HYPERTENSION

By Lawrence Wilson, MD

© Revised, June 2008, The Center For Development

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.

However, 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 there is a high reading, above 120-80 or so, one should seek help, as this can be like a time bomb inside the body. Blood pressure medication is one area where conventional modern medicine does extend lives and should be used if all natural methods are not working.

ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

In spite of its prevalence, over 90% of high blood pressure is labeled "essential hypertension". This means the doctor does not know the cause.

In most cases, however, trace mineral analysis can reveal causes for essential hypertension. They include excessive sympathetic nervous system activity, arteriosclerosis, nutrient deficiencies and excessive levels of toxic metals. Kidney problems are another important cause that may not show up on medical diagnostic tests.

Medical and even many holistic doctors usually just control hypertension with drugs or even with natural products such as herbs. However, nutritional balancing is often very effective to actually reverse the physical and even emotional causes of this grave problem.

CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Common causes for high blood pressure include:

1. Stress. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

7. 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.

CORRECTION OF HYPERTENSION WITH NUTRITIONAL BALANCING SCIENCE - FAST OXIDATION

Correcting biochemical causes of hypertension depends on determining the cause or often causes. This can be a longer-term process as toxic metals are often deeply buried and incorporated into body structures. Removal takes several years in some cases.

A properly performed and interpreted hair mineral test is an excellent starting point. The hair must not be washed at the laboratory. Only two labs do not wash the hair, Analytical Research Labs in Phoenix, Arizona and Trace Elements, Inc. in Addison, Texas.

A pattern of low hair calcium and magnesium with high hair sodium and potassium is associated with excessive arterial tone and often sodium retention. This is a fight-or-flight reaction or alarm stage of stress, part of which is higher blood pressure.

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.

The Fast Oxidizer Diet. Dr. Watson was the first to propose that a diet with more high-quality oils and/or fats and fewer carbohydrates is beneficial in these cases. Sugars, including fruit and juices, are the worst foods for this metabolic pattern, as they upset the blood sugar and can often worsen the sympathetic nervous system reaction. Click here for important information about this diet.

Supplements For Fast Oxidizers. 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 excessive vitamin C in many cases, which lowers copper and can increase adrenal glandular activity among other things. Excessive vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6 are also often detrimental, as they can further enhance adrenal, thyroid and sympathetic nervous system activity. Other supplements or 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

Another common hair analysis pattern that is the most common one in adults and even older children is called slow oxidation. Dr. Watson also coined this term as well. Those with a slow oxidation pattern on a hair mineral test (high calcium and magnesium, low sodium and potassium) can have some degree of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in many cases, especially if over the age of 35 or so.

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

The Slow Oxidizer Diet. According to Watson’s research, they require a diet that is higher in protein and lots of steamed vegetables. The diet must be somewhat lower in fats and oils, although some fish liver oil is excellent for everyone today due to the widespread use of corn and other crops to feed livestock and the use of refined vegetable oils in many, many foods. Click here for more information about this excellent diet for most people.

Slow Oxidizer Supplements. These include extra vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and more vitamins C and E. The others are somewhat less helpful, although everyone today needs extra vitamin D unless one works outside in a sunny climate all year round.

Also, extra zinc, manganese, adrenal and thyroid glandular support are superb. Kelp is an excellent supplement for most of these individuals, although kelp could raise blood pressure if someone is allergic to iodine. This is rare, but one should check the blood pressure when beginning this or any iodine supplement.

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.

A SPECIAL DETOXIFICATION REGIMEN FOR HYPERTENSION

This is also most important in many cases. I highly recommend near infrared sauna therapy for this purpose. It is comfortable, safe in most cases and very powerful as a way to remove toxic metals, toxic chemicals and some infections that could also contribute to hypertension by irritating sensitive tissues and organs. The sauna is one of the finest tools available. It will never be strongly recommended, I would surmise, because it is something one can do at home at low cost.

Far infrared and even traditional saunas may also be used, butin our experience are not as good. Other methods of detoxification include colonic irrigation and coffee enemas. These are also very powerful and excellent.

If the patient is willing and able, we may combine the sauna therapy with coffee enemas or colonics for a while. They are particularly good for those with bowel problems, but can help everyone with liver and colon cleansing.

Often six months or more are required for full cleansing of these organs. Many times years of detoxification therapy are needed if a condition has been present for 20 or more years, for example.

Toxic metals such as cadmium require at least six months to several years to remove just this one metal from the kidneys and arterial walls. Cadmium is too toxic to be removed faster than this. We must understand that most people today have at least a dozen toxic metals and hundreds if not thousands of toxic chemicals in their bodies. Thus patience and persistence are needed.

