If you are looking for a natural alternative to lisinopril, the strongest research points to daily habits rather than a shelf product that stands in for your prescription. Eating patterns like DASH, cutting salt, moving more, keeping a healthy weight and not smoking are the options with the most backing, and they work alongside your medicine. Any change to lisinopril, Entresto or losartan is made with your prescriber.
Which daily habits have the most research behind them?
The NHLBI’s high blood pressure guide says your provider may recommend a heart-healthy lifestyle to control or lower high blood pressure. That includes a DASH-style eating pattern, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans or a Mediterranean eating pattern, being physically active and sitting less, losing weight if you have overweight or obesity, quitting smoking, reducing stress and getting enough good-quality sleep.
The MedlinePlus lisinopril information makes the same point from the prescription side. It says lifestyle changes help control blood pressure along with medicine, and lists a diet low in fat and salt, a healthy weight, at least 30 minutes of exercise most days, not smoking and alcohol in moderation.
A University of Rochester review of non-drug options says all patients with hypertension should follow the low-salt DASH diet, which is high in fiber, low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables, along with an exercise and weight loss plan. It says any alternative options should be considered in addition to these changes.
Sleep is part of that plan too. If you want practical ideas, our guide on the role of sleep in healing walks through simple routines.
Salt and potassium need a careful word
Cutting salt is one of the most direct habit changes you can make. Talk to your doctor before using salt substitutes that contain potassium, and before starting potassium supplements, because the lisinopril label lists potassium supplements among products that can interact with it. Tell your doctor if you have heart or kidney disease. The University of Rochester review also notes that getting more potassium from food may carry some of the same mild benefits as supplements.
What supplements have research on blood pressure?
Supplements are the part of the natural category with the most questions attached. The table below sums up what the research reports for the main options, and where each one runs into limits. None of these is a substitute for a prescription.
| Option | What the research reports | Limits and cautions |
|---|---|---|
| Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) | The University of Rochester review calls it the shining star among supplements. A meta-analysis of past studies found that CoQ10 supplements significantly reduced blood pressure. | The review’s authors noted that pooled data call for some skepticism. Discuss it with your prescriber before starting. |
| Potassium from food | The review found potassium helps lower blood pressure, and more potassium from foods may carry mild benefits. | If you take lisinopril, talk to your doctor before using potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes, as the label advises. The lisinopril label advises talking to your doctor before using potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium. |
| Hawthorn | The review reports the extract provides only a slight reduction in blood pressure. | SingleCare’s guide notes hawthorn may interact with digoxin, beta blockers such as carvedilol and atenolol, and sildenafil. |
| Mistletoe extract | Used in traditional Chinese medicine for high blood pressure. It reduced blood pressure in animal studies. | The review cautions it may be toxic at high doses. |
What about substances that can raise blood pressure?
The same review identifies several herbs that may raise blood pressure: St. John’s wort, ephedra (ma huang), yohimbine and licorice. Read supplement labels for these before you buy, and mention any of them to your prescriber.
What do people in traditional Chinese medicine use for blood pressure?
According to the University of Rochester review, mistletoe extract is used in traditional Chinese medicine for high blood pressure. The review says it reduced blood pressure in animal studies, but that it may be toxic at high doses. Tradition is a reason to ask questions and look at the research, not proof that a product works. For people in general, the review says the bigger concern is safety: a supplement taken instead of a medicine that is known to help can be a problem.
What about non-drug options like acupuncture and meditation?
The University of Rochester review says there is no conclusive evidence that acupuncture or meditation lowers blood pressure on its own. It notes that acupuncture reduced blood pressure compared to placebo in patients also taking blood pressure medicines, and that in a meta-analysis, transcendental meditation appeared to lower blood pressure. The research on both is mixed. For background on acupuncture, see our guide to acupuncture for pain relief.
The NHLBI’s list of heart-healthy lifestyle steps includes reducing stress, and relaxation practices are one way to do that. Deep breathing, meditation and yoga are among the techniques SingleCare’s guide lists for stress.
Can I just use an over-the-counter medicine for high blood pressure?
No over-the-counter product is offered here as a treatment for high blood pressure. Some over-the-counter products can work against you. The lisinopril label lists aspirin and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) as products that may interact with lisinopril. SingleCare’s guide notes that some pain relievers and cold medicines contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, which may raise blood pressure. Always read the label and ask your pharmacist before you take anything new.
What medicine can I take instead of lisinopril?
A switch from lisinopril is your prescriber’s decision, and this page cannot choose one for you. The lisinopril label’s allergy warning names other ACE inhibitors, but those names are there so you can tell your doctor about an allergy. They are not suggested replacements. Do not stop taking lisinopril without talking to your doctor, according to the MedlinePlus lisinopril information. Your prescriber can weigh your readings, your other conditions and your daily routine.
What are the side effects of lisinopril?
