Which herb is listed as elevating blood pressure?

• A. Goldenseal
• B. Licorice
• C. Garlic
• D. Ginger

Answer: (A)

Some herbs can directly influence blood pressure, so knowing which ones can raise it helps you anticipate and manage hemodynamic changes around anesthesia. Goldenseal contains active alkaloids such as hydrastine, which can cause vasoconstriction and subtle increases in vascular resistance. In a patient who’s already stressed by surgery or who is receiving other vasopressors or sympathetic刺激, this can elevate blood pressure more than expected. That’s why it’s listed as an herb that can raise blood pressure. By comparison, others on the list are less associated with hypertension: garlic and ginger tend to have vasodilatory or mild anticoagulant effects, and licorice raises blood pressure more consistently through mineralocorticoid-like sodium retention, but the exam item here points to goldenseal as the agent that can elevate BP.