Alternative Information for Regulating and lowering blood pressure

[Jean-Marie]

Hello Everyone!

I am having issues with my blood pressure and would appreciate any natural and alternative methods that anyone has tried to lower and regulate blood pressure.

Marianne has offered me her recommendation of sweet marjoram essential oil. (origanum marjorana) Bill Ryan has suggested drinking Aloe Vera, he had a friend who had positive results from that.

I would love it :heart:, if anyone else had suggestions and would share them here!

-jean-marie

[Lifebringer]

Garlic added to your salads, soups or saute will help that.

[regnak]

well there are exercises to raise and lower your blood pressure I will not say them here

go to your nearest Qigong doctor he will give them to you

[Bill Ryan]

.
I had a friend who had high blood pressure, and who was on statins (NOT good). He drank Aloe Vera for a couple weeks, and then found his blood pressure was too low! So he stopped the statins... and then everything was normal. :)

But there's a bunch of natural remedies... I suspect (but do not know) that many of them could be combined with no harm done. Garlic certainly also works... I understand from a friend that sweet marjoram essential oil will too. There will be much more.

[Olaf]

Methods that often work to reduce high blood pressure
depending from the cause of the high blood pressure


First step:
Measure your blood pressure. Write down both values and also the heart rate (important).

Second step:
Analysis

1. If heart rate is high (above 80):

Possible causes:

irritation /stimulation of the sympathetic nerve: damages in the neck joint, emotional causes (stress)
disturbances in the electrical function of the heart
abrupt random changes in heart rate: deficiency of magnesium or potassium


Depending from the cause you can do some things to change the situation (for instance taking the nutrients that are missing, reducing stress.)

2. If heart rate is almost normal (<80)

Frequent causes:

artheriosclerosis in small and large vessels causes malnutriation of certain organs -> body is rising blood pressure to increase supply of blood
the cells in the arterial walls cannot produce enough nitrogen monoxide (NO) which normally widens the lumen of the vessels. So they get smaller and blood pressure rises. Often the starting material for NO production is missing - the amino acid arginine. Sometimes a substance is present, called ADMA which is blocking the normal function of NO
problems with kidneys, too much water in blood serum (increases blood volume)
other problems with kidneys
other causes
tonus of blood vessels is controlled also by hormons, by nerves and thus by emotions and psyche (!)
malnutriation. Fructose can increase production of uric acid, which inhibits endothelial NO (and causes gout).
lack of vitamin D


As you can see, there may be a lot of different causes and combinations of them. That's why it is important to see a doctor first.

3. What often works:

Measures to reverse artheriosclerosis. Then plaqes reduce, the small vessels can transport larger amounts of blood, which reduces the so-called peripheral resistance. Your blood pressure will normalize and in the same time you improve the circulation, sometimes miss sensations dissappear.
Measures to enable normal NO production in the entothel cells of the arterials (supplying arginine).
Solving emotional problems, enhance your overall situation, leave patterns of stress.


What helped to reduce my own high blood pressure:


A cure with Shizandra berries, 6 weeks, one berry per kg body weight on a daily basis (in my case that reduced the blood pressure -15 mmHg permanently). It is proven in medical studies that Shizandra reduces arterial plaques.
Nattocinase (produced from soya) dissolves fibrin deposits in the small vessels (Caution: Do not take it when you take any blood thinners!)
If you have a arginine deficiency you can take 3g argine per day. Caution: may amplify inflammations. Than do not take!


There are reports of various other substances that can reduce artheriosclerosis, such as magnesium orotate, calcium ascorbate, other herbals. With those I have no experiences.

[sunshaker]

I have very high blood pressure, I do not take medication because of side effects,
I do take cayenne pepper to lower my blood pressure, I tend to take it with a spoon of honey, this seems to control my blood pressure at a rate i can live with.
Cayenne pepper is classed as a wonder spice can also prevent heart attacks and as many healing abilities.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5030270_lower-blood-pressure-cayenne-pepper.html

http://www.naturalhealth365.com/?s=cayenne+pepper

[Fairy Friend]

Grapefruit lowers blood pressure also. I'm also a believer in drinking lots of water. A lot of those medicines they first try for lowering your blood pressure are diuretics and will make you more dehydrated. I think being dehydrated is a common problem. Unfortunately, grapefruit will also interfere with some medications.

