HYPERTENSION

HYPERTENSION, OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

According to the US Centers for Disease Control, hypertension affects 23% of Americans between the age of 20 and 75 and 70% of Americans over 75. In the year 2000 it accounted for 35 million doctor visits. This is a severe problem, and yet it often responds beautifully to a nutritional balancing program.

In fact, a properly performed and interpreted hair mineral analysis often reveals not only the cause of the problem, but how to go about reducing the blood pressure by eliminating its physical and possibly emotional causes, as well.

A stealth disease. Hypertension is a very serious problem because it is usually “silent”, having no symptoms. Yet it causes strokes, heart attacks and many other subtle problems such as memory problems in some cases. Thus, it is important that everyone check his and her blood pressures at least once a year.

One need not go to the doctor for this if one has or can find a simple blood pressure measuring machine and one can use it correctly. Many supermarkets have blood pressure machines one can use, and they can be purchased rather cheaply as well.

If the reading is above 120-80 but below about 140/100, it is mildly elevated blood pressure. This is not a serious problem in most cases, though it can signal stress or the beginning of arterial disease.

If the reading is over about 140/100, then it is a more serious condition that is not just caused by stress, but indicates a problem in the arteries, kidneys, or perhaps a heart condition. Be sure to retake the blood pressure test and follow instructions exactly, so as to obtain at least two accurate readings. Some doctors suggest taking the blood pressure in both arms for a more accurate assessment. Any high reading is a possible problem, not just on both arms.

Blood pressure medication is usually not needed for long if one is following a nutritional balancing program. Occasionally, a nutritional program is not adequate and this type of drug extends life and should be used if all natural methods are not working. Do not walk around with a very high blood pressure, as this is like having a ticking time bomb inside the body. Let us now discuss the details of blood pressure.

ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Over 90% of high blood pressure is labeled "essential hypertension". This is fancy language that means the doctor does not know the cause. As a result, medical and most holistic doctors just “control” this very important condition of hypertension with drugs or perhaps with natural products such as vitamins and herbs.

In contrast, nutritional balancing can usually identify the biochemical cause of the condition and is often very effective for reducing the blood pressure by reversing its cause. It is important to understand how different this approach is from controlling the disease with drugs or even natural remedies.

CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

A properly performed and interpreted hair mineral analysis reveals the following common causes for high blood pressure:

1. Stress with inflammation. Acute or chronic stress from any source can induce a fight or-flight response that can result in elevated blood pressure. This can be emotional stressors, financial stress, family pressures, fatigue, spinal misalignment and even pain or some other cause of stress.

2. Excessive muscle tone in the arteries. Too much sympathetic nervous system tone constricts the arteries. The effect is like putting your finger over the end of a hose.

Excessive adrenal gland activity causes constriction of the arteries. Deficiencies of calcium, magnesium or copper can have the same effect. Most people with this cause of hypertension are fast oxidizers or those with four lows pattern. Their blood pressure often is labile or fluctuates up and down.

Lead or arsenic toxicity are one cause of calcium deficiency. These metals replace calcium but do not have the same relaxing effect on the nerves as calcium.

Emotional or other stress will cause excess adrenal activity and high blood pressure by this mechanism. With this type of hypertension, often both numbers are elevated and the blood pressure may be labile or fluctuates up and down depending on one’s situation, mood or other factors.

3. Loss of elasticity of the arteries. Zinc deficiency causes the arteries to become hard, brittle and often inflamed instead of soft and flexible. This loss of flexibility will raise the blood pressure, in particular the systolic pressure.

Cadmium, mercury, lead, copper and other toxic metals may replace zinc in the artery walls and contribute to the brittleness and hardness of the arteries. In this common type of high blood pressure, often there is a large spread between the blood pressure numbers.

Excess levels of cadmium, mercury and lead may or may not be present on early hair analyses, but will show up later as it is eliminated.

4. Calcium or fatty plaques in the arteries. Once the arteries become inflamed and brittle, the body may coat them with calcium and fatty plaques to prevent rupture of the arteries. The plaque unfortunately reduces the interior diameter of the arteries. It also hardens them so they are less flexible.

More pressure is then required to force the blood through the smaller diameter arteries. This is common in older Americans and those around the world.

