NATURAL COMPOUNDS
for Healthy Blood Pressure
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Ride the
Wave of Health!
Diet, exercise and lifestyle
changes are essential for controlling blood pressure. Specific food supplements
may also help. A large proportion of the U.S. population suffers from hypertension
or high blood pressure. Many put themselves into this situation by ignoring
proper diet and exercise and/or creating a reality of stress for themselves.
The following are several compounds based on natural "helpers" that are
not drugs created by the drug companies and that have been able to substantially
(in many cases) reduce the problem of high blood pressure and hypertension.
Most of these can be obtained without a prescription, however, self-treatment
is not recommended (see Notice), so you need to
check with your health care provider for your specific situation, since
there are many different factors involved with blood pressure/hypertension,
and of course each one of us is different. |
ITEM |
DESCRIPTION |
| What is Blood Pressure |
Blood pressure
is the pressure of the blood in
the arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. |
| How is Blood Pressure Measured |
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury
and recorded as two (2) numbers, for example 120/80. The larger number indicates the pressure in the
arteries as the heart squeezes out blood during each beat, called the systolic blood pressure.
The lower number indicates the pressure as the heart relaxes before the next beat, called the
dislistolic blood pressure. It's best to measure the pressure when you are relaxed, sitting or
lying down. |
Why is High Blood
Pressure Unhealthy |
If the blood pressure remains high it can cause serious problems
such as heart attack, a stroke, heart failure or kidney dis-ease. High pressure usually does not
give warning signs. The only way to find out whether one has high blood pressure (or any pressure
for that matter) is to have it checked regularly. |
Who is At Risk
for High
Blood Pressure |
Blacks, Heavy (alcohol) drinkers, Middle-age and elderly,
Obese, those with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney dis-ease. |
Blood
Pressures |
Normal: Systolic - below 130, Diastolic: below 85,
example: 120/84
High Normal: Systolic - 130-139, Diastolic: 85-89, example: 135/85
Mild High: Systolic - 140-159, Diastolic: 90-99, example: 145/95
Moderate High: Systolic: 160-179,
Diastolic: 100-109, example: 160/105
Severe High: Systolic: 180+, Diastolic: 110+, example: 180/115 |
How to Measure
Your Pulse |
These are the steps for determining your pulse in
the radial artery in your wrist:
1) Stop any exercise
2) Using tips of your fingers, locate the area between your wrist bone (on either hand) and tendon on
the thumb side of either wrist. You will feel the pulsing of the artery when you have positioned your
finger properly.
3) Make sure not to press so hard on the blood vessel that the flow of blood is obstructed.
4) Count your radial pulse for 10 seconds and then multiply by six (6) to get your pulse rate per
minute. |
First, you should know there are several categories of hypertension
drugs. These are shown in the following chart. Secondly, most if not all
of these have been formulated by the drug companies to be taken upon a
doctor's prescription. This chart displays the basic grouping and describes
what they are about. Some of this information may surprise you! |
| DRUG
TYPE |
WHAT
IT DOES |
SIDE
EFFECTS |
| Diuretics |
Increases
kidney's excretion of sodium, which in turn decreases the volume of blood
in the system. |
Drains
the body's supplies of potassium and magnesium; raises cholesterol levels;
and makes blood platelets sticker, increasing the risk of harmful clots. |
| Beta
Blockers |
Lowers
blood pressure by blocking responses from beta nerve receptors. This slows
down the heartbeat and decreases the amount of blood that the heart pumps. |
Impotence,
fatigue, depression, and increased triglyceride and cholesterol levels;
difficulty in getting sufficient blood to the hands, feet and brain. |
| Calcium
Channel Blockers |
Keeps
calcium from getting into the muscle cells of the arteries, allowing blood
vessels to widen. |
May
weaken the heart and harm the liver. |
| Now that the above chart shows you what some of the more
popular groups of prescription drugs can do, the below chart shows a few
of the Natural Compounds that do the same or better job (in our opinion),
without a prescription. |
NATURAL
COMPOUNDS |
DESCRIPTION |
| Hawthorn |
Can
widen blood vessels, especially the coronary arteries. Some of the flavonoids
in Hawthorn help prevent the narrowing of blood vessels. This is available
through Karinya. (*1) (See references
below) |
| Cayenne |
Reduces
the risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to hypertension. Available
through Karinya.. |
| Kudzu |
Contains
a chemical (puerarin) that has decreased blood pressure by 15 percent in
lab animals (*2). In addition, puerarin has many times the antioxidant
activity of vitamin E, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Available through Karinya. |
| Saffron |
Contains
a blood-pressure-lowering chemical called crocetin. Some researchers speculate
that the low rate of heart disease in Spain is due to the Spaniards' high
consumption of saffron. Available through Karinya. |
| Valerian |
Promotes
higher levels of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) in the body. GABA helps
regulate blood pressure. In addition, valerian has sedative activity, which
has a beneficial impact on blood pressure. Available through Karinya. |
| Potassium |
Supplementation
of this may be especially beneficial for hypertensives over the age of
65 (*3). "The elderly often do not fully respond to blood pressure- lowering
drugs, which makes the use of potassium supplementation an exciting possibility."
