Given the current cost of medicines and the limited access to them especially in a community setting, the search is on finding alternative medicines (Herbal Plants) which are locally available especially for common clinic illness like hypertension. This study aimed to compare the effect of thrice-a-day intake of 250 ml of lemon grass decoction versus once-a-day intake of 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide tablet on the mean arterial pressure of hypertensive individuals in Barangay Poblacion, Municipality of Lakewood, Province of Zamboanga del Sur. The study was a Randomized, Cross-Over, Open Clinical Trial. A total of 88 respondents with Stage I Hypertension with no associated comorbidities completed the study, and were randomly assigned into Group A (1st Treatment Weeks and Thrice-a-Day Intake of 250 ml of Lemon Grass Decoction and 2nd Treatment Weeks of Once-a-Day intake of 25 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide Tablet) and Group B (1st Treatment Weeks - Once-a-Day intake of 25 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide Tablet and 2nd Treatment Weeks - Thrice-a-Day Intake of 250 ml of Lemon Grass Decoction). The result of the 16 weeks period of study showed that both lemon grass decoction and hydrochlorothiazide tablet had a significant effect on decreasing the mean arterial pressure. The effect was statistically significant (p<0.05) when analyzed utilizing Paired t-Test as evidenced by a decreased on the mean arterial pressure from Stage I Hypertension to Prehypertension. Moreover, the effect of the lemon grass decoction and the hydrochlorothiazide tablet on the mean arterial pressure and on the mean change on the mean systolic blood pressure had no significant difference when analyzed utilizing Paired-t-Test. Thus, the effect of the thrice-a-day intake of 250 ml of lemon grass decoction is comparable to the effect of the once-a-day intake of 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide tablet on the mean arterial pressure of hypertensive individuals with Stage I Hypertension.

Keyword: comparative study hypertensive Hydrochlorothiazide Open Clinical Trial lakewood zamboanga del sur