Dossier: Home remedies

5 home remedies for low blood pressure

When you suddenly feel dizzy, unwell or listless, low blood pressure is often the cause. We’ve put together five tips on how to get your circulation going again.

Text: Julie Freudiger; photo: Unsplash

Many people are sensitive to sudden changes in the weather, such as foehn winds. They feel dizzy, unwell and listless and see black spots in front of their eyes. This is often caused by a temporary drop in their blood pressure. Short-term low blood pressure can also occur if you stand up too quickly, if your blood sugar levels are low or if you’ve lost a lot of fluid, e.g. through sweating, vomiting or diarrhoea. This is usually no cause for concern, provided that you are otherwise healthy and the symptoms are only temporary. We’ve put together five tips on how to get your circulation going again. 

Cold water

Cold stimulates your circulation. Taking regular cold/hot showers or dipping your feet or arms in cold water can help. Either immerse your lower legs in cold water and move them around for three minutes or hold your lower arms under cold water. As an immediate measure, a cold cloth placed on the side of the neck helps.

Eat more salt

Salt binds fluids in the body, which increases blood volume and slightly raises blood pressure. So salt pretzels or broth can help with short-term symptoms. Talk to your doctor about whether generally increasing your salt intake a little could help with your blood pressure.

Use rosemary

Rosemary isn’t only a tasty herb for cooking, it is also a medicinal plant. Its essential oil stimulates the circulatory system and slightly increases blood pressure. Rosemary is most effective when added to the bath or used as an ointment. It has a strengthening and invigorating effect. 

Put your feet up

To prevent falling as a result of dizziness caused by low blood pressure, it’s best to lie down and elevate your legs a little. This helps the blood flow more easily to the heart and therefore stabilise your circulation. 

Drink water

Drinking enough water each day is generally important for your circulation. In the event of a short-term attack of dizziness or weakness caused by low blood pressure, it may be helpful to drink half a litre of water within ten minutes – provided there is no organic disease.

Expert tip

Professor Michael Handke, specialist in general internal medicine and cardiology:

“Even people, especially younger women, who are otherwise healthy can suffer from low blood pressure and experience symptoms. However, if the symptoms are severe, such as rapid heartbeat, severe dizziness or fainting, medical advice should be sought to determine if a condition exists.”

To Medgate

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