Deficiencies of copper, zinc, bioflavinoids, vitamins C and E and other nutrients contribute to this problem. Excessive cadmium, lead, arsenic or aluminum may also play a role. General poor nutrition also contributes, as can emotional factors as well. This type may be slower to respond as it is a more chronic condition than the two types above. Many of these individuals show a pattern of slow oxidation or four low electrolytes on a hair tissue mineral analysis. The hair calcium and magnesium levels are often elevated above 100 mg% for calcium and above about 10 mg% for magnesium.

5. Kidney dysfunction. Toxic substances can build up within the kidneys and damage their ability to regulate water balance in the body. This can lead to water retention, salt retention and high blood pressure. Excessive mercury, nickel, lead, arsenic, aluminum or cadmium can cause kidney congestion and kidney damage. Standard blood tests for kidney function are often normal.

Other substances that damage the kidneys are prescription medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs and many, many others. Even diuretics used for blood pressure control can cause much kidney damage eventually. Many other chemical toxins can affect the kidneys as well.

This type of high blood pressure is the hardest to correct if the cause is deep-seated. If the chemicals can be removed and the damage is not yet extreme, however, results can be excellent. Usually, however, one only discovers the problem late in its development. Often this cause of hypertension results in elevation of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

A hair mineral analysis may show elevated toxic metals, slow oxidation, an imbalanced sodium/potassium ratio or other indicators of toxicity.

6. Abnormal sodium or water retention for reasons other than kidney disease. Excessive renin or aldosterone raise the sodium level, which can cause water retention. Circulating toxins in the blood can also increase water retention.

Magnesium deficiency can contribute to water retention. Allergic reactions to anything, such as a bee sting, a food or even an environmental toxin, occasionally causes water retention or excessive sympathetic nervous system activity as the body attempts to respond to the stress of the allergic substance. These may cause a volatile or even a highly elevated blood pressure.

In terms of hair mineral analysis, this cause is often expressed on the mineral test as fast oxidation, or the presence of the ‘amigos’, for example, or cadmium, all of which can raise the tissue sodium level.

7. A mild infection in the kidneys that causes inflammation and congestion, resulting in elevated blood pressure. This is one reason why garlic helps lower blood pressure, in that it helps get rid of the infection. Also, if garlic does not work, grapefruit seed extract may work for the same reason. We prefer garlic, however, as it is less toxic and more nourishing, but the extract is much better than anti-hypertensive drugs if it works.

8. Excessive thyroid or adrenal glandular activity, or excessive sympathetic nervous system tone or activity. this can be the result of stress, or thyroid or adrenal diseases, or toxins or even an infection in the nervous system, brain or elsewhere.

For example, increased thyroxine secretion lowers calcium (Davis et al. 1983; Segal et al. 1985, 1989, Kervan, 1963). Excessive aldosterone secretion increases sodium retention in the tissues.

These individuals benefit from a diet that has a slowing effect on the sympathetic nervous system. Dr. George Watson, PhD researched what is called fast oxidation in the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote two books, Nutrition And Your Mind and Personality Strength And Psycho-Chemical Energy.

9. Tumors or Other Causes. Occasionally, a tumor constricts a major artery or some other factor can cause high blood pressure. Even a genetic defect could possibly affect blood pressure. If no cause can be found, more medical studies may be needed. However, these other causes are quite rare, in fact.

10. Thin and fat arm syndromes. If your arms are very thin, the blood pressure readings will often be a little low. If your arms are quite heavy, either muscular or fatty, this can give a falsly high reading.

HYPERTENSION INDICATORS ON A PROPERLY PERFORMED HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS

The hair must not be washed at the laboratory at all for these indicators to be accurate. They include:

1. Inflammation and/or stress indicators. Hair mineral analysis patterns may include a fast oxidation rate, a sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 4, a three highs/four highs pattern, and perhaps three lows or a four lows pattern. Other patterns are also possible, but less common.

2. Sodium retention. Patterns include an elevated hair sodium level above about 25 mg% or a four lows pattern. Even with a normal sodium level, the presence of toxic metals can indicate hidden sodium retention, such as a hair cadmium level greater than 0.009 mg%.

