Re: need help with hypertension

 I am not diabetic and don't have kidney problems (at least not that I know-not serious enough to register on blood tests-but some mild degree of kidney problem is possible since I have had hypertension for decades).I have tried the herbs you suggest but the pressure remains high.I stopped lactoferrin and zyflamend(with barberry)three weeks ago.I don't know if that's enough time to end the potassium depletion.Consuming potassium and magnesium are not helping.What about celery seed?....someone on this forum mentioned it's a good diuretic.

Yes, it is a diuretic.  But there are better choices such as parsley leaf, corn silk, or anything else that is potassium rich.  These include watermelon,  papaya, kiwis, orange juice, ripe bananas, nettle leaf, etc.  Juniper berry is also an excellent diuretic and helps to keep blood sugar down and is excellent for strengthening the nervous system.

I may have to get a diuretic from my doctor if I can't solve the problem natutally.Would I be better off with high pressure(in the 145-160 range) or is it better to bring it down with a diuretic drug?what is the least bad drug?....a potassium sparing diuretic like Maxide of just a plain diuretic?

What would work the best will depend a lot on not only the problem itself (water retention, hypercalcemia, angiotensin, etc) and its cause (poor heart or kidney function, hyperparathyroidism, etc.).

I am reasonably sure my problem is sodium retention(and potassium depletion) causing the water retention so the artery relaxing approach isn't effective.Any suggestions?

There is a list of diuretics above.  Watermelon would actually be my first choice.  All parts of the watermelon including the rind and seeds are diuretic.

If diuretics do not work then a second option would be to strengthen the heart muscle to pump more blood through the kidneys for more water removal.  Coleus forskohlii with nettle leaf would be a great combination for this.