Can I sweeten the cup?

This habit is unsweetened. Sugar or honey makes it a different drink. One small plain cup is enough.

Will the tea bring my numbers down?

This page does not promise any change in blood pressure. Keep your prescribed care.

A small cup of unsweetened hibiscus tea

Dried hibiscus petals can be steeped in water and drunk without sugar as a tart kitchen tea. Hibiscus tea can add to blood-pressure tablets so a doctor should know. This does not replace blood-pressure medicine.

Important: this remedy is only a supportive home measure. Keep taking any medicine your doctor has prescribed, monitor your readings, and consult your doctor before adding anything new.

Hibiscus tea beside prescribed care

Hibiscus, sometimes sold as gudhal, gives a deep red cup when the dried petals sit in hot water. Leave out sugar and honey so the cup stays a plain infusion.

Hibiscus tea can add to blood-pressure tablets so a doctor should know. This page does not promise any change in blood pressure. This does not replace blood-pressure medicine.

Ingredients

A small handful of dried hibiscus petals
A cup of water
A strainer and a teapot

How to prepare

Rinse the dried hibiscus quickly and put it in a cup.
Pour hot water over it, cover for five minutes, and strain. Add no sugar.

How to use

Sip one small unsweetened cup with a meal or in the afternoon.
Tell your doctor you drink it, because hibiscus tea can add to blood-pressure tablets so a doctor should know.
Do not change the timing or dose of any tablet because of this tea.

Helpful habits

The cup is tart. If you dislike it, stop. Do not cover the taste with a sweet syrup.
One small cup is the habit, not a flask through the day.

Precautions

Hibiscus tea can add to blood-pressure tablets so a doctor should know. This does not replace blood-pressure medicine.
Skip the cup if you feel dizzy, faint, or unusually light-headed. This does not replace blood-pressure medicine.
Pregnancy, kidney disease, and planned surgery are reasons to ask a doctor before hibiscus becomes a daily cup. This does not replace blood-pressure medicine.

Frequently asked questions

Why tell a doctor about hibiscus tea?: Hibiscus tea can add to blood-pressure tablets so a doctor should know. This does not replace blood-pressure medicine.
Can I sweeten the cup?: This habit is unsweetened. Sugar or honey makes it a different drink. One small plain cup is enough.
Will the tea bring my numbers down?: This page does not promise any change in blood pressure. Keep your prescribed care.