Optimization of Hypertension and Diabetes Management Through Complementary Therapy

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Complementary therapies, including herbal interventions, physical exercise, and relaxation techniques, were consistently shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure and blood glucose levels in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Systematic Review. Population: Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Intervention: Complementary therapies (herbal therapy, physical exercise, relaxation, hydrotherapy) vs. Standard care or no intervention. Primary outcome: Blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Complementary non-pharmacological therapies, including herbal treatments, relaxation, and targeted exercises, effectively improve metabolic parameters and blood pressure in the management of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Fitri; Aminah; Eka Yulia Dithah; Fathul Maysarah Syahab; Haekal Tranada Saputra; Ida Diah Pahdila Wahyu Pebiana; Lusmiati; Regita Zsalsabila Rahma; Reza Wira Sanjaya; Selma Aqila Malwani; Siti Nur Rahmadani; Sri Wahyuni; M Bachtiar Safrudin

doi:10.70920/jahns.v2i2.347

February 28, 2026Journal of Applied Holistic Nursing ScienceOpen Access

Optimization of Hypertension and Diabetes Management Through Complementary Therapy

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Key result

Complementary therapies consistently reduce blood pressure and glucose in patients with hypertension and diabetes.

Why the study?

Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus require long-term pharmacological therapy with potential side effects, motivating evaluation of complementary non-pharmacological interventions for safe and affordable management.

Do complementary therapies reduce blood pressure and blood glucose levels in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Key Points

To identify and analyze non-pharmacological complementary interventions that support safe and affordable management of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Conducted a systematic review of nine scientific articles published between 2021 and 2025.
Evaluated non-pharmacological modalities including herbal therapy, relaxation, hydrotherapy, and physical exercise for their effects on blood glucose and blood pressure.
Physical and behavioral interventions reduced blood pressure, with hypertension exercise lowering systolic pressure by an average of 7.5 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 3.5 mmHg, and reduced sitting time lowering systolic pressure by 3.48 mmHg (p = 0.03).
Glycemic control improved following progressive muscle relaxation (reduction of 24 to 38 mg/dL), diabetic foot exercise (p = 0.001), bay leaf decoction (p = 0.001), and warm water hydrotherapy (p < 0.001).
Herbal decoctions and infusions—including celery leaf (p = 0.000 < 0.05), garlic, butterfly pea tea, and moringa leaf—exerted significant antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic effects.

Study Design

Type

Systematic Review

Structured PICO

Do complementary therapies reduce blood pressure and blood glucose levels in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus?

P

Population

A systematic review of 12 studies evaluating the effectiveness of various complementary therapies on blood pressure and blood glucose levels in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

I

Intervention

Complementary therapies, including herbal therapies (warm foot baths, butterfly pea tea, garlic infusions, boiled bay leaves, moringa leaves, celery leaves), physical exercise (hypertension exercises, diabetes foot exercises), relaxation (progressive muscle relaxation), hydrotherapy, and reduced sitting time.

C

Comparator

Baseline (pre-intervention) or standard care, depending on the individual study designs (mostly quasi-experimental or observational).

O

Outcome

Reduction in blood pressure and blood glucose levels.surrogate

Complementary therapies such as herbal medicine, physical exercise, and relaxation techniques appear to be effective, safe, and accessible adjunctive strategies for improving blood pressure and glycemic control in chronic disease management.

Limitations

Predominance of quasi-experimental designs in the included studies
Relatively small sample sizes
Need for large-scale randomized controlled trials with standardized intervention protocols and longer follow-up periods
Predominance of quasi-experimental designs
Lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials with standardized intervention protocols
Short follow-up periods limiting assessment of long-term effectiveness

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Implication

Supports adjunctive complementary therapies for hypertension and type 2 diabetes; extends recent systematic evidence for non-pharmacological multimodal care.

Abstract

Background: This literature review examines the role of complementary therapy in the management of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These two chronic diseases remain major health problems that often require long-term pharmacological therapy with potential side effects. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze various non-pharmacological interventions that can support safe and affordable disease management. Methods: The method used was a systematic review of nine scientific articles published between 2021 and 2025, covering herbal therapy, relaxation, hydrotherapy, and physical exercise on the control of blood glucose levels and blood pressure. Results: The review results indicate that therapies such as warm foot baths, hypertension exercises, butterfly pea tea, garlic infusions, boiled bay leaves (Syzygium polyanthum), moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera), celery leaves (Apium graveolens), diabetes foot exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and reduced sitting time have been shown to be effective in improving metabolic parameters and patients' quality of life. Conclusion: It can be concluded that complementary therapy is an effective and holistic supportive approach in the care of chronic diseases, but further research with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is still needed to ensure long-term effectiveness and clinical safety under the supervision of healthcare professionals.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Fitri et al. (2026) conducted a systematic review in Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Complementary therapies (herbal therapy, physical exercise, relaxation, hydrotherapy) vs. Standard care or no intervention was evaluated on Blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Complementary therapies, including herbal interventions, physical exercise, and relaxation techniques, were consistently shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure and blood glucose levels in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6acae65a082e6266f39bf585 https://doi.org/10.70920/jahns.v2i2.347

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Optimization of Hypertension and Diabetes Management Through Complementary Therapy

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Optimization of Hypertension and Diabetes Management Through Complementary Therapy

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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