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It has become so commonplace that we accept it almost as a foregone conclusion. Over 50% of our population will suffer from a fatal heart attack or stroke. And far more will experience non-fatal, but life altering episodes of heart attack, stroke or TIA's (transient ischemic attacks – aka: a mini-stroke). The irony is that these vascular problems are largely preventable and reversible. The first symptom many will experience is high blood pressure. Also known as hypertension. The first thing you need to understand is High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is not a disease. It is a symptom. While the media and medical community often refer to it as a disease, it is really only the symptom of other problems, the most common being hardening of the arteries or arteriolosclerosis. This occurs when the lining of the arteries is irritated and a plaque begins to form. Normally the arteries should be soft and elastic. As the blood is pumped from the heart and gushes through the arteries, they expand and then recoil with a slight contraction to move the blood and keep it flowing. As plaque forms and hardens on the arteries, they become less resilient and instead of absorbing the influx of pressure generated by the increased blood flow, the pressure does not soften. It is kind of like running water from a 2-inch pipe down to a 1-1/2 inch pipe. The pressure will build and increase with the smaller diameter of pipe. Of course, this is an oversimplification, but you get the idea.  A heart attack or stoke can occur when the artery becomes so occluded or plugged up with plaque that blood can no longer adequately flow through it or a piece of the plaque chips of and blocks an artery.  If the blocked or plugged artery is in the brain, we call it a stroke. If the artery is in the heart, we call it a heart attack.  

High blood pressure can be defined as blood pressure that is too high while at rest. This is different than having higher blood pressure while you are exercising or active. The heart rate should increase with physical activity raising the blood pressure. This is normal.  But when you are relaxed and resting and your blood pressure is high, this is an indication of vascular disease. (Again, an over simplification – other things can also cause high blood pressure, like kidney disease, diabetes, etc.) Vascular disease, it turns out, is not caused so much by eating meat (high cholesterol foods) as was once thought, but by eating the wrong kinds of fats; hydrogenated fats. These are typically oils that are electrically or chemically shocked to add hydrogen molecules to the fat/lipid/oil. This process changes slippery runny oil into solid fluffy Crisco shortening. This is what makes your crackers light and crisp and your piecrust light and flaky. These hydrogenated oils, irritate the lining of the arteries which causes plaque or hardening of the arteries resulting in High Blood Pressure.  Because our food choices have so dramatically changed in the past 50 years, and continue to change, we are finding degenerative diseases that once affected only the elderly, now being common in children, the most obvious examples being obesity, adult-onset diabetes and heart disease.

Now look, I view my self as a pretty simple guy. While I trudge through much of the latest scientific research, I had been around long enough now to realize that when it comes to truth, truth is generally pretty clear and simple. I believe we are designed to eat whole natural food; Food that has not been manipulated with chemistry, electricity or poisons. I believe that the vast majority of the health issues we (as a country and culture) struggle with are the result of toxicity because of how we mistreat our foods. Too often I see people taking all kinds of drugs, herbs, vitamins, minerals, hormones, and various "naturally" occurring chemicals, attempting to manipulate or balance their own chemistry. While the food they put into their bodies are dictated by convenience and acquired tastes.  [The 3 flavors that sell most foods are fat, sugar and salt]. We've become a people who are literally eating ourselves to death.

Now, I'm an herbalist. I view herbs as concentrated foods. Herbs can carry with them concentrated nutrients that can heal, stimulate, sedate and nourish the tissues of our bodies. While the misuse or mismanagement of herbal medicines can be harmful, herbs can generally offer us a safe and effective alternative to health, as compared to simply managing symptoms. I've never heard of a blood pressure medication that will do anything other than temporarily lower the blood pressure. And so when we recommend a program for those with High Blood Pressure, the goal is to create a healthy body that no longer has the symptom of high blood pressure, because the arteries and heart are healthier.  

In a landmark INTERHEART study of 30,000 men and women in 52 countries, it was found that nine lifestyle factors accounted for almost all the risk of a heart attack: smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, diet, level of activity, alcohol consumption and psychosocial issues like emotional stress and depression. In other words, the disease that kills the most people each year is almost completely preventable just by changing diet and lifestyle.

Nutrition

We have been programmed through the medical media machine to address our health concerns by taking drugs or pills. And while taking herbal medicines can definitely help to reduce high blood pressure, a healthy diet cannot be overlooked if you expect long-term results. People with hypertension (HBP) can remarkably reduce their blood pressure through nutritional changes. Increasing the amount of vegetables and fruit and reducing the amount of fat and cholesterol will not only reduce blood pressure but can help with weight loss, which also lowers blood pressure. While we strongly recommend an herbal program, you've got to improve your diet if you expect to enjoy lasting improvement.

Exercise

Our bodies were designed for movement and action.  Honestly, I don't care whether you like to exercise or not. If you do not engage in regular activity that will keep you fit and flexible, you will suffer from premature aging, low energy and pain.  The secret to success is finding something you enjoy or something that you learn to enjoy. Something like the simple act of walking (particularly where you can enjoy nature, rather than in front of a TV screen) can invigorate your body and soul.  Are you serious about your health? If so, exercise is a must. An hour a day, six days per week.

Herbal Recomendations:

Cardio + – 1 to 2 dropperfuls 3 times daily

Hawthorn Berry Syrup – 1 teaspoon three times each day

Reishi Mushroom extract – 2 dropperfuls per day

Garlic – 1 to 3 cloves daily, 2 capsules per day or 2 droppersful per day

Bountiful Blend or Earth's Nutrition – 1 serving per day.

