Can someone advise best natural remedy for high blood pressure?

Question

My mom has essential high blood pressure sometimes reaching over the 200/160 mark. As her blood pressure has been high for a while she has an enlarged right ventricle which will and is leading to CHF. Her breathing is already heavy. Her doctor has given her Betaloc, Plendil, Inhibace, Dosan, Cartia a blood thinner, Lipex for high cholesterol and Quinine for night cramps. She's in her early 70's and she complains of head aches, extreme fatigue and loss of energy. She has increasing dark circles around her eyes as if she hasn't slept in months with shortness of breath like she's gasping for air. I would like her to try natural remedies because these synthetic drugs don't appear to be doing much for her overall health. Can anyone advise some really good and effective natural remedies to treat both high blood pressure and CHF? I know Celery is good for lowering blood pressure.

Answer 1

It's great that you are concerned for your mother. She has a lot of stuff to be concerned about, and I hope you can take the time to learn about all of the issues.

I feel for you and your mother. It's hard to believe that they can't get her BP under control. I'll give you my best answer on natural means for reducing BP, but I strongly recommend you find a hypertension specialist. The bloodpressureline Yahoo! group is a great resource, as well. It is run by a hypertension specialist who can help you to find someone in your local area.

On the CHF side, you should find a heart failure specialist, as well. (Not just a regular cardiologist!)

Now, as to how to treat it:
1. Do *all* of the obvious things:
a. No smoking
b. Cut out caffeine and alcohol
c. If her BMI isn't < 25, help her figure out how to get it down there. Obesity, more than anything else, is a huge issue. Check out the DASH diet and the rice diet.
d. Reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake (fresh fruits such as oranges and bananas can help here). -- This is actually a very easy thing to do and might bear fruit, so to speak.
e. Make sure she doesn't have sleep apnea. It can cause high BP.
f. Get her regular exercise, even if it is just walking around a few times a day or doing water aerobics. Build up her stamina. Create a log for this, if necessary, so that she can visually see her own progress.
2. Take her BP regularly. If she doesn't have a digital BP cuff, get her one and make sure she knows when and how to use it. (They're remarkably inexpensive... around $50 for a good one at your local pharmacy.) Have her log BP as well as exercise.
3. Work with the hypertension and heart failure specialists to determine if her medications and their dosages are appropriate. Is Betaloc the right beta blocker? Is a calcium channel blocker such as Plendil indicated? Is her ACE inhibitor (Inhibace) at the right dosage, and does she understand the best times of day to take it? Cartia is a calcium channel blocker. Why is she on two different CCBs? Quinine is not FDA-approved for the treatment of leg cramps. There should be a better way for that, IMO. And if she has shortness of breath at night, why in the world isn't she on a diuretic to get the fluids out of her lungs?!
4. Check out chfpatients.com for more information on CHF treatment. Start by reading "the manual". You might also be interested in the "nutrient stew" section.
5. Ask your mother if you can sit in on her doctor appointments. Write out as many questions in advance as possible and send them to the doctor beforehand. You'll get much more thoughtful responses this way.

Please feel free to contact me if you want to chat about any of this...

Good luck!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 4

The dash diet, google it. also hawthrone ginko biloba. she still needs bp meds however dash diet takes a few months to work and the hawthrone at least one year to reach full affects.

but the hawthrone strengthens the heart too. sounds like she is taking way to much stuff, ever consider a second opinion? I have read doctors say that congestion heart failure was not as common until beta blockers came along. they actually weaken the heart that is why I stopped mine and got on a calcium channel blocker.

oh by the way the dash diet will help with fluid retention there it will as it will counter the salt in the diet, and over time she should be able to reduce the medications. she seems to be on an aweful lot of medications, she could be having severe side affects from them. please have her see another doctor a natrapath or something. by the way the breathing difficulty might be due to fluid in her lungs due to the weakened heart, and if she is on any type of beta blocker it will make it worse.

RRRRR

Answer 5

I have heard that garlic is a great natural remedy for high blood pressure. It can be bought in health food stores .

Answer 6

I'm not speaking as an m.d., but I had a friend visit me 2,000 miles from her home and ran out of her blood pressure medicine, I researched and found the herb gotu kola to be recommended for high blood presure, she tried it and she and another friend were able to maintain their health without some of the unpleasant side affects of the meds they were on. they did so well there physician agreed to use that therapy and they never took the prescription meds after that. I would never tell anyone to do this on this one incident, but if you were out, I would try it until I got to the pharmacy.

Answer 7

Adipose tissue loss, water weight loss.

Stress reduction

Regular excercise but not overdone

1-2 days complete rest

Answer 8

Walk to some co-worker's desk to chat as an alternative to instant messaging.

Answer 9

In the mood for the hot meal? Make a large pot of veggie bean soup, divide into two-cup containers, and store from the freezer. Before bed, place a container from the fridge, then grab it before heading out the door in the morning.

Answer 10

Don’t focus on your weaknesses, spotlight your best bits. Modest waist? Belt it in. Lovely bust? Lower the neckline. Nicely toned butt? Rock tight jeans. Alluring legs? Show ‘em off. It’s really that simple.