Complementary Herbal Therapy for Hypertension: The Role of Bay Leaf (Syzygium polyanthum) Decoction in Reducing Systolic Blood Pressure Rian Tasalim (a*), Muhammad Arief Wicaksono (b), Nor Rapika (c)
a,b,c) Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Universitas Sari Mulia
Jl. Pramuka No. 2, Banjarmasin 70238, Indonesia
*rtasalim[at]gmail.com
Abstract
Background:Hypertension is a major public health problem worldwide and remains highly prevalent in Indonesia, particularly in primary healthcare settings. Effective management requires not only pharmacological treatment but also complementary strategies that are accessible, safe, and evidence-based. Bay leaf (Syzygium polyanthum), widely used in Indonesian traditional medicine, contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, and essential oils that may exert antihypertensive effects. This study aimed to examine the role of bay leaf decoction in reducing systolic blood pressure among hypertensive patients.
Methods: A pre-experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted on 15 hypertensive patients aged 45-64 years at Gambut Health Center, Indonesia. Participants received a bay leaf decoction prepared from seven leaves boiled in 200 ml of water, administered once daily for seven consecutive days. Systolic blood pressure was measured before and after the intervention using a sphygmomanometer. Data were analyzed with a paired t-test.
Results: The findings showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure after the intervention (p = 0.000061). Notably, 46.7% of respondents achieved normal blood pressure levels, while the proportion of patients in grade 3 hypertension declined from 26.7% to 13.3%.
Conclusion: This study concludes that bay leaf decoction is effective in lowering systolic blood pressure and can serve as a complementary herbal therapy for hypertension. The integration of traditional herbal remedies with conventional care may enhance hypertension management at the primary healthcare level.