Also beets and dark chocolate and I like those better.

[Ewan]

Hello Everyone!

I am having issues with my blood pressure and would appreciate any natural and alternative methods that anyone has tried to lower and regulate blood pressure.

Marianne has offered me her recommendation of sweet marjoram essential oil. (origanum marjorana) Bill Ryan has suggested drinking Aloe Vera, he had a friend who had positive results from that.

I would love it :heart:, if anyone else had suggestions and would share them here!

-jean-marie

It is important to establish why you have high blood pressure as many alternative (natural) remedies are potentially more damaging if there are secondary causes. (eg Kidney problems).

I successfully lowered my blood pressure by cutting out as much salt as possible, and it is in everything processed, bread, breakfast cereals etc. So I know that works, but lots of food tastes a little bland when your so used to the salt. I made my own breads without the salt, mmm lovely cardboard!

I had complete kidney failure and it was a real problem for a while. I had a transplant which didn't really change the situation as the new kidney doesn't regulate blood pressure the way the old ones did. I changed my diet, went vegetarion and mostly raw food at that.

A book I can recommend is The High Blood Pressure Solution by Richard D Moore, MD, PhD. It is well written with the layman in mind.

Hope you find a solution. :)

[kirolak]

Olive leaf extract worked for me. . . . .get well soon!

[Hervé]

Hello Everyone!

I am having issues with my blood pressure and would appreciate any natural and alternative methods that anyone has tried to lower and regulate blood pressure.

[...]

Tsssk-tsssk... I guess you missed that one: Got Potassium? Maybe that is why you don't have glowing health! (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?28983-Got-Potassium-Maybe-that-is-why-you-don-t-have-glowing-health-)

... where one can find such:


For more than 25 years I suffered from 'essential hypertension', in other words high blood pressure that the medical fraternity cannot explain. During that period about eight different medical doctors gave me a staggering variety of 'patent medicines', none of which produced a steady reduction of blood pressure, though on two notable occasions the medicines caused 'bad reactions' which dropped my blood pressure so low and so suddenly, that my wife could barely get a reading. At no time during this 25-year period did any of the medical doctors suggest that it might be a good idea to measure my serum electrolyte levels, in order to check for potassium deficiency. As you might expect, this entire sequence put me off the medical profession in a very big way.

Towards the end of 2003 I started getting the classic signs of 'angina', which, over the next six weeks, rapidly progressed into 'unstable angina', a textbook case involving an accelerating or "crescendo" pattern of chest and back pain that lasted longer than ordinary 'angina'. This was accompanied by acute breathlessness, especially after even moderate exertion or a small carbohydrate meal.

The fact that the medical profession did not know the cause of 'angina' infuriated me, because everything on the planet is caused by something else. My basic knowledge of chemistry indicated that I might be suffering from a sodium overdose, so although in extreme pain and at times barely conscious, I managed to hook up to the Internet and do a few basic Google searches. The only sodium overdoses I could find were those caused by various synthetic drugs, so I reversed my search pattern and tried "potassium deficiency" instead. It was then that I discovered my medical 'angina' symptoms precisely matched those exhibited by a person suffering from an acute potassium deficiency. This information came as no great surprise. On the face of it, I had uncovered the underlying cause of medical 'angina', the latter credited with the sale of more than a billion dollars worth of synthetic 'patent medicines' every year. The problem was knowing what to do next.

[...]

To quote one medical article, "Potassium is pumped into the cell by active transport systems, which concomitantly pump sodium out of the cell. The preferential segregation of sodium and potassium across the cell's biological membrane is important in maintaining osmotic balance". What osmotic balance? The Yanomami and other tribes prove that ancient man had no need for toxic sodium, proving to all but a certifiable cretin that the potassium pump is an emergency one-way biochemical protective mechanism, designed to drive toxic sodium out of the cells before it can cause mayhem and premature death.

