If anyone on this forum is controlling high blood pressure using natural alternatives to medications, would you mind sharing what exactly you do and how it is working for you? I have done a lot of research on this and have a lot of information gathered but would like to hear from those that are having success with this.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 06, 2001

Answers

If you are overweight, start a walking program. That is the most basic solution. My mom lost 50 lbs, and she got off all her BP meds and heart meds and diabetes meds. Gained it all back later, plus some, and is back on all the meds.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), November 06, 2001.

Garlic and cayenne work well for some people. Ask someone at a health food store for recommended amounts..

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), November 07, 2001.

I don't have high blood pressure, but I know someone who was able to go off medication by eliminating salt, and by eating bananas and taking potassium.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 07, 2001.

Terry:

Try www.watercure2.com It explains many things about the relationships of salt and fluid in your body. Removing all salt from your diet is very dangerous. We have all heard that removing salt from your diet is good for you, but I can't find any proof. I think it is kind of an urban legend. I have yet to find a medical report that shows that salt causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart problems. If anyone can find one, please let me know, I would like to see it. I am not referring to an article in Good Housekeeping, I mean a medical publication or something reputable.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), November 07, 2001.

The person I know, just eliminated adding extra salt, I'm sure they still got some just from eating normal foods, as there is much in a lot of things we eat.

I do not eat much salt, but I notice that if I do, I am super thirsty, much more than normal.

I have read, don't know where, that researchers don't feel that salt causes high blood pressure, but if you have high blood pressure already it can lower your blood pressure if you decrease your salt intake.

I don't eat much because I just don't really like it much. My blood pressure is usually about 110 over 60, varying a few points either way. Which, I am told, is within the normal limits.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 07, 2001.

Thanks to everyone for all the responses the are much appreciated. Bob in WI - thanks for this site.

I am walking and in the process of losing my extra 50 lbs. (a side note here - I gained this extra weight when we began to eat a mostly vegetarian style diet - have since found that two of us in this family can't handle very many carbs). I have never smoked, do not drink alcohol and am not a big coffee drinker but am now cutting out all caffeine except for an occasional cup of coffee or tea. I am drinking water with lemon slices and herbal teas. I have started using garlic and other herbal supplements and making sure I get enough calcium/magnesium and potasium.

We have always used whole grains in our breads, cereal and pastas (I am limited in those amounts for myself as I need to keep sugar levels down). Have been cutting down on fat( by using less not by using fat free (read CHEMICAL) products - have always eaten REAL cheese, REAL butter, REAL eggs, RED meats and my cholesteral are good). I only cook using cold pressed oils and use mostly olive oil. I probably should have asked my question differently. I'd like to know from anyone else that is doing this, how long it took to for your blood pressure to begin dropping. I just started yesterday (with the supplements and cutting back on fats and caffeine)and began with readings of 197/110.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 07, 2001.

Can I use high blood pressure as an excuse for not spelling correctly and leaving words out of sentences? I hope so - LOL.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 07, 2001.

Terry, You've described almost my own situation. We are vegetarians too and I have learned that I have to limit my carbs because of insulin resistance too. My hubby can eat just about anything and not have a problem at all. I stick pretty much to an ayurvedic diet, with a few slips ever now and then. But, I haven't been able to give up coffee yet. That's on the list though. Anyway, I had problems with blood sugar and blood pressure before I started this diet, vitamin therapy, and walking. The blood pressure is so under control that that my doctor doesn't even comment or ask about it anymore. I've never taken meds for it or my insulin resistance. My weight is slowing coming under control and my stamina and health is increasing. You might look for a book by Dr. Deepok Chopra named "Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide". It really changed my life. Good luck and keep us informed on your progress. Iris

-- Iris (Sar_India@msn.com), November 07, 2001.

Iris,

Our family no longer sticks to a vegetarian diet. We have our own rabbits and chickens for meat (and eggs) and buy beef from a man that raises hormone and chemical free beef.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), November 07, 2001.

Terry, sorry it took me several days to get to you on this. I have HBP also and have been helped enormously by a book titled "The High Blood Pressure Solution" by Richard D. Moore, MD. His whole premise is that the sodium/potassium ratio needs to be maintained. I found the book at the library first, tried his guidelines, and went out and bought a copy so I could refer back to it. Basically, you need to take in more potassium than sodium, and he tells you how to do it. I was able to lose 10 pounds without dieting per se, and cut my medication in half. If I would stay on the diet, it would probably go down even further, to the point of eliminating meds. When I lived in the city, it was much easier to do that, because you can find sodium free products. Out here in the boonies, its alot harder, but it can be done. As with anything, will power plays a big part. Pop corn isn't as tasty without the salt. In reality, we eat 'way too much salt in our diets, especially if we eat out or rely on packaged foods. I was amazed though, you can retrain your taste buds. It takes about a month, then things that used to taste awful without salt start to taste just fine. And I find that some things are just too salty and I can't stand to eat them. One caution, he stresses the need to come off sodium very gradually, not overnight. I'd be happy to answer any questiions.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), November 09, 2001.

Hi Terry, yes, I am controlling my HBP with alternative medicines and herbs and lifestyle changes.

First, I lost some weight and increased my walking everyday, I was barely overweight but it did make a difference.

My BP used to be 150/110 and cholesterol over 200, after a year of diet changes and alternative meds it is 125/75, and cholesterol is 149, my age is 42.

I gave up most all meat and try to keep total fat less than 20% of my diet per day, and avoid all refined carbohydrates, use whole grain products as much as possible, I think plenty of fiber is very important to lower BP.

Lowering BP naturally requires cleaning out the "sludge" out of your arteries, less sludge, more flexibility and room for the blood to flow unobstructed through your arteries, hence, lower BP. Reducing cholesterol is essential to do this, it must be under 150 to accomplish your goal.

I also take 800mg of hawthorn twice a day, 1200mg garlic twice a day, 400mg of natural vitamin once a day, 1200 mg of calcium in divided doses, 800mg of magnesium in divided doses, 800mg of folic acid once a day, and 1000mg of Ester C plus bioflavnoids in divided doses every day, plus a multi-vitamin and red clover extract for pre-menopausal symptoms.

My internist is overjoyed at my success, and wishes that all her patients were so motivated to lower their HBP!!! She says that my risk of heart disease is now 3 times lower than average for a woman my age. Since heart disease is more likely to kill women my age than breast or reproductive cancer ( heart disease kills one in five women, and breast cancer one in eight), I feel I have accomplished a wonderful goal at living a long and healthy life!!!

Feel free to e-mail me to ask any other questions you might have, you can do this too!!!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), November 11, 2001.

Annie that is the best explanation for blood pressure I have ever read. Just the thought of "sludge" in your veins makes you want to clean it out!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 11, 2001.

Has anyone heard of using flax seed oil to lower lipids and garlic and ginsing to reduce blood sugar amounts? my Dr says I am on the hairy edge of type 2 but believes it can be reversed. Mind you, I was just told of all of this thursday and i am in the "learning" stages. Any help would be great thanks

-- t wiker (twiker@comcast.net), August 12, 2002.