LIFESTYLE AND HYPERTENSION

Simple dietary changes such as eliminating table salt and more vegetables in the diet help some cases of high blood pressure. Sea salt is less of a problem than table salt. Refined salt has been stripped of its trace minerals and often contains added aluminum. Kelp is an excellent condiment to substitute as it is also a detoxifier.

At times these measures are sufficient. However, they do not address basic causes and one may become dependent on a remedy for life. Eventually, the remedy usually stops working.

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.

Weight Control is a huge benefit for 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 vegetables or a vegetable juice regimen for a month, for example, would take 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 curing 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.

Stress reduction techniques including taking a walk every day, biofeedback, relaxation therapies, meditation 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. Any technique or practice that reduces excessive adrenal activity or helps moderate the emotions, particularly anger and hostility, may help lower blood pressure.

NUTRITIONAL BALANCING

If simple dietary and lifestyle modifications are not enough to correct your hypertension, a more sophisticated nutritional program is often very helpful. It can undo imbalances that have caused the hypertension in the first place. This cannot be done, usually, with just a diet change and an improved lifestyle.

It also cannot be done with intravenous chelation, another therapy described below that is helpful for some cases of hypertension and is done by holistic doctors trained in its use.

Nutritional balancing uses a properly performed and properly interpreted hair analysis. Unfortunately, most doctors who do use hair analysis use the wrong type of test, since they use labs that wash the hair at the laboratory. This and many other aspects of hair mineral testing are discussed in the article entitled Controversy in Hair Analysis. It is unfortunate, but I must keep repeating this because too many people think they have exhausted the possibilities of hair analysis when they have not even begun to understand how it can be used for healing.

Nutritional balancing also involves a diet for your oxidation or metabolic type. Also important are several very specific nutritional supplements for your body chemistry. This is revealed on your hair analysis and perhaps by other tests as well. It also involves specific lifestyle modifications, some of which are mentioned in the sections above. Finally, a detoxification protocol based on your particular situation is also always a part of our programs. Other modalities such as chiropractic are also excellent, too. If you are interested in this approach, click here for more information.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS THAT YOU MAY ADD IN HYPERTENSION CASES.

Anyone may safely take the following and they may be most helpful in removing toxic metals and reducing inflammation. If one is using the nutritional balancing program from Analytical Research Labs, these may also be safely added for a faster or better response.

Fish Oil of Cod Liver Oil. I am adding one of these to most nutritional balancing programs, as most people need some. Vitamin D is helpful for hypertension and could be given separately as well. The beneficial oils are quite 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 or another kidney formula with kidney glandular and herbs for the kidneys may be especially helpful.

ICMN. This is a second liver support product in addition to one called GB-3 that we use a lot. GB-3 is a digestive aid and liver formula with ox bile, pancreatin, bile acids and Russian black radish for metal elimination.

ICMN contains inositol, choline, methionine and niacinamide. These are also liver support nutrients to help remove more toxic metals. They are also calming nutrients that help with feelings of anxiety and irritability and anger, often characteristics of those with hypertension.

SYMPTOMATICMETHODS

Since deep correction of hypertension can take several years in some cases, symptomatic or control methods can be helpful and lifesaving for high blood pressure. Let us discuss several methods that work.

Drugs. These are helpful to millions of people. However, they have side effects such as fatigue, lowered sex drive, potassium depletion in some cases and much more. Therefore, natural methods may be superior in mild cases, in particular. Here are some of the simple remedies anyone can use at home without a prescription.

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, six to nine capsules of high-potency garlic must be used. The odor may be objectionable to some people, however.

Niacin is a short-term measure that dilates peripheral blood vessels. I do not use it much. Sedative herbs such as valerian root, chamomile, hops and others are mild sedatives and can be helpful for mild cases of hypertension along with a nutritional balancing program.

Other nutrients such as choline, inositol, pyridoxine (B6) and the amino acid taurine may help in some cases, though they are not as powerful as garlic, for example. Diuretic and/or relaxing herbs such as uva ursi and others are other symptomatic remedies that help some cases.

One thousand milligrams of choline may be required, but this appears quite safe. Doses of vitamin B6 or P-5-P may need to be 600 1200 mg per day. These remedies have fewer side effects than most prescription drugs and can often be used to keep blood pressure levels under control. They do not, however, reverse the causes of high blood pressure.

Intravenous chelation therapy is also very helpful to lower blood pressure. It removes calcium and other minerals from the artery walls. It requires intravenous administration in most cases, of a chelating drug such as EDTA or others.

While it is very effective in the short term, at least, in some cases the problem recurs because when treatment stops the body again begins to coat the arteries with plaque. The plaque returns because the original cause of the plaque, weakened or inflamed arteries, may not be corrected by chelation therapy alone.

Some doctors combine chelation therapy with other nutritional methods and this is better. In some cases, chelation may transiently harm the kidneys, which is also something to be aware of.