Despite the Yanomami's overall levels of sodium being incredibly low, researchers who examined more than 10,000 of these cheerful people found that there was a direct correlation between marginally increased sodium intake and increased blood pressure. "... a highly significant statistical relationship was observed between sodium excretion and systolic blood pressure for the 10,079 participants. The higher the urinary sodium excretion [and, therefore, the sodium intake], the higher the blood pressure." The reader should remember that for the Yanomami Indians, normal blood pressure averages out at 95/60 and does not increase with age. Try comparing this with the AMA western 'normal' blood pressure of 120/80, which then goes up in incremental steps as you ingest more sodium and lose more potassium while getting older. Of course, the medical apologists will claim this is because we are more civilized, have evolved, and are thus 'different', but rest assured this is pathetic rubbish. The only significant difference between the Yanomami and Americans or Australians, is that the Yanomami are stuffed full of healthy potassium, while we are stuffed full of toxic sodium.

[...]
Full article here: http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?28983-Got-Potassium-Maybe-that-is-why-you-don-t-have-glowing-health-&p=293776&viewfull=1#post293776

[universe]

Dr Joel Wallach claims to get a person who has been on blood pressure meds for 25 years off in two weeks with normal blood pressure. He claims all illness is a mineral deficiency in the body. Lots of good youtube video on him.

Good Luck

[Pam]

I had the best success with exercise and slight weight loss along with good hydration with pure water. Omega 3's with 2-3 gms of EPA and DHA, vitamin D3 with k and magnesium can work as well. I really think it is important to try to solve the issue without pharmaceuticals if you can. You might need to try different combos to see which works for you. Also make sure you are taking your BP correctly with your arm positioned correctly to make sure you are getting an accurate reading.

[rgray222]

I dropped 10 lbs and slightly modified my diet. Added much more fruit and more salads. Also started walking about 2-3 miles a day. This brought my BP from the high side of normal to normal.

Just as an fyi, many years ago I quit drinking altogether. I watched my BP plummet within 2 weeks.

[Roisin]

Hello Everyone!

I am having issues with my blood pressure and would appreciate any natural and alternative methods that anyone has tried to lower and regulate blood pressure.

Marianne has offered me her recommendation of sweet marjoram essential oil. (origanum marjorana) Bill Ryan has suggested drinking Aloe Vera, he had a friend who had positive results from that.

I would love it :heart:, if anyone else had suggestions and would share them here!

-jean-marie


Lose weight. If your bp is too high then you're suffering from obesity. You need to get your weight down that's right for your height.

DO NOT go off your blood pressure medication until you lose the necessary weight to bring it back down within the normal range for your age. If you go of it, amongst other things, you may end up with an enlarged heart too.

[Nick Matkin]

I too have high blood pressure. I'm only slightly overweight, but do exercise regularly (40 min jog twice a week, cycle everywhere) but it runs in my family.

Luckily the prescription drugs I take keep it more or less normal without significant side effects and I've been on them for five years.

Doctor says lose more weight, eat better, cut out caffeine and salt and exercise more if I want to come off the drugs. I'm trying, I'm trying!!

I could try alternative meds I guess, but is there any proper research into this aspect? I'm no fan of anecdotal evidence, although if there's enough of it, it's a good place to start.

Nick

[RunningDeer]

In terms of the overall picture, the biggest factor to blood pressure was stress. I maintained it through exercise: walking, Tai Chi, Chi Kung and simple yoga stretches.

It's important for me to stay open to changing things up. I found that as I get older my body requirements with respect to foods and drink are completely different from fifteen-twenty years ago.

Fortunately, I’ve never smoked. As for alcohol, I only drink when I’m out which is a total of about nine to twelve glasses of wine a year. When I’m out with family and friends, I eat all the things I don’t at home.

My body doesn’t tolerate vitamin supplements. I may take one a month. I rely the best I can from organic foods. As for diet, it’s green drinks, no coffee, filtered water, nuts & seeds, fruits and veggies, free range eggs and Ezekiel sprouted whole grain bread.

