Hibiscus tea is a popular beverage that is consumed the world over, and many commercially available herbal teas contain some hibiscus in varying amounts. However, in addition to being enjoyable, researchers have found that drinking hibiscus tea actually lowered the blood pressure (BP) in pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. The findings were the result of a study supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Researchers gathered 65 volunteers between the ages of 30 and 70 years whose BP ranged from mildly hypertensive to hypertensive, as indicated by a systolic BP between 120 to 150 (mm HG) and a diastolic BP was 95 (mm HG) or less. BP is measure by the ratio of systolic and diastolic pressures, and is considered low when the systolic/diastolic reading is 90/60, normal at 120/80, and high when it is 140/90.

In the study, subjects were divided into two groups, one of which consumed three cups of hibiscus tea each day, the other given a placebo containing artificially hibiscus flavoring and coloring. Both groups maintained their normal diets as well as their usual level of activity, and after baseline BP levels were taken, measurements were made at weekly intervals. The study took place over the course of six weeks.

What they found was that the hibiscus tea group had a 7.2 point drop in their systolic BP, compared to a 1.3 point drop in the placebo group. In fact, the drop in BP is comparable to what is seen in certain high BP drugs. Furthermore, the effect was the most prominent in the group with the highest initial systolic BP (129 or above), which dropped by 13.2 points while their diastolic BP dropped by 6.4 points.

The findings suggest that hibiscus tea may one day be considered a component of a healthy diet designed to control blood pressure, though more research is needed before any concrete conclusions or recommendations can be made.

BP is the force, or pressure, that your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries as it flows through your body. While it is normal for it rise and fall throughout the day, when it stays consistently high, it can lead to a series of health problems, including heart disease and stroke, which are two of the leading causes of death in this country.

One of the main problems with high BP is that many people are unaware that they are afflicted. For this reason, high BP is called the “silent killer,” with no warning signs or symptoms. People of all ages and walks of life can contract high BP, and in most instances, it is either avoidable or treatable, usually through medication, diet, and lifestyle choices.

If you have questions or concerns about high BP, speak with your doctor and visit the website for the American Heart Association. For more information on hibiscus tea, visit your local health food store or speak with an expert on nutrition.