Guest guest Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Hi everyone, I just joined today, and I'm researching the web on natural remedies for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I would like to get off the medications that I am on, since I think they do " other " harm to the body. I was wondering if any of you had success with herbs you have taken to lower cholesterol and/or high blood pressure, and what brand(s) you were using. There are several different companies out there with different combinations of herbs, and it's like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Just looking for some suggestions. Thanks! Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Hi Cathy, Welcome! For high cholesterol and high blood pressure, I would start on cayenne and garlic immediately. You can get/make a tincture of cayenne and take that in some water or juice (or straight if you're brave!) or some people mix cayenne powder in their tea. I personally go with the tincture. On the garlic, I would recommend at least 4 whole raw cloves per day, more if you can take it. Cut it into " pill sized " pieces and swallow them. If the clove is small, at least cut it down the center once. You can " lube it " with olive oil to help it go down easier. For a longer term handling of the situation, I would recommend a total body cleanse. If you'd like other suggestions, you can tell us what you've been eating, drinking, lifestyle (exercise?) etc... Best, Kelli | | Cathy [cathkmo2000] | Sunday, March 20, 2005 8:30 AM | herbal remedies | Herbal Remedies - New on list | | Hi everyone, | | I just joined today, and I'm researching the web on natural remedies | for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 The best way to lower cholesterol is with digestive bitters and lecithin granules. Digestive bitters are sold in health food stores under names like Grape Bitters, Ginger Bitters, and Swedish Bitters. These bitter compounds work by stimulating the bitter receptors on the back of the tongue. This is turn stimulates the vagus nerve. The name digestive bitters comes from the fact that this action aids in digestion by elevating stomach acid, bile secretions, and pancreatic enzymes. Though it also has a cleansing effect on the liver helping the liver work more efficiently. The liver is the cholesterol regulator for the body since it both creates cholesterol and breaks down excess cholesterol. Statin drugs, which are prescribed to lower cholesterol, work by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis by the liver. Though they can lead to liver damage, which will raise your cholesterol in the long run. In addition, statins can lead to heart failure by reducing levels of CoQ10 in the body. Lecithin is a fatty acid that works as an emulsifier. In other words one end of the lecithin molecule attracts fats and the other end water, so it acts as a bridge to link fats and water together. This helps make cholesterol water soluble making its elimination more efficient. Lecithin also helps to clean plaque off of the arteries, prevents gallstones, keeps the organs supple, helps insulate nerves and build brain tissue, aids in the formation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, etc. Granules are stronger than liquid lecithin and softgels. Crude lecithin is extremely thick and sticky. So the crude lecithin is thinned out with soy oil to make it fluid enough for use. Though this also dilutes the active components. Lecithin granules are made by removing the oil component of the lecithin, which concentrates the active constituents. Recommended dose if 1 tablespoon with each meal blended in a drink or sprinkled on food. High doses can have adverse effects on the bone due to the high phosphorus content. My favorite way to control blood pressure is with magnesium, in the absence of calcium. Magnesium relaxes muscles, such as blood vessels, while calcium contracts muscles. Therefore magnesium works similar to calcium channel blockers, prescribed for high blood pressure. Acidified forms of magnesium should be used such as magnesium malate, or magnesium citrate. Avoid magnesium oxide and magnesium carbonate. Recommended dose is 300mg 2 to 3 times a day on an empty stomach to prevent calcium from food interfering with its action. Start out slow to reduce the risk of the magnesium from having a laxative effect. I also like herbs such as coleus forskohlii and kudzu root. Forskohlii has an action very similar to cardiac glycosides (lowers blood pressure, slows the heart, strengthens contractions), though it is not a source of cardiac glycosides. Kudzu works through dilation of the blood vessels. These would be my choices for a substitute for ACE inhibitors prescribed for hypertension. If your blood pressure is elevated due to sodium retention, such as from the use of steroids like Prednisone, then I recommend upping your potassium intake. Potassium helps to displace sodium from the body. Parsley, orange juice, and ripe bananas are good potassium sources. Potassium supplementation is a good substitute for loop diuretics, such as Lasix (furosemide), which by the way depletes potassium from the body. If your hypertension is due to diabetes then the elevated insulin levels needs to be addressed. If you are on a beta blocker then my recommendation would be ashwagandha. This herb is an adaptogenic herb, which supports adrenal function, and prevents it from overreacting with epinephrine secretion. herbal remedies , " Cathy " <cathkmo2000> wrote: > > > Hi everyone, > > I just joined today, and I'm researching the web on natural remedies > for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I would like to get > off the medications that I am on, since I think they do " other " harm > to the body. I was wondering if any of you had success with herbs > you have taken to lower cholesterol and/or high blood pressure, and > what brand(s) you were using. There are several different companies > out there with different combinations of herbs, and it's like > finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Just looking for some > suggestions. > > Thanks! > > Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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