MedlinePlus lists the side effects below for lisinopril. Use the table to see which ones should prompt a call to your doctor right away.
| Common (tell your doctor if severe or lasting) | Serious (call your doctor immediately) |
|---|---|
| Cough | Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs |
| Dizziness | Hoarseness |
| Headache | Difficulty breathing or swallowing |
| Excessive tiredness | Fever, sore throat, chills and other signs of infection |
| Nausea | Yellowing of the skin or eyes |
| Diarrhea | Lightheadedness |
| Weakness | Fainting |
| Sneezing and runny nose | Chest pain |
| Decrease in sexual ability | |
| Rash |
The label also says diarrhea, vomiting, not drinking enough fluids and sweating a lot can cause a drop in blood pressure, which may cause lightheadedness and fainting.
Who should not take lisinopril?
The MedlinePlus lisinopril information warns not to take lisinopril during pregnancy and says it may harm the fetus. If you become pregnant while taking it, call your doctor immediately. Tell your doctor if you have had certain types of angioedema, if you are allergic to lisinopril or another ACE inhibitor, if you are breastfeeding, or if you have heart or kidney disease or diabetes. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take lisinopril if you have diabetes and also take aliskiren.
What is Entresto, and how does it compare with lisinopril?
SingleCare’s guide describes Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) as combining a neprilysin inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker, which work together to reduce strain on the heart. It describes Entresto as prescribed for heart failure.
The lisinopril label has a specific instruction about Entresto. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take valsartan and sacubitril (Entresto), or if you stopped it within the last 36 hours. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take lisinopril if you are also taking Entresto.
What are the side effects of Entresto?
The side effects of Entresto are listed on the label your pharmacy gives you, and they are best reviewed with your prescriber, who knows your full medicine list. Bring any side effect you notice to that appointment.
Is Entresto hard on the kidneys?
Ask your prescriber how Entresto affects your kidneys, especially if you have kidney disease. The lisinopril label asks you to tell your doctor if you have heart or kidney disease, and your doctor may order lab tests to check how your body responds to a blood pressure medicine.
Who should not take Entresto?
The label and your prescriber set who should avoid Entresto. Tell your prescriber about your full medicine list, including any lisinopril, before you start or change anything.
Which is better, lisinopril or Entresto?
Neither ranks them, and no ranking is offered here. MedlinePlus describes lisinopril as used for high blood pressure, heart failure and improving survival after a heart attack. SingleCare describes Entresto as prescribed for heart failure. Which one fits you depends on your diagnosis, and that is a question for your prescriber.
What works like Entresto, and what is the best blood pressure pill with the fewest side effects?
No pill is named here as the best choice, and ranking drugs by how long their warning list is does not tell you which one suits you. Ask your prescriber which medicine fits your readings, your kidneys and your other conditions, and what side effects to watch for with that one.
What about losartan?
Losartan is a prescription, and this page has no replacement for it. A natural alternative to losartan, or an over-the-counter substitute, is something to discuss with your prescriber before you consider it. The habits above apply to anyone managing high blood pressure, including people taking losartan. If you want to compare options side by side, ask your prescriber to walk you through your current medicine and any alternative, and what each would involve for your side effects and monitoring.
How do you spot “normal blood pressure in days” marketing?
Treat any claim that a product will bring your blood pressure to normal in days with caution. The NHLBI says blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities, and high blood pressure is defined by consistent readings. MedlinePlus says the provider takes two or more readings at separate appointments before making a diagnosis. A product that promises a fast result before your readings have been confirmed is asking you to skip that step.
The FDA’s dietary supplement pages explain that manufacturers and distributors are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before they are marketed, and that the FDA can act against a product after it reaches the market. SingleCare’s guide notes that the FDA does not specifically approve supplements as treatments for heart failure. Check the FDA’s dietary supplement oversight page for how supplements are regulated.
When does a reading need urgent care?
The NHLBI lists a hypertensive crisis as a systolic reading higher than 180 or a diastolic reading higher than 120, and says to contact your provider immediately. MedlinePlus says this range means dangerously high blood pressure and calls for medical care right away. Do not wait for a supplement or lifestyle change to bring a very high reading down.
What is the cost of these options?
Prices change, so check today’s price directly with the company or your pharmacy. If you have Medicare, the Medicare plan costs page explains that premiums, deductibles and copayments vary by plan. Ask your plan what your prescription will cost before a switch.
Questions to bring to your prescriber
- Which of my current medicines should I keep, and what would a change involve?
- Is Entresto right for me, and how will it affect my kidneys?
- Can I use CoQ10, hawthorn, magnesium or potassium with my prescription?
- Which side effects should make me call you right away?
- Does my home blood pressure log change what you would recommend?
- Which lab tests do you want me to have, and how often?
Checklist for the shelf or home
- Keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements, as MedlinePlus advises, and bring it to every visit.
- Check the label of every pain reliever and cold medicine for aspirin, NSAIDs, pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine.
- Ask before using any salt substitute that contains potassium.
- Take readings at home and write them down, then share the log with your prescriber.
- Keep a regular routine of activity, sleep and a low-salt eating pattern.
- If a reading is higher than 180 systolic or higher than 120 diastolic, contact your provider immediately.
By MountainSageNaturalHealth.com Editorial Team