3. Toxic metals in the kidneys, arteries, heart or elsewhere. Patterns include a sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2.5, cadmium above 0.009 mg%, lead above 0.05 mg%, and possibly any other toxic metal elevation. Also, poor eliminator patterns (extremely low toxic metal levels) indicate hidden toxic metals that the body cannot eliminate.

4. Deficiency of the sedative minerals – calcium, magnesium and/or zinc. Patterns include a fast oxidation rate, four lows pattern, possibly three lows pattern, zinc less than about 13 mg%, copper above 2.5 mg% or hidden copper toxicity indicators. elevated hair levels of calcium, magnesium and/or zinc also often indicate mineral biounavailability, which amounts to a type of deficiency inside the body.

5. Calcium or other deposits in the arteries. Patterns include a hair calcium level above about 140 mg%, cadmium above about 0.009 mg%, and/or poor eliminator patterns.

6. Excessive sympathetic nervous system tone or activity. Patterns include a fast oxidation rate, a sympathetic dominance pattern, and/or a four lows pattern.

At times, these patterns may be masked on the first or even the first few hair mineral analyses. This means that rarely the patterns will not be visible on the mineral analysis if other layers of imbalances are present. Once these are removed, however, the patterns are revealed.

CORRECTION OF HYPERTENSION WITH NUTRITIONAL BALANCING SCIENCE - FAST OXIDATION

In most cases, hypertension resolves within a few months to about a year or so on a nutritional balancing program. The rate of correction depends, often, upon the exact cause, how long it has been present, how well a person follows the program, one’s age, vitality and other therapeutic factors that may intervene to either speed up or slow down the corrective process. Most cases, however, respond very well.

Supplements For Fast Oxidizers. In addition to a fast oxidizer diet, which is often extremely helpful, these individuals also benefit from supplementary calcium, magnesium, copper, selenium and zinc. They also do well on choline, inositol, vitamins A and D and bioflavinoids. The dosage will depend on the severity of the sympathetic reaction as indicated by the mineral imbalance.

Equally important is to avoid all foods and nutrients that enhance the oxidation rate. This include too much protein, and excessive vitamin C, which lowers copper and can increase adrenal and thyroid glandular activity. Excessive vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6 are also often detrimental, as they can further enhance adrenal, thyroid and sympathetic nervous system activity. Many other popular supplements and herbs that enhance thyroid and adrenal activity are also not helpful for the same reason.

The patient’s hair minerals need to be rechecked in three-four months as the pattern will change. Many times another hypertension pattern will show up as one pattern is undone.

CORRECTING SLOW OXIDATION

Many causes for hypertension are associated with slow oxidation, another term coined by Dr. Watson. Most people with a slow oxidation pattern on a hair mineral test (high calcium and magnesium, low sodium and potassium) have some degree of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), especially if over the age of 30 or so.

They also usually have excessive levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and other toxic metals that may affect their kidneys, artery walls, heart and other cardiovascular organs.

The Slow Oxidizer Diet. According to Drs. Watson and Eck, and my research, slow oxidizers require a diet consisting of about 70% cooked vegetables, with some animal protein at least once and better twice daily. The diet must be somewhat lower in fats and oils. Click here for more information about this excellent diet for most people.

Slow Oxidizer Supplements. In addition to this diet, extra vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and more vitamins C and E are often helpful. Extra zinc, manganese, adrenal and thyroid glandular support are also often needed in just the right proportions to balance the body chemistry. A properly performed hair mineral analysis will dictate the exact amounts needed better than any other method I have found.

LAYERS OF IMBALANCES

Most often, the first hair mineral analysis will not reveal all the contributing factors to your high blood pressure. This is because toxins are “layered” or at different levels of the body such as the intracellular tissue, the cell walls, and the cells themselves. Also, some deposits of toxins are much easier to see and remove than others.

For this reason, a number of retest hair mineral analyses over a period of months or even years may be required. All the while, the person needs to be following a program to remove the metals, chemicals and other metabolic imbalances revealed on the hair test. As this process continues, often deeper causes of hypertension and many other diseases are revealed.

