential oils available over the counter in health food
this may have on your blood pressure. Being lessshops without taking proper advice first. Not only do
stressed will certainly help you cope with your bloodthey vary in quality, but some of the most
pressure-lowering treatment. For example, an excusecommonly available oils, such as clary sage, can act
often given by people who have not given upto raise blood pressure.
smoking is that a cigarette helps them when they