Over 70 million people suffer from high blood pressure so it is not surprising that many of them are seeking alternative medicine for high blood pressure. The list of high blood pressure medications is huge with over 300 brands competing for your health dollar to "control" your condition. Alternative medicine is far less expensive, has only positive side effects and is designed to "cure" your condition not simply control it.

It does however, require you to actively participate in your recovery not simply pop a pill or two each day.

Ninety percent of all high blood pressure and hypertension cases are brought on by an less than healthy lifestyle. The common factors usually present in all cases include obesity, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle and unmanaged stress. In addition, smoking and excessive alcohol use also contributes to the disease.

It stands to reason, and the American Heart Association agrees, that if those factors can be reversed, then the disease itself can be reversed and that's the premise that alternative medicine is based on.

Without going into great detail on how they work, listed below are seven alternative approaches to controlling your blood pressure that if followed carefully, can reduce your blood pressure reading by 10 points inside of two weeks.

• Decrease your consumption of salt. Removing the shaker from the table is a good start but most of your salt comes from processed foods. Read the labels to fully understand what it is you are eating. Did you know that a Big Mac has more sodium in it than a large order of fries?
• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. The produce aisle is a great source of natural vitamins, potassium, chromium, manganese and other minerals that the typical diet is deficient in. Berries and green leafy vegetables are also packed with antioxidants that reduce oxidation in the blood vessels and removes plaque from the vessel walls.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. This is the fastest way to lower your blood pressure and also helps to burn off the excess of hormones that are created by stress. Mild aerobic and weight training each day will do wonders not only for your blood pressure but on your general health as well.
• If you are under stress, and who isn't in this economy, find ways to avoid it or reduce it. Exercise is an excellent method but obviously not the only one. Take time out of your day for meditation or deep cleansing breaths. Set aside at least thirty minutes a day to find your "safe" zone, a place where you feel stress free. That may be reading, or listening to music or whatever it is that distracts you from the stress in your life.
• If you smoke, stop! Easier said than done obviously. Take advantage of all the free resources that you can find on the internet and join a support group. This is not only good for your HBP but your heart and lungs as well. And at $45 a carton, it is going to be healthy for your wallet too.
• If you drink, cut back. Men should not consume more than 2 glasses a day, women should hold it to one.
• Lose weight. If you follow the above alternative medicine suggestions, you will likely lose weight as well. If you are a man with a waist of 40 inches or more, or a woman with a waist greater than 36 inches, you are at risk for high blood pressure and probably diabetes as well.

Reward yourself. Don't become a health nazi. If you set realistic goals for diet and exercise and you meet them, reward yourself with something you love. Maybe it's a favorite dessert, or a trip to the movies, or a spa treatment. Whatever it is, associate a good thing with achieving your high blood pressure goals.

Imagine for a moment that it is two weeks from today. You have your blood pressure checked and it is down 10 points. How great would that be? You are on your way to a longer and healthier life.

Alternative medicine for high blood pressure is effective, cheap and natural. If you have the desire to follow a new lifestyle, you can take responsibility for your body and get back to a normal pressure without using blood pressure drugs.