For fats and oils, I eat butter made from happy cows “Kate’s” butter, extra virgin olive oil and unrefined “Organic Virgin Coconut Oil” from Spectrum. I make my own almond and coconut milk. (recipe below) I purchase organic almonds, coconut, dates, gluten free nutritional yeast, Chia seeds, apricot kernels, goji berries, pumpkins seeds, figs, prunes, etc. from nuts.com (“https://nuts.com").

My most recent and best investment was The ‘Vitamix Creation II’, which I use two to three times a day. It’s a versatile machine and easy to clean. I make green smoothies, hot soups, fruits smoothies/ice cream, coconut and almond milk.

Additional resources:

Green Smoothie Habit (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQus6yP6RiOlKXdl5zCkXQ) & GreenSmoothieHabit.com (http://greensmoothiehabit.com) and great, easy ideas from FullyRawKristina (“https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cOrj8dlCqYnGgp0xdkxow").

Here’s almond milk recipe I've modified from the video below. Also check out Green Smoothie Habit (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQus6yP6RiOlKXdl5zCkXQ) for coconut milk recipe and lot of others.

Quickly rinse almonds and then soak them in filtered water over night. Also soak 6 dates in filtered water over night.

Ingredients:

1c of soaked almonds
3c filtered H2O
cinnamon, cayenne, Himalayan salt
6 dates soaked
1/2 t of vanilla

Blend:

▶ blend 3c of water and almonds for 45 seconds on high
▶ strain (I push it through a strainer with a ladle, in the video below she uses a bag to squeeze it out)
▶ pour the almond water back into the rinsed blender
▶ add vanilla, dates, cinnamon, salt, cayenne (sometimes I add nutmeg)
▶ blend for 30 seconds


Almond Milk
zWrut3ObtEc

RunningDeer http://avalonlibrary.net/paula/Love/Heart_zpsvezvkpwd.GIF

[Hervé]

The researchers also noted that another benefit for the Yanomami related to their lack of obesity. "Adults of industrialized populations have an increase in weight with age. The Yanomami Indians did not increase their weight with age." Short, but to the point. Somebody remind me to add "obesity" to my shopping list of potassium deficiency-related ailments. Full article here: http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?28983-Got-Potassium-Maybe-that-is-why-you-don-t-have-glowing-health-&p=293776&viewfull=1#post293776

[TraineeHuman]

Also beets and dark chocolate and I like those better.

Beetroot is packed full of nitrates (NO -- nitrous oxide) in a natural form. Plenty of studies show that daily consumption of beets lowers the blood pressure for most people often by 10 points or more. Also, I understand a standard medicine for angina is a nitrate spray. But beets contain loads of nitrates, and in a natural form. You only need maybe about half or less of an average-sized beet per meal or per day to get results, I've found. Though please, not the canned variety, which are absolutely packed full of refined sugar. You can toast or grill beetroot if that improves the taste for you.

[Heyoka_11]

G'day Jean-Marie,

IMO.....

Hypertension is often an extremely simple state of affairs to remedy.

The best advice that you have received thus far follows:


It is important to establish why you have high blood pressure as many alternative (natural) remedies are potentially more damaging if there are secondary causes.

Although we would all rather avoid the MD, I will quite happily make them the first port of call, as all I will be seeking is a diagnosis. Once I have the diagnosis, I can then choose my own mode of treatment. If I am lucky, I will also get to tick the MD off when they attempt to prescribe unnecessary medications (much to their chagrin!). Of course, you may also choose to seek the advice of an alternative medical practitioner, and that's fine.

The next best advice you have received follows:


Dr Joel Wallach

OK, His gear is network marketed, but that does not make it one iota less efficacious. Your hypertension may well be caused by a deficiency, and Wallach has a product which is a one hit wonder, containing all the vitamins, minerals and amino acids that you require, and in a colloidal state. Hey, you may be simply short on potassium or calcium (PM me if you would like the name of the product, as I do not want to be seen to be soliciting).

Also.....

