A flower used for years as an herbal remedy may help people lower their blood pressure, according to research presented at an American Heart Association conference.

Researchers including Diane L. McKay of Tufts University say that hibiscus tea may be able to reduce blood pressure in those at risk of hypertension.

She and her colleagues conducted a study among people with mild or pre-hypertension, giving them either hibiscus tea or a placebo for six weeks.

At the end of the study, they discovered that subjects who drank three cups of the tea lowered their blood pressure by an average of 7 percent, with the most significant result a 13.2 percent drop.

Any small change in blood pressure has been shown to benefit those at risk of hypertension and help protect them from stroke, the researchers said.

The results may suggest an alternative for those who prefer herbal supplements and natural remedies to prescription drugs.

The antioxidant anthocyanins that are present in hibiscus may help protect the body against free radicals and promote health, according to the Hibiscus Drinks Company.