Available through Karinya. |
| Magnesium |
Supplements
of this may also lower blood pressure. One double-blind study focused on
91 middle-aged and elderly women with mild to moderately high blood pressure.
They randomly received either 480mg of magnesium asparate or a placebo
each day for six months. At the end of the study, both systolic and diastolic
levels dropped significantly in the magnesium group. Available through
Karinya. (*4) |
| Vitamin
C |
Supplementation
has exerted a modest blood-pressure-lowering effect in people with mild
hypertension. (*5) One way vitamin C may support healthy blood pressure
is by promoting the excretion of lead, which is linked to hypertension.
Available through Karinya. |
| CoQ10 |
This
is a nutrient that shows promise for hypertensives and that naturally occurs
in our bodies. One study investigated 26 hypertensives who took 50mg of
CoQ10 twice a day for 10 weeks. At the end of the study, systolic blood
pressure had dropped from an average of 165 to 147, and diastolic blood
pressure dropped from 98 to 86. Available through Karinya.
(*6) |
| Garlic |
Garlic
helps reduce cholesterol as well as blood pressure (*7). In a 1993 study,
people with high blood pressure consumed one clove of garlic, a day for
12 weeks. At the conclusion of the study, they demonstrated significantly
lower diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Available through
Karinya. |
| Onions |
These
are also recommended for hypertensives. In one study, two to three tablespoons
of onion essential oil a day lowered blood pressure in 67 percent of people
with moderately high blood pressure. Their systolic levels fell an average
of 25 points and their diastolic readings fell 15 points. Onion essential
oil is not available, but you can promote healthy blood pressure by adding
more onions to your diet. Available through Karinya. |
Other
Compounds |
Fennel,
oregano, black pepper, basil, and tarragon all contain several blood-pressure-lowering compounds. Available
through Karinya. |
| Kava-Kava |
Kava-Kava
is an herb that's in a class by itself. Its remarkable ability to promote
relaxation without loss in mental sharpness makes it a perfect herbal supplement
for today's too-busy-to-relax lifestyle. And it's safe! Used for thousands
of years by the Oceanic people of the South Pacific who have the reputation
of being the happiest, friendliest people in the world. Best of all, Kava-Kava
is free of the side effects and addictive properties common to anti-anxiety
drugs. Kava-Kava is available through Karinya. |
|
References: (*1) B.Havsteen,
Biochem Pharm 32:1141-1148, 1982| (*2) James A. Duke, PhD.| (*3) Michael
T. Murray, N.D., Encylopedia of Nutritional Supplements, 1996| (*4) J.C.
M. Witterman, et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60:129-135,
1994| (*5) Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements| (*6) Ray Sahelian,
M.D., Coenzyme Q10: Nature's Heart Energizer, 1997| (*7) Dr. James Duke,
The Green Pharmacy, 1996| American Heart Association | National Heart Foundation | The
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute | Mayo Clinic Family Health Book
|
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