"Blood pressure medication may be helpful for short periods of time, but I am not convinced they are safe for a lifetime of use."
I agree... I do not believe that they are even safe even in the short term in my experience with them. I was able to get my BP down pretty much the same way you did from 170/110 to 115-125/85-95 at any given time. I started with diet first though. My old posts have it all in there.