The best way to lower blood pressure will depend on the cause. For example high serum calcium can raise blood pressure due to the muscles contracting nature of calcium. Blood vessels are also muscles. The reason calcium channel blockers are frequently used to lower blood pressure is that they block calcium from contracting the blood vessels. Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker.

Diabetes is another common cause of high blood pressure as elevated insulin has a strong blood vessel contracting effect.

Angiotensin can contract blood vessels causing high blood pressure.

Sodium retention can cause high blood pressure due to water retention. This is common with the use of steroids like Prednisone, but only affects about 10% of the population otherwise.

Potassium deficiencies can lead to high blood pressure due to sodium retention. Again steroids can cause this effect. So can berberine herbs like goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape root and coptis, also known as goldthread. Licorice root can also cause it when used in very high doses for many months.

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) can cause blood vessels to constrict due to prostaglandin inhibition.

Stress, including pain, can cause elevated levels of epinephrine, which constricts blood vessels while speeding up the heart rate. This is temporary though unless there is a rare adrenal tumor, which will cause very high blood pressure and pulse.

Arteriosclerosis can lead to high blood pressure due to narrowing of the arteries.

Smoking can raise blood pressure due to the blood vessel constricting effect of nicotine. Horsetail grass (shavegrass) also contains nicotine and constricts blood vessels.

Some people get a rise in blood pressure when they visit the doctor. This is known as white coat syndrome. This is why it is so important to get multiple readings, especially at home, to get a better average and to make sure that chronic high blood pressure really exists.

Here are a few options:

Magnesium malate or citrate are natural calcium channel blockers and therefore relax blood vessels lowering blood pressure.

Sterols relax blood vessels. Yucca root is a great sterol source. Jiaogulan is also sterol rich and also helps to act as a beta blocker.

Ashwagandha acts as a natural ACE inhibitor and beta blocker.

Coleus forskohlii has the same effects as cardiac glycosides (lowers blood pressure, and slows and strengthens heart contractions).

Kudzu and bamboo stalk both relax blood vessels.

Potassium is a natural diuretic and lowers blood pressure by displacing sodium and eliminating excess water.