If you do not have one, buy a BP monitor, and keep a diary. When we visit the MD, we all experience an "anticipatory rise" in BP, simply because we are in a somewhat alien environment, and we are under examination. I once hurried to a pre-employment medical and recorded a BP of around 150 / 90. While most MDs would have seized the moment to suggest medication, this MD told me to close my eyes, and talked me through three breaths, each held for a few seconds, and slowly exhaled. My BP dropped to 115 / 75, which is what I would expect to see were I relaxed at home. So, don't believe that what the good MD tells you in their surgery is the end of the story. You will get a far better idea of what is actually happening with your BP when you are at home.

If you find that you are developing, or have developed atherosclerosis, which is a build up of plaque in the arteries, consider using EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). This is synthesized amino acid which is FDA approved for the removal of lead and other heavy metals in our bodies, but was also found to be a virtual scouring pad (gentle) for the removal of arterial plaque (not FDA approved). Once or twice a year, I'll cycle two weeks on EDTA, then resume my normal mineral supplementation for two weeks, and keep that up for a couple of months. My BP is better now than it was in my twenties.

Whatever you do, don't worry, as that will compound the hypertension. There will be an easy fix out there (most likely), so all you have to do is find it.

All the Very Best,

Tony.

[lucidity]

Beetroot lowers your blood pressure (as TraineeHuman mentioned).

Rather than just looking for blood pressure lowering foods and supplements.
It might be a good idea to look for blood pressure raising foods, and eliminate or reduce them.
So caffeine is one. _Salt_ is another.
Salt is very effective at raising your blood pressure and inducing insomnia.
Drastically reduce your salt intake for a week or two... and see how things pan out.
You might find yourself getting lots of lovely, refreshing sleep.

be happy

lucidity :-)

[RunningDeer]

Also beets and dark chocolate and I like those better.

Beetroot is packed full of nitrates (NO -- nitrous oxide) in a natural form. Plenty of studies show that daily consumption of beets lowers the blood pressure for most people often by 10 points or more. Also, I understand a standard medicine for angina is a nitrate spray. But beets contain loads of nitrates, and in a natural form. You only need maybe about half or less of an average-sized beet per meal or per day to get results, I've found. Though please, not the canned variety, which are absolutely packed full of refined sugar. You can toast or grill beetroot if that improves the taste for you.

Thanks for the reminder, TraineeHuman.

Note to self: add beets to grocery list.

The Vitamix blends up raw beets nicely into the green drink. I chop them up into quarters. If it's a large beet I use it over two or three days. Toss in some beet greens as well.

<3

[Jean-Marie]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice here. I started having some blood pressure issues last year. My Doctor put me on blood pressure medication and then he increased it and my legs, ankles and feet would swell up so then they put me on a water pill and after a month, I quit it all. I dropped 15 pounds in one week being off the medication. I hate pharmaceuticals. I seemed fine until Easter weekend. Then I felt the pressure in my head and took my pressure and it was not good.

Stress? I just finished helping two people run for our local city council. They both won! But with social media the way it is now a lot of mud slinging going around on facebook. That did add to my stress level. Also the salt in the Easter Ham could have done me in. I went to my doctor on Monday and he wanted me back on the water pill at a minimum. He also said I should increase my magnesium. I did have a magnesium deficiency a few years ago, I take a mangesium, potasium, calcium supplement.

So I have stopped using salt the last few days and I bought Aloe Vera and started that yesterday. I do really love salt, however quality of life is very important! So I am not adding salt to anything and staying away from anything salty.

There is a lot of real good advice and I am going to start trying one thing at a time so I can really tell what helps.

Thank you!

-jean-marie

[Bubu]

I have witness many friends and family including myself cured by this weed
http://mountainherbs.blogspot.com/2012/08/bilabila-quitch-grass-grama-triticum.in

cures high blood pressure, rheumatism, nerve problems

[Bill Ryan]

Lose weight. If your bp is too high then you're suffering from obesity. You need to get your weight down that's right for your height.



Being at the optimum weight range for your height is surely always a good thing, but being overweight is not necessarily the cause of high BP in all people.

My friend who solved his problem with Aloe Vera (see my post #4 (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?81420-Alternative-Information-for-Regulating-and-lowering-blood-pressure&p=951078&viewfull=1#post951078)) was as thin as a rake — just very hard working: he was a Hewlett-Packard engineer who was under the gun at his job night and day. These days, many people are under stress of various kinds... it has to be a very major factor in quite a few instances.

