A common item worth just £4 can lower blood pressure in 20 days, a new trial has found. The research saw an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 8.48mm of mercury (mmHg) in those who took a dose of the item every day.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition that impacts around one in three adults in the UK, equally around 14.4 million people. While doctors often recommend lifestyle changes and medication to lower blood pressure, a new clinical trial, published in PLOS One, has revealed that peppermint oil can help. The UK-based researchers tested the effects of the oil on 40 volunteers, aged between 18 and 65, and found blood pressure to drop by eight points in 20 days. Such a drop can decrease your risk of a heart event by around 16%.
As reported by Science Alert, Professor Jonnie Sinclair, from the University of Lancashire, said: “Our findings were very positive and they have significant clinical implications, especially given arterial hypertension is the most common preventable risk factor for cardiometabolic disease and the greatest single risk factor for global mortality.”
All of the participants in the study had either pre-hypertension or stage one hypertension. Half were given 50 microliters of pure peppermint oil mixed into 100 milliliters of water twice a day, with the other half given a placebo.
The study concluded: “The results of this trial suggest that peppermint supplementation could be a valuable tool in the management of pre-hypertension and stage 1 hypertension.”
Professor Sinclar added: “Peppermint oil is low in calories and price so it’s proved to be a very simple and cost-effective solution to potentially treat millions of people around the world.”
The researchers now plan to test peppermint oil for longer and on larger groups of people. This will confirm whether the extract is a viable drug-free way to treat hypertension.
High blood pressure, which is often called a “silent killer”, occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. This forces the heart to work harder to pump blood around the body, which damages the blood vessels.
If it’s left untreated, high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia. It is believed around five million adults in the UK are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure.
Peppermint oil can be bought in stores across the UK, with prices ranging from between £4 and £12. The prices depend on the quantity, the oil’s purity, and its intended use.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
