Introduction
A person is said to have a condition known as hypertension when their blood pressure is consistently higher than what is considered normal. It is characterized by high blood pressure, which is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and/or systolic over diastolic (systolic BP > diastolic BP). Hypertension may be treated with medication or can be managed through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
A study was done on avocado leaves in Indonesia which were published in The Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion in May 2022. The researchers boiled avocado leaves and studied their effects to lower blood pressure in the elderly with hypertension. The use of avocado leaves as an herbal remedy for hypertension has been studied in various research studies earlier and it has shown some positive results. In this study, it was found that there was a significant decrease in blood pressure after taking avocado leaf tea for four weeks.
Avocado Leaf Boiled Water and Hypertension: A Study
The avocado leaf is a well-known plant that is used as a treatment for hypertension in many different parts of the world. It is rich in biologically active compounds like flavonoids and quercetin.
This study was conducted in the working area of the Tilango Health Center to determine the effect of giving boiled water of avocado leaves on reducing blood pressure in the elderly with hypertension. (1)
The elderly are more susceptible to hypertension than younger people. This is because they have higher blood pressure levels, are less likely to be aware of their condition, and may not be as responsive to treatment.
The purpose of this study was to determine if the ingestion of avocado leaf water would affect blood pressure in elderly patients with hypertension. The researchers hypothesized that, by drinking avocado leaf water, the subjects' blood pressure would decrease significantly.
The researchers used a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design, with 130 participants aged 65 years old and above who were diagnosed with hypertension at Tilango Health Center using purposive sampling. A total of 65 participants each were randomly assigned into two groups; Group 1 received boiled water infused with avocado leaves while Group 2 received boiled water only without avocado leaves infusion.
The participants were given two weeks' worth of boiled avocado leaf water to drink, and their blood pressure was measured at both points in time. The data revealed a statistically significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure for all subjects who drank avocado leaf water.
The researchers conclude that ingestion of boiled water from avocado leaves is an effective way to reduce blood pressure in elderly hypertensives.
Results of the Study
According to the results of this study, treating older people with hypertension by giving them water infused with avocado leaves can significantly lower blood pressure. The participant's blood pressure decreased significantly after they consumed water boiled with avocado leaves, indicating that drinking boiled water with avocado leaves can help lower blood pressure in the elderly.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