[Selkie]

If I were diagnosed with high blood pressure, I would increase my magnesium intake immediately and lay off all forms of calcium, at least for awhile.

Btw, muscle tension is a sign of magnesium deficiency. If you have a lot of muscle tension, like if you grind your teeth or get a stiff neck frequently, give magnesium a try. But make it magnesium citrate or magnesium malate, or something like that. Avoid magnesium oxide, which is what they put in the cheaper supplements, because it is very poorly absorbed.

Oh, and Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) or magnesium chloride baths are another good way to absorb magnesium.

[Jean-Marie]

If I were diagnosed with high blood pressure, I would increase my magnesium intake immediately and lay off all forms of calcium, at least for awhile.

Btw, muscle tension is a sign of magnesium deficiency. If you have a lot of muscle tension, like if you grind your teeth or get a stiff neck frequently, give magnesium a try. But make it magnesium citrate or magnesium malate, or something like that. Avoid magnesium oxide, which is what they put in the cheaper supplements, because it is very poorly absorbed.

Oh, and Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) or magnesium chloride baths are another good way to absorb magnesium.

Thank you Silkie!

I have been taking Mega Food brand Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium supplement. And last week I added taking Natural Vitality, Natural Calm, magnesium Citrate powder in water. I also started drinking aloe this week.

After reading everything that Herve posted, I am going to look into adding more Potassium. Starting with a banana!

[Roisin]

Lose weight. If your bp is too high then you're suffering from obesity. You need to get your weight down that's right for your height.



Being at the optimum weight range for your height is surely always a good thing, but being overweight is not necessarily the cause of high BP in all people.

My friend who solved his problem with Aloe Vera (see my post #4 (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?81420-Alternative-Information-for-Regulating-and-lowering-blood-pressure&p=951078&viewfull=1#post951078)) was as thin as a rake — just very hard working: he was a Hewlett-Packard engineer who was under the gun at his job night and day. These days, many people are under stress of various kinds... it has to be a very major factor in quite a few instances.

Bill, yes, that's true, there are exceptions.... but in the vast majority of cases, obesity is the number one cause of high blood pressure.

[Selkie]

If I were diagnosed with high blood pressure, I would increase my magnesium intake immediately and lay off all forms of calcium, at least for awhile.

Btw, muscle tension is a sign of magnesium deficiency. If you have a lot of muscle tension, like if you grind your teeth or get a stiff neck frequently, give magnesium a try. But make it magnesium citrate or magnesium malate, or something like that. Avoid magnesium oxide, which is what they put in the cheaper supplements, because it is very poorly absorbed.

Oh, and Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) or magnesium chloride baths are another good way to absorb magnesium.

Thank you Silkie!

I have been taking Mega Food brand Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium supplement. And last week I added taking Natural Vitality, Natural Calm, magnesium Citrate powder in water. I also started drinking aloe this week.

After reading everything that Herve posted, I am going to look into adding more Potassium. Starting with a banana!

You're welcome, Jean-Marie. I should add, whether someone is overweight or not, physical activity is very good for lowering blood pressure.

[Roisin]

I have my own personal story concerning blood pressure problems and because of it, I've done a lot of research on it and have talked to a lot doctors too. Last year, I thought I was gaining weight due to my b.p meds of which I take two, and decided to go off of them for a few months but then I ended up with an enlarged heart as indicated by an echocardiogram I had just a few weeks ago. I'm back on the meds again now but as for my enlarged heart, there's no guarantee that my heart is going to go back down to its normal size again even though my b.p. is now within the normal range thanks to the meds. I am now on a strict low cal diet to shed the 30 extra pounds I've been carrying for the past few years now. I'm told that if I lose that extra weight, I may be able to go off those bp meds, one of which is a diuretic.