NUTRITIONAL BALANCING

The best plan to reverse hypertension at the deepest levels is to follow a nutritional balancing program based on a hair mineral analysis. This will reverse the most causes of the problem and will do so better than any symptomatic program, chelation or other type of program.

It is important to note that most doctors who use hair mineral analysis use an incorrect laboratory – one that washes the hair – and even if they use a good lab, they do not know how to interpret the test properly. Nutritional balancing involves:

· Basic lifestyle factors such as more rest and sleep, excellent eating habits and so on.

· A diet for your oxidation type.

· Several nutritional supplements that are tailored for your body chemistry.

· A detoxification protocol that involves the use of a near infrared sauna and perhaps colon cleansing and/or coffee enemas.

· The Roy Masters meditation exercise.

· At times, other modalities such as chiropractic and bodywork are also excellent, as well.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS TO USE WITH A NUTRITIONAL BALANCING PROGRAM TO REVERSE HYPERTENSION

The following remedies can help reduce inflammation and may also reduce blood pressure.

Garlic capsules. (2 three times daily or more). This may assist with lowering blood pressure.

Fish Oil and vitamin D3. (About 1000 mg or more of EPA and DHA daily and about 5000 iu of vitamin D3 daily). These are anti-inflammatory and may be helpful for many causes of hypertension.

Kidney Support. Since the kidneys are often involved in hypertension, the product called Renamide from Endomet Labs (2 three times daily or more for a few months) or another kidney formula with kidney glandular and herbs for the kidneys may be especially helpful.

SAUNA THERAPY CAN HELP WITH HYPERTENSION

I highly recommend near infrared sauna therapy for hypertension. Research indicates it will not raise the blood pressure. Instead, it causes dilation of the peripheral blood vessels, and it is a comfortable, reasonably safe and very powerful as a way to remove toxic metals, toxic chemicals and some infections. These often contribute to hypertension by irritating sensitive tissues and organs. It can also be done at home at a very low cost, fat lower than anti-hypertensive drugs. Far infrared and even traditional saunas may also be used, but in our experience these are not as good.

Coffee enemas. Oddly, perhaps, this detoxification method is also very good for hypertension. Coffee drinking is terrible for high blood pressure, but the coffee enemas has a different effect as it helps eliminate many toxins from the body. Often several years on these therapies are required to reverse deeper causes for hypertension.

VERY IMPORTANT BASIC FACTORS TO PAY ATTENTION TO WITH HYPERTENSION

Avoid ALL table salt. Table salt is irritating and a very poor quality food. Table salt has been stripped of its trace minerals and often contains added aluminum and perhaps other chemicals added to make it flow better. It can be very hard on the kidneys, and can make hypertension much worse. in particular.

Instead of table salt, substitute a quality sea salt. The best one I have found is called Hawaiian Bamboo Jade sea salt. It is available from www.thespicelab.com. You need not avoid sea salt. Sea salt is much less of a problem than table salt, and a quality sea salt will often not elevate blood pressure at all, although anyone with hypertension should watch their intake of all salt.

Especially avoid most prepared foods that are salty such as pickles, relishes, dips, many cheeses, baked goods, soups and hundreds of other products. Start preparing all or most of your food fresh to eliminate hidden table salt. Also avoid most restaurant food, as they often add table salt to give it flavor.

Eat many more cooked vegetables and many fewer carbohydrates. Especially reduce sweets of all kinds, such as all sugars, fruits, fruit juices and whole and refined grain foods, particularly wheat, breads and other products made with wheat flour. However, also reduce very starchy vegetables such as potatoes. This will often cause rapid weight loss, which is very helpful for reducing blood pressure.

Avoid almost all food chemicals and additives. Many of these can cause allergic or other reactions in the body that can excite the glands, stress the kidneys and raise blood sugar and blood pressure in sensitive people.

Rest. Getting even one extra hour of sleep every night can also reduce blood pressure, at times dramatically. Getting 10 or more hours of restful sleep or just napping or even lying down every day for half an hour or more is also excellent and can reduce some high blood pressure. This is a very underemphasized method to reduce blood pressure, especially in early cases and in young people.

