Keeping the Pressure Down - Blood Pressure, That Is

About a year ago, I had several people that I know talking with me about their high blood pressure and how difficult they were finding it to keep it under control even with their prescribed medications. Most of them say that they take their meds as directed and follow their doctors' dietary guidelines and were still having trouble keeping their numbers in an acceptable range. I wrote a blog post on my other blog that I have rewriten with my updated information added in.

Obviously, exercise plays a key role our health and it's true for blood pressure as anything else, even though the mere mention of this usually gets me an eye-roll, but I digress. Getting enough sleep is also very important as is maintaining a healthy stress level - sometimes considerably easier said than done which is when something like Tai Chi or Qigong can be beneficial.

Maligned Melissa

Grown in my garden last year. I hope I get a healthy crop at our new home.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) -- not to be confused with Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) --  is in my opinion, one of the easiest plants a person can grow. Left unhindered it grows to about two feet tall with lemon scented leaves and flowers that are borne on auxiliary stems and are a light yellow, white or lavender color. This herb will thrive in full sun to partial shade, needs only moderate watering, and prefers well-drained soil. Bees love it. Growing lemon balm in the garden will attract these beneficial pollinators to your garden. Being a perennial herb that is part of the mint family, it will spread like crazy and unless you are a serious Lemon balm aficionado, you'll definitely have to reign it in or have it coming out of your ears.