Garlic – There have been a number of studies examining the effects of garlic supplements on blood pressure. In clinical studies, garlic has been shown to decrease the systolic pressure by 20-30 mm Hg and the diastolic by 10-20 mm Hg. It can also lower cholesterol, reduce triglyceride levels, discourage clot formation, and promote blood circulation.  Eating quantities as small as one clove of garlic a day was found to have beneficial effects in managing hypertension. A typical dose of garlic is 900 mg of garlic powder per day. This dosage is also recommended for lowering high cholesterol.  Use garlic in your cooking, salad, soup, pickles, etc. It is very versatile.

Garlic can thin the blood. It should not be combined with prescription blood-thinners such as coumadin (warfarin) or Trental (pentoxifylline) or with natural blood-thinners such as vitamin E or ginkgo. It is usually recommended that people taking garlic stop in the weeks before and after any type of surgery.

Hawthorn ( Crataegus oxyacantha ) is one of the most highly respected natural remedies for high blood pressure and has well-known cardio-protective properties. Hawthorn works by dilating blood vessels, thereby increasing the heart's energy supply and improving its pumping ability and does this by blocking the action of a blood constricting enzyme called ACE (angiotensin- converting enzyme). Hawthorn therefore reduces blood pressure in cases where there are chronically constricted arteries. The anti-oxidant properties of hawthorn also help to protect against damage caused by plaque build up in the coronary arteries. Hawthorn also increases the oxygen carrying capacity of red-blood-cells, thus improving the efficiency of your circulation.

Reishi mushroom (pronounced ReeShee): There is evidence that reishi can lower both blood pressure and blood-cholesterol levels. Scientists at Oklahoma's Oral Roberts University found that compounds in reishi reduce the flow of nerve impulses through the sympathetic nervous system, the portion of the nervous system activated by emotional stress. Russian scientists screening mushrooms as potential cholesterol-lowering drugs have found that reishi extracts stop the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries of laboratory animals. Two controlled clinical studies have investigated the effects of reishi on high blood pressure in humans. Both found it could lower pressure significantly as compared with a placebo. The subjects with high blood pressure in the second study had not previously responded to medications.

Side effects from reishi can include dizziness, dry mouth and throat, nosebleeds, and abdominal upset. These rare effects may develop with continuous use over three to six months.   Pregnant or breast-feeding women should consult a physician before taking reishi.

Flaxseed meal - freshly ground 2-4 tablespoons daily. Flaxseed meal is a better choice due to its fiber, lignin, and vitamin content, but flaxseed oil (1 tbsp daily) can be substituted.

Introducing Western Botanicals' New Formula

Cardio +

This formula contains the following herbs, each proven to be safe and effective in improving the health of the heart, blood vessels and circulation.

Gynostemma (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a powerful Chinese herb that has been used to lower high blood pressure, decrease high blood fats and reduce incidence of blood clots and arteriosclerosis (the underlying cause of high blood pressure). It helps increase the good cholesterol (HDL), boosts the immune system and strengthens the digestive system. Because of its stimulation on liver function, it helps with natural weight loss by sending carbohydrates to the muscles instead of converting sugars to triglycerides and stored as fat. Gynostemma has also been shown to improve the quality of sleep.

Chrysanthemum flower (Chrysanthemum morifolium): Not only a beautiful flower introduced from China, but also a powerful medicinal which soothes inflammation and increases the blood flow to the heart reducing blood pressure.

Olive leaf (Olea europaea) In addition to the culinary use of olives and olive oil, the leaf has been found to lower blood pressure, reduce fever and calm nervous tension.

Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) In addition to its renowned cancer fighting abilities, maitake has proven effective in lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, two key risk factors in cardiovascular disease.

Mistletoe leaf (Viscum album) Mistletoe is believed to function as a regulator of blood pressure, exerting a healing effect in both hypertension and hypotension. In Europe, mistletoe has often been combined with hawthorn (crataegus) in treating hypertension.

Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest trees on the planet, dating back about 200 million years. It has survived mainly in Oriental temple gardens, where it is highly prized for its medicinal properties in Chinese Traditional Medicine. Modern studies have demonstrated the significant effect that Ginkgo biloba has on the cardiovascular system, relaxing blood vessels, acting as a circulatory stimulant and anti-inflammatory. One of the most important active ingredients, ginkgolide, has been clinically shown to be just as effective as standard pharmaceutical drugs in treating irregular heartbeats. Improving blood flow throughout the body, Ginkgo biloba can also reduce blood 'stickiness', which lowers the risk of blood clots.

Passion flower (Passiflora incarnate) is a well-known calmative herb, which also relaxes blood vessels and reduces blood pressure.

If you currently are experiencing high blood pressure or hypertension, don't let this silent killer rob you of your health and vitality. We strongly urge you to take control of your health and consider the recommendations within this article. These lifestyle changes can not only improve your heart and circulation function, but also bring more energy and stamina to your life. As you have noticed, our recommendations will require some commitment and change to your life. These recommendations are certainly more involved than taking a pill each morning to reduce your blood pressure. But ask yourself, how many of those entering hospital emergency rooms with a heart attack had taken their blood pressure meds that morning?  Remember, blood pressure drugs only control the symptom of high blood pressure. They do not make you healthy. They do not even slow or prevent heart disease or stroke. It is like taking the batteries out of that noisy smoke alarm in your burning home, so you can get back to sleep. So how serious are you about your health? Serious enough to get involved with your health, or are you content to continue your current course?

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~ Dr. Kyle D. Christensen D.C. ~