Losing excess weight is another simple, but extremely beneficial method of reducing a high blood pressure. Each pound of extra weight forces the heart to pump the blood several extra miles. For this reason, losing even 10 pounds can make a huge difference in some cases. Living on mainly cooked vegetables and a small amount of animal protein daily, even for just a month or two, takes care of many people’s high blood pressure if it is due to excessive weight.

Exercise. Research also indicates that some regular exercise can have a moderating or even curative effect upon blood pressure. It may do this by slowing the thyroid and adrenal glands or by helping a person relax.

Improving the circulation with saunas or exercise is also helpful in many instances. On nutritional balancing programs, however, we never recommend more than gentle walking or bicycling, for example. vigorous exercise, especially with high blood pressure, can be very dangerous and should be strictly avoided.

Stress reduction techniques include taking a walk every day, biofeedback, relaxation therapies, meditation, near infrared sauna therapy, gentle yoga classes and other methods. These can be extremely helpful for some cases of high blood pressure. Plenty of research supports their use. A recent study showed that pet owners had lower blood pressures than those who do not own pets.

Emotional control and emotional release methods. Any technique or practice that reduces excessive adrenal activity or helps moderate the emotions, particularly anger and hostility, may help lower blood pressure.

Be sure to keep the body properly hydrated with 3 quarts of spring water daily. Do not drink reverse osmosis water, alkaline water or most other types of “drinking water”, “purified water”, “deionized water” or others. These tend not to hydrate the body nearly as well.

SYMPTOMATIC METHODS FOR HYPERTENSION

Since deep correction of hypertension using a nutritional balancing program can take several months or longer in some cases, symptomatic methods can be helpful and even lifesaving, at times. Let us discuss several symptomatic remedies. However, if possible, avoid all symptomatic approaches and ideally work to correct the underlying imbalances.

Natural remedies are best, but may not be sufficient in some cases. Here are some of the best natural remedies:

· Garlic is an excellent supplement as it not only contains many nutrients such as selenium and zinc, but it dilates or relaxes arteries as well. It actually strengthens the heart, too. To be effective, an adult needs to take at least six to nine capsules of high-potency garlic such as Kyolic. Hopefully, the odor is not objectionable.

· Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, flaxseed oil, hempseed oil or perhaps other sources is an anti-inflammatory nutrient that can help in some cases..

· Vitamin D3 at a dose of 5000 iu daily may help.

· Calcium, magnesium, and zinc. These minerals generally have a sedative effect upon the nervous system and may help dilate the artery walls. Magnesium, in particular, can help in a few cases.

· Potassium. In some cases, this is helpful. The best source of potassium is green vegetables. Do not eat fruit for potassium. While fruit is rich in potassium, the form of potassium is somewhat toxic and not as helpful.

· Avoid all table salt, but most people should not avoid sea salt, which might even help due to its higher magnesium content.

· Vitamin B6 may help by acting as a mild diuretic or water pill.

· Sedative herbs such as valerian root, chamomile, hops and others. These are mild sedatives and can be helpful for mild cases of hypertension, along with a nutritional balancing program.

· Other nutrients that may help include choline, inositol, GABA and the amino acid taurine. These tend to be calming and relaxing to the nervous system.

· Niacin is a very short-term measure that dilates peripheral blood vessels. Please do not take high-dose niacin, even though it lowers blood pressure and it may lower cholesterol. I find that it is toxic and difficult to remove from the liver. This includes all forms of niacin and niacinamide.

HYPERTENSION CASE HISTORY AND A HAIR ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION LESSON

A physician who specializes in correcting hypertension using nutritional balancing science recently asked about a patient with a blood pressure of 155/105 mmHg without drugs.

He had enjoyed drinking alcohol, and ate lots of fruit. I urged him to keep off the alcohol and fruit. However, he only reduced them to a half or to one third. I told him that reducing, but not eliminating the alcohol and fruit may delay the effectiveness of nutritional balancing program.

He took his nutritional supplements and followed the diet for his metabolic type, based on a hair mineral analysis. He said he followed it sincerely except that he still drinks alcohol and eats a lot of fruit.

The blood pressure, however, remained at the same level as before and he felt no improvement at all. However, he now gets a headache whenever he drinks alcohol. This was not the case before he began the program.

