How I Beat My Hypertension (HBP)

Like everyone else, I had a personal battle with hypertension, sign of old age? I don't think so, because I had met many people even younger than me, especially those working in the call center industry, surprisingly is on medications and maintenance, maybe it's in the genes also since we have a family history, our family history of hypertension dates back from my father and mother (both my parents died of strokes at a young age) side of families, It was no surprise I had it as well and my siblings.

130/100, 140/110, 150/100. My body can not tolerate this high and gaining weight aggravate the situation, so I have to lose some weight from time to time, My encounter with HBP is a disaster, what a discomfort and terrifying, I don't want it to happen to me again! 

I consulted Doctor friends, I was surprised they are also under maintenance ! Higher BP than mine! They also prescribed medications, but I don't want any drug induced medications for I saw to a lot of my patients in their blood works that their liver suffer with the maintenance, also recent studies showed these drugs (maintenance) is also a culprit of diabetes, it happened to friends and relatives who acquired diabetes due to long term maintenance of hypertensive and anti-lipid drugs! so I consulted my a Doctor friend in Integrative Medicine practice, He prescribed a detox program and supplements.

Mechanical Detoxification: (I will talk more on these on a separate page/topics)

Foot Detox

IV Laser Blood Irradiation Therapy    

Negative Ion bath

Internal Detox:

Activated Charcoal

Tri-Cleanse (Combination of three cleansing herbs)

Supplements: ( To soften or toned my atherosclerotic veins and arteries (kumakapal at kumukunat na ugat))

Fish Oil capsules 1000 mg (Omega 3 fatty acids)

Lecithin Capsules

Herbal tea from Thailand

While  these are very effective, it is not cost-effective to my pocket (well I do recommend it you have many resources and don't really want to follow a rigid diet plan and exercises).

So I find ways and alternatives to sustain a natural maintenance that will  also work for me, my BP went to normal and the Lipids as well. No more HB attack. Praise God.

My Regimen:

Blood Letting Therapy (Phlebotomy): It is my way of "blood thinning", instead of taking blood thinner drugs such as aspirin (aspilet), Giving up at least 500 ml of blood will detoxify excess toxins in the body at least every 3 months or 6 months. It also good in lowering your Cholesterol and other fatty acids, Uric acid etc., Blood thickening etc. (The benefits of blood letting will be discussed in a separate article).

Morning sunshine and brisk walking (30 mins to 1 hour) , In the oriental world brisk walking is the best and safest exercise , less injury to the body and less injury to your internal organs as well compared to  strenuous exercise and jogging and it can speed up your metabolism much more according to some Korean and Japanese elders. 

These are my exercise regimen:

Macrobiotic Exercises

The Joy of Walking

Plenty of water upon waking up to cleans, cut down on coffee to 1 cup a day (brewed coffee beans), for instant coffee have lots of preservatives, artificial flavors/aroma and anti-caking agents etc. ( the processing makes instant coffee loaded with additives).

My diet consists of more green leafy vegetables, more fresh fruits, low salt, high fiber, low fat diet, snacks of high potassium fruits and crops like banana, camote, apricot and pineapple. Switch to Olive oil for cooking  and Coconut cooking oil for frying avoid trans fat or the so-called hydrogenated vegetable oil/ palm oil for they are polyunsaturated fats or trans fats. If ever I cook meats,  it is boiled ("nilaga) or "sinigang" with plenty of vegetables. 

Regular therapeutic massage/ reflexology treatment: twice or once a week to improve blood circulation and stimulate meridian points. Massages help manage my stress level.

Foot detox using epsom salts or sea salts: Foot soak in lukewarm water with epsom salts or sea salt, helps eliminate toxins condensed in the foot area and "awaken" the nerves and meridian points in the foot area.

Avoid canned foods and other foods rich in Sodium, canned foods has a very high salt content (i.e., Sodium benzoate, Sodium methabisulfite, MSG etc.) that can stress out our kidneys, also our corn chips, potato snacks are loaded with preservatives and MSG, MSG enhance the flavor but it will also cover the salty taste of any food or snacks, not all foods rich in sodium or salts tastes salty. Any bottled drinks, like juices, teas and instant coffee have high sodium due to preservatives. Minimize the intake of soy sauce, condiments, instant noodles, flavorings and other "instant foods".

