All year I sit here at my computer, my collapsable work station at the dining table, and all year I see the beautiful tomato red of the hibiscus flowers singing to me.  Whyt she flowers all year is a north facing, wild crafting and wholly delightful mystery to the the copper dragon, but she/me loves it.  And her TEA!!! OMG the tea.  So its time to put her in my online #medicinepouch

Hibiscus flowers and #highbloodpressure *Cultures across the world have used hibiscus to naturally manage blood pressure, but it wasn’t until the past decade that studies were actually conducted that showed there was more to the remedy than just folklore. First, hibiscus acts as a diuretic, which draws sodium from the bloodstream, thus decreasing the pressure on the arterial walls. Even more interesting is how it can mimic angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE inhibitors are a common group of pharmaceutical drugs 😦 used to treat high blood pressure. They work by hampering the angiotensin-converting enzyme (angiotensin I), which plays a crucial role in the renin-angiotensin system- a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. As a result of this inhibition, blood vessels relax and blood volume is lowered, decreasing blood pressure. While certainly not as potent as those ACE drugs prescribed, it can still be surprisingly effective.