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Homeopathy and High Blood Pressure

by June Sayer(more info)

listed in homeopathy, originally published in issue 182 - May 2011

How Homeopathy can help with High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a concern to anyone in the field of medicine or complementary health, since it can be one of the risk factors of developing heart disease.

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood flowing in the arteries; this measurement will vary due to the pumping action of the heart. The pressure is at its highest when the blood is pumped out of the heart into the arteries and at the lowest when the heart relaxes before pumping again; this flow and return is a continuous cycle.

Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 means that the top number (the systolic reading) is the highest level your blood pressure will reach as the heart beats and pumps blood into the arteries; the lower figure (the diastolic reading) is the lowest level blood pressure reaches when the heart relaxes between beats.

High blood pressure can be caused by a number of factors such as being overweight, an excess of salt in the diet, lack of physical exercise, excess intake of alcohol, not enough fruit and vegetables in the diet, or possibly a family history of high blood pressure. Long-term stress and its effect on both the emotional and physical aspects of the body could cause a rise in blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is raised, it can put a strain on the heart muscle over a period of time and the heart may not beat so effectively, so it is wise to take steps towards a lifestyle change. Even if blood pressure is not raised, these lifestyle changes may possibly help prevent if from developing at a later stage in your life.

Since high blood pressure is not necessarily something you might usually feel or notice, it can be a silent warning and for that reason it is wise to have it measured by a doctor, nurse or health practitioner to determine your blood pressure. The recommendation is that everyone over the age of 40 should have this done.

As a homoeopathic practitioner I take blood pressure readings of new clients as part of the detailed case history that I record, and have noticed that a number of them have what is termed 'white coat' syndrome, meaning that their blood pressure tends to rise at the mere thought of this test being carried out. For this reason, I ensure my clients are fully relaxed before taking the pressure, and will check it over three readings if the reading is elevated to ascertain the reading to be recorded. As a general rule of thumb, clients with high readings are always checked regularly; these clients are advised to make contact with their General Practitioner who will no doubt carry out further tests.

The homoeopathic materia medica has a number of remedies that a homoeopath may select to treat the symptoms of hypertension. Naturally these remedies would have to be chosen specifically to suit the client since so many factors are taken into account. However, the remedy Natrum Muriaticum is one that I have used on a number of clients presenting with this condition, due to the fact that their personality is one where they tend to keep all their emotions tucked away inside. I refer to this as the 'stiff upper lip' picture - the person would tell anyone who asks after their health and well being that they are fine, whereas in the quiet of their own home they are silently grieving. The grief can be due to the loss of a loved one, human or animal, they may feel depressed, cross and irritable from the slightest cause and they may dwell on past unpleasant memories. Crying is something that they prefer not to do, particularly in front of anyone else as it would embarrass them and if they do cry, it would be in private. If you were to try to offer consolation to this person it would make them feel worse.

As mentioned previously, a diet high in salt can take its toll on the body and this personality type tend to like to eat salty and fatty foods.

Homoeopathy and nutritional advice working together can bring about good results, but remember that high blood pressure does need to be taken seriously and the advice given above in respect of lifestyle changes will certainly help, so please seek the advice of your GP or other health professional and take steps to bring about changes that could improve your longevity.

Comments:

  1. Dr. Peter H Kay said..

    Dear June,
    Interesting article. Just to let you know that the Homeovitality system has a product, Super Heart which has been shown to help reduce blood pressure safely.
    The Homeovitality Super Heart product targets the Klotho gene using the proven principles of Micro-Immunotherapy, New Homeopathy. The significance of the Klotho gene is described in the article included below.
    Science News
    Anti-Aging Gene Linked To High Blood Pressure
    ScienceDaily (Aug. 20, 2009) — Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center have shown the first link between a newly discovered anti-aging gene and high blood pressure. The results, which appear this month in the journal Hypertension, offer new clues on how we age and how we might live longer.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    See Also:
    Health & Medicine
    •Hypertension
    •Heart Disease
    •Kidney Disease
    •Gene Therapy
    •Healthy Aging
    •Blood Clots
    Reference
    •Hypertension
    •Blood pressure
    •COX-2 inhibitor
    •Ischaemic heart disease
    Persistent hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure, arterial aneurysm and is the leading cause of chronic kidney failure. Even a modest elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy.

    Researchers, led by principal investigator Zhongjie Sun, tested the effect of an anti-aging gene called klotho on reducing hypertension. They found that by increasing the expression of the gene in laboratory models, they not only stopped blood pressure from continuing to rise, but succeeded in lowering it. Perhaps most impressive was the complete reversal of kidney damage, which is associated with prolonged high blood pressure and often leads to kidney failure.

    “One single injection of the klotho gene can reduce hypertension for at least 12 weeks and possibly longer. Klotho is also available as a protein and, conceivably, we could ingest it as a powder much like we do with protein drinks,” said Sun, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiovascular expert at the OU College of Medicine.

    Scientists have been working with the klotho gene and its link to aging since 1997 when it was discovered by Japanese scientists. This is the first study showing that a decline in klotho protein level may be involved in the progression of hypertension and kidney damage, Sun said. With age, the klotho level decreases while the prevalence of hypertension increases.

    Researchers used one injection of the klotho gene in hypertensive research models and were able to markedly reduce blood pressure by the second week. It continued to decline steadily for the length of the project – 12 weeks. The klotho gene was delivered with a safe viral vector that is currently used for gene therapy. The virus is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in humans.

    Researchers are studying the gene’s effect for longer periods to test its ability to return blood pressure levels to normal. They also are looking at whether klotho can prevent hypertension.

    The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging at the OU Health Sciences Center.
    You may consider the Homeovitality Super Heart for your clients because it also slows down the aging process.
    Also, as a matter of interest, the remedy you have used to reduce blood pressure, Natrium Muriaticum is sodium chloride, the very substance that people with high blood pressure should avoid. Do you have any thoughts on how this remedy could be reducing blood pressure?


  2. Joanne Guadagni said..

    I need to find something to keep me relaxed so my blood pressure does I do have some stress and not enough exercise.


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About June Sayer

June Sayer DHom (Med) MARH MRHom DNTh DIridol Homeopath Nutritionist Reiki Master/Teacher became fascinated by homeopathy after seeking treatment for her children and herself some 23 years ago; this dramatic change in their overall health led her to train as a homoeopathic practitioner. She qualified from the Hahnemann College in 1992 and has been in practice since that date. She is one of the founding directors of the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths and has a practice in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex where she enjoys training individuals in the art and practice of homoeopathy. She may be contacted on Tel: 01621 730664;  june@betterhealthnow.co.uk  www.betterhealthnow.co.uk   www.homeopathinessex.co.uk   

 

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