Take supplements:

Omega Fish Oil capsules ( 2X a day or 3 X at the start if you have a very high BP)

Soya Lecithin capsules (2X a day together with the Fish Oil)

Omega 3 Fatty Acids Lower Inflammation and Anxiety

Increasing omega 3 intake my lower both anxiety symptoms and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Medical students receiving omega 3 supplements for 3 months showed a 20% reduction in anxiety and 14% reduction in interleukin 6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. An omega 3 deficiency is associated with increased anxiety, which is very common in the US.

Other benefits of omega 3 fatty acids include being anti-arrhythmic and anticoagulant, making healthy cell membranes, and helping lift depressive symptoms. Sources of these fatty acids include fish and krill oils and precursors include a variety of seeds and nuts such as flax, hemp, chia, and walnuts.

Lemongrass (Tanglad)  Juice: Boiled leaves and stems as tea and save the remaining in the fridge, make this as your water alternate. (The benefits of Lemongrass are also discussed here in a separate page), it is a good natural diuretic and lowers our salt content and even cancer prevention.

Neem is very good in lowering blood sugar, lipids and hypertension:

Apple Cider-Honey Tonic Drink:  2 tbps of Bragg's ( the brand is the most organic and the best) apple cider vinegar and 1 tbps of Honey ( Choose the raw, wild, unfiltered) in a glass of lukewarm (not hot) water 3X a day. This also cures my acid reflux and stomach hyperacidity, apple cider is an alkaline food when enter your stomach, it has an alkalizing effect. The many wonders and benefits of apple cider were also discussed in a separate page here, a must read. I am a big fan of Bragg's apple cider because it works for me, to a lot of my friends and family.

Turmeric capsules: 1 cap three time a day before or after meals.

Garlic capsules: 1 Cap three times a day before meals, to avoid the strong garlic breath. It is a natural anti-hypertensive supplements which is really effective. 

When it comes to garlic capsules, I usually bought the local brand from Carica shop, because they use organic and native herbs, and they support local producers. There are garlic oil capsule available in the market, I buy the one from Carica which is made of powdered dried native garlic (bawang tagalog), this type of garlic is native to the Philippines which is smaller but stronger in taste and flavor compared to the bigger imported garlic but lesser in taste and flavor available in supermarkets which I think came from China. 

Be Positive and Affirm: 

"Peace, be still and know that I AM God! " , It was an affirmation of Jesus to calm the turbulent sea, sometimes our HBP is due to stress and emotional whirlwind so it reminds us to be calm always. :-)

I hope this help you along the way in dealing with your HBP and that you are one with me in fighting HBP the natural way :-)

Meditation, reduces stress and frees the mind

Please take time to read the following link for further information:

The FDA has officially linked all statins with cognitive problems like forgetfullness and confusion as well as with a 25% increased risk for an elevated blood sugar level and possible association with type 2 diabetes. Statins are the best selling drugs on the market and are used by 21 million people in the US each year. Of course, there are all the other side effects as well that include liver disease, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, muscle pain, kidney failure and erectile dysfunction and gynecomastia. New information shows statins can cause mitochondrial dysfunction that leads to a defect in energy production and decreased oxygen utilization.

In addition we know that absorption of coenzyme Q10 is is blocked by these CoA reductase inhibitors as well and that this can lead to a cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. We need cholesterol for a number of functions that include production of vitamin D, many hormones, neurotransmitters, and cell membranes. Learn more  with Dr. Saputo.

This is one reason I don't want any statin drugs (anti-cholesterol drugs) or any anti-hypertensive drugs, I think drug companies are not in a business to cure you.

Please watch the video of Gwen Olsen, same scenario is happening in the Philippines, our doctors are in the hand of these drug companies and not really in the business of well-being.

The United States health care system is killing Americans at an alarming rate, even though we spend over fifteen percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) on health care.

Did you know that nearly 30 percent of US adults have high blood pressure or hypertension that places them at much higher risk for disease progression?

It is shocking that drugs are so grossly overused. We are a massively over-medicated society with statins, antiulcerants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antihypertensives! This is not the route to good health.

Recommended Clinic to manage Hypertension, Cardiac Risk and CHD:

Dr. Danilo P. Delfin, Internal Medicine-Cardiology
Integrated Laser and Complementary Medicine 
Unit 2414 Medical Plaza Ortigas, San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City MM.
Call 477-0644 / 631-7821 for appointment.