[Selkie]

I have my own personal story concerning blood pressure problems and because of it, I've done a lot of research on it and have talked to a lot doctors too. Last year, I thought I was gaining weight due to my b.p meds of which I take two, and decided to go off of them for a few months but then I ended up with an enlarged heart as indicated by an echocardiogram I had just a few weeks ago. I'm back on the meds again now but as for my enlarged heart, there's no guarantee that my heart is going to go back down to its normal size again even though my b.p. is now within the normal range thanks to the meds. I am now on a strict low cal diet to shed the 30 extra pounds I've been carrying for the past few years now. I'm told that if I lose that extra weight, I may be able to go off those bp meds, one of which is a diuretic.

Hi, Roisin. I am sorry to hear about your health problems, and I thought that you might want to read this

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2586397/

It is about the amino acid taurine, which is good for the heart.

[Roisin]

Thanks Silkie, I'll check that out!

I guess what I'm trying to say to anyone who decides to go off their bp meds is that they should know that they may be putting their lives in danger by doing so. Over this past winter, due the arctic temps out there, I also suffered from extreme shortness of breath whenever I went outside. I also experienced shortness of breath sometimes just walking at a normal moderate pace from point A to point B. I never had problems with shortness of breath when I was on my bp meds.... but DID, when I went off of them. Then when I decided to go back on them again, that's when I found out about the size of my heart now after undergoing a series of tests... one of which was the echocardiogram. The size of my heart would still be normal had I not gone off those bp meds and now I'm stuck with an oversized heart due to my own ignorance and stupidity.

[Roisin]

Silkie, just looked over that link and was wondering if you know of a legitimate brand out there for Taurine supplements? And what's a good dosage for that per day? Anyway, it looks very promising and thanks for sharing!

---------------------------------------------
Just found info on a good dosage for hypertension at the following link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12436205/


Taurine supplementation of 6 g/day for as little as 7 days resulted in measurable decreases in blood pressure in these patients.

It also has a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism and TC. Very interesting!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15221507/

[Selkie]

Silkie, just looked over that link and was wondering if you know of a legitimate brand out there for Taurine supplements? And what's a good dosage for that per day? Anyway, it looks very promising and thanks for sharing!

Hi, Roisin :),

I don't take Taurine, myself; I learned about it when I did a bit of research into why two of my cats died of congestive heart failure. That said, there are probably many good brands out there, but one supplement company I trust for other amino acids that I do take (l-methionine, phenylalanine, GABA, and l-tryptophan) is Now Foods. Now Foods is reasonably priced, pretty much no-frills, and is sold all over the United States.

p.s. I have no affiliation or anything like that with Now Foods; I am simply a satisfied customer.

As an aside, years ago my heart used to labor like crazy with the least exertion. Then I started taking an iodine supplement (Iodoral)**. The laboring went away and has never returned.

**I have no affiliation of any kind with that company, either.

And thank you for your thanks :)

[Roisin]

Thanks Silkie for the info on that and I find it interesting that Iodoral helped with that problem. Presently I'm ok now in that dept. now but there's always room for improvement so might check that out too.... :)

[sunshaker]

I have always had high blood pressure 210 over 140 when left alone,cayenne pepper takes it down to 170 over 110,still scares my doctor,
But what is the "right blood pressure"?,
I believe we all vibrate at different levels, Always some one higher, always someone lower, but we are told the "average" is right,
I have never been average;)

[Fairy Friend]

Doctors like to see 120/80 as a good number. Either too high or to low will damage your heart, blood vessels, kidneys etc. An old rule of thumb is 100+your age as a top number (if your 50 then 150 is ok but there's where we don't like much higher) and under 90 as a bottom number. A blood pressure of 90/50 is to low and is probably an indication of shock or about to loose consciousness. Studies indicate that being on the lower scale of blood pressure is linked to longer life expectancy. So the lower the better.

My sister had to low of blood pressure and would pass out. Sugar helped bring her around. She was overweight to and had to low a blood pressure. We are all different and why it is important to find root causes and not just treat the symptoms.

[nenosema]

Motherwort can be good for this, my mum is taking this right now for the same thing

http://www.redrootmountain.com/motherwort-healing-the-anxious-heart-and-mind/53

[Jean-Marie]

This is an update for everyone! I gave up wheat and most salt. I have been drinking aloe everyday. I have lost 16 pounds and my blood pressure has come down considerably!