Hair Analysis Patterns. The patient’s hair analysis demonstrates a number of interesting patterns. The sodium/potassium ratio was below 1:1 on the first and the second hair tests. The calcium/magnesium ratio was elevated above 15:1 on both tests as well.

On the second test, the arsenic level declined and the lead and mercury levels increased. Also, the patient’s oxidation rate increased on the second test. In addition, the patient’s zinc, chromium and selenium levels declined on the second test.

COMMENTS ON THIS CASE

1. A bowl pattern. The bowl pattern is present whenever the calcium/magnesium ratio is high (over about 10:1) and the sodium/potassium ratio is low (less than about 2:1). It is associated with feeling very stuck, like an insect stuck in a toilet bowl who cannot climb out. This could possibly elevate blood pressure for emotional reasons.

2. The low sodium/potassium ratio often indicates a tendency for frustration, and often resentment and hostility. This can also be impairing progress on an emotional level, as the patient’s ratio is extremely low. When less than 1:1, often a person is dealing with a hidden trauma that often the person is not aware of.

In addition, a low sodium/potassium ratio is associated with infection, blood sugar imbalance that can cause sweet cravings and kidney stress. Often it indicates a very chronic stress pattern that will not be undone that fast. This is helpful for the patient to know.

3. The spiritual defensiveness pattern. A highly elevated calcium magnesium ratio, especially when it persists this high (above about 13.5 or so) often means he is in a "spiritual defensive position".

This means, as I now understand, that he is defending something in his lifestyle or perhaps an attitude, that is not serving him. This could also cause higher blood pressure, possibly. If this can be addressed, it might also speed up his progress.

Progress on the retest. There is progress on the retest, even though symptoms have not changed noticeably. Here are the indicators:

a) The lead level increased. This indicates an active elimination of lead. Lead toxicity may be a cause for the high blood pressure.

b) The mercury level is also higher. This almost always indicates that mercury is being eliminated. This is excellent as mercury can affect the kidneys and might be responsible for high blood pressure.

c) Arsenic is significantly lower. This often means that some arsenic was eliminated from the body and the elimination is over, at least at this time.

d) The oxidation rate sped up because sodium and potassium are higher, and yet the ratio stayed the same or a little better. This is also an excellent sign. It means a higher level of adrenal and thyroid activity are present.

e) Zinc, chromium and selenium declined, even though they were being supplemented during this time. This is important and usually a good sign on a retest. It generally means these critical trace elements are being retained inside the body, often to replace the lead, mercury, cadmium or other toxic metals that were in his arteries and elsewhere.

I suggested adding the mercury/cadmium/lead/nickel detox program of about 200-300 mcg extra of a food-based selenium product and Renamide 2-2-2 (a kidney formula). This will help remove toxic metals.

Chromium may also be added at a dose of about 200 mcg twice daily. This might help reduce this patient’s cravings for fruit and perhaps even alcohol.

LOW BLOOD PRESSURE

This is another common problem today. A blood pressure less than about 100/60 is too low in most cases. It can cause dizziness, or vertigo, fainting, weakness, headaches and perhaps other symptoms such as impaired circulation.

The main cause for it is weak adrenal glands and perhaps a low thyroid gland. Toxic metal poisoning and nutrient deficiencies are the underlying cause in most cases. Chronic dehydration is another cause. Lack of adequate rest and sleep can be another possible cause in a few cases.

What to do about low blood pressure. The best approach, in my experience, is to follow a complete nutritional balancing program. This usually causes the blood pressure to rise into the normal range within a few months, without the need for any other interventions.

This occurs because the program slowly replenishes vital nutrients such as zinc, selenium, chromium, iodine and others. The adrenal glands begin to function better and the arterial tone improves as well as all of a person’s toxic metals and dozens of toxic chemicals begin to be removed.

Symptomatic approach. A symptomatic method to raise low blood pressure is to:

1) Drink more water of the proper type – about three quarts daily,

2) Consume more sea salt in your diet, but not table salt. Also, do not drink water with salt in it, as some advocate. This is quite toxic, I believe

3) Take three to six tablets or capsules of an adrenal glandular supplement.

While this may help, it may not address the cause of the problem and this is why I much prefer a nutritional balancing program, if possible.

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