Re: hypertension: can we trust them?

It may take a private email to say it all, but I'll try in the space here. It starts with a philosophy of life that believes that everything we need for optimum health is provided for us in nature by the creator of all things, however we choose to interpret that. Except for a botched liver flush(only one in 500 people this happens to) when I got a big stone stuck and had to get it and the gallbladder cut out, I have been able to avoid MD type treatments adult life. What I'm saying is you have to start out believing that you are boss of your body and you can lick hypertension; and remind yourself you aren't going to drop dead if you have high readings. At least for a while. And you may drop dead anyway of something else.// Buy a decent BP monitor(Consumer Reports rated them,and you should be able to stay under $50.00) to use at home and start recording your numbers morning and night, and notice any "triggers". Don't freak. It's like weight. It's what it is, and log it in like it isn't really your own self in this mess. For me, even politics or an unpleasant incident at work can shoot it up. Mostly, it goes up high because it does. But a third glass of evening wine can shoot it up, skipping meals and long work hours, not getting enough sleep. // Start fiddling with various things. Your body is different from mine, and regardless of what "they" say about essential hypertension, something is causing it and you are going to go after the causes, not just the symptoms. One sub-culture of natural medicine teaches that the major organs need to be in peak health or BP shoots up. kidney stones or sluggish liver can affect BP.//Right now, the program that works for me is fish liver oils and certain amino acids: if I get sloppy about supplements and eating wild salmon or herring then it can go way up( 170/120 after a week or two of being off the program). L-Arginine, an amino acid, works as a blood vessel dilator; L-Carnitine, and L-Taurine are all vital for my own BP. I'm out of a product right now called Hyper-Balance that I keep forgetting to reorder: it's all traditional Chinese herbs, and after about two weeks off of it, my BP rises. //
Sometimes even Vitamin C can be important, so I need about 500 units/day in winter. Keep Calcium, Magnesium/and Potassium in balance; eats lots of vegetables. I've switched to Sea Salt but regular salt raises my own BP somewhat. If it gets out of control because you've gotton interested in something else besides your body, sip Jamaica tea(pronounced Himaica) and make yourself do some deep breathing exercises several times a day. You can pull your systolic down about 20 points after a day of 5 minute time outs for deep breathing. Or just drink Hibiscus(which is Jamaica) juice for a couple days. You'll figure what works for you, by being patient and resolving not to resort to truly violent, expensive medicines which often still don't work, in about a year, you will get control over your BP. Other people report success with Grape Seed Oil, Garlic, and Celery. Vegetarians have few problems with high blood pressure, but it's probably all the potassium they get and minerals. Overall though, in my case, the amino acids are the most important, with the Chinese herbs a close second. When I travel, especially with the new security rules, I pretty much limit myself to amino acids. When I reorder my Hyper-Balance(I live in a rural area), I'll pass on the names of the herbs in it. And I'd be interested in following your progress. Again, it's what works for you. Without obsessing but patiently fiddling with this for five years, my BP is typically 125/80-85. I'm o.k. with that. But if I get off the program, it can get high. Tweet