We don’t use intravenous chelation, or simple oral chelators, for that matter. They are not needed and sauna therapy and nutritional balancing will do the job in almost all cases, albeit much more slowly in some instances.

HYPERTENSION CASE HISTORY AND HAIR ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION LESSON

A doctor from South Korea asked about a retest hair mineral analysis on a patient with mild hypertension. His blood pressure was around 150~155/100~105 mmHg without drugs.

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

After three months of treatment, he actually felt no improvement. He was on the nutritional supplements and dietary program recommended according to the ARL computer system. He said he followed it sincerely except that he still often drinks alcohol and eat fruits, though half as much as before.

The blood pressure remains at the same level as before and he feels no improvement at all. One specific thing is that recently he gets headache whenever he get drinks. Before treatment he didn't have this symptom.

Hair Analysis Patterns. The patient’s hair analysis demonstrates a number of interesting patterns. The sodium/potassium ratio remained below 1:1 on the first and the second hair test. 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. This patient demonstrates some important emotional and physical patterns that are harder to correct than some others. For instance, whenever the first four numbers look like a bowl-shape, as his do, the person is tending to feel emotionally stuck.

The bowl pattern is present whenever the calcium/magnesium ratio is high (over about 11:1) and the sodium/potassium ratio is low (less than about 2:1). This patient has this pattern in the extreme.

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 basis. 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. An 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 best I can understand, that he is defending something in his lifestyle that does not work for him. It is not just his diet, or his supplements that are imbalanced. It is some factor of lifestyle, such as his job, his relationships, his beliefs, his location that is not working well for him. It can be an obvious issue or it can be quite subtle. You may discuss this with him by saying to him gently that when we see this high calcium/magnesium ratio this high - over 13.5 or so - that there is often something in the person's lifestyle that is really not working out, but he is defending it rather than taking action. Please try this with this patient, even on the telephone if he is not ready for another visit. This, I feel, is important as the reason why he is not responding very fast.

4. A high calcium/magnesium ratio, by the way, is psychologically related to defensiveness and this patient has it in the extreme. A tough man to deal with, in other words, no matter how he appears. This is the beauty of hair analysis that you can tell this even if the person seems very easy to deal with.

5. Chronic Stress and Lifestyle. Due to his very low sodium/potassium ratio (less than 1:1) and the defensive pattern, this patient is definitely under a lot of chronic stress, even if we don’t know what is the cause.

He needs to eat well and chew thoroughly. Some people, many in fact, eat too fast or bolt their food and do not chew. This is not helpful, especially when there is a lot of stress that also interferes with proper digestion.

After the meal, suggest that the patient stay seated for the meal and for at least 5-15 minutes after finishing meals to let digestion begin before going for a walk or going back to work. This is important, too. Simple lifestyle changes can also make an enormous difference in our results, since our program depends on rebuilding the body in every way.

PROGRESS INDICATORS IN THIS CASE OF HYPERTENSION

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

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

b) Mercury is also higher, and this is also excellent.

c) The arsenic level is significantly lower. This means a change has occurred and it is no longer present in the hair tissue. It often means some 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. Also, when sodium and potassium levels increase the ratio between sodium and potassium often declines. The fact that it stayed the same is an excellent sign of better energy.

e) Zinc, chromium and selenium declined a lot! This is important and it is good!! When this happens, it means these critical trace elements are usually being retained inside the body, often to replace the lead, mercury, cadmium or other toxic metals that were in his arteries and elsewhere.

We were giving the patient all three of these in the Megapan product, so one might expect the levels to increase. However, often a decline in this situation is due to the replacement by chromium, zinc and selenium for the toxic metals that are being eliminated – in this case mercury, arsenic and lead.

The zinc, chromium and selenium are just being used in the body, so it is not being released into the hair. That is why it looks so low. Low zinc, by the way, can cause emotional ups and downs. This man may suffer these and tell him this, please. You are working on this problem because it will help his hypertension to calm down.

Giving the patient extra zinc, chromium and selenium might be helpful, by the way. These would also help him detoxify because selenium is so helpful for glutathione synthesis in the liver, and it is an anti-oxidant nutrient and it helps the thyroid and much, much more.

When the sodium/potassium ratio is this low, it is okay to give extra of these three vital minerals because all three of them tend to raise up the sodium/potassium ratio, something that would be helpful for this patient. This is part of the mineral wheel or mineral balancing system of the body. This is discussed in other articles on our website.

I suggest you can add about 200-300 mcg extra of Selenase from Endomet Labs or another food-based selenium.

Zinc or Endo-pan from Endomet Labs could be added at about 22 –44 mg extra per day without upsetting the balance of the program. Keeping the balance correct is very important, of course, or we could negate any benefits of the extra minerals. This has to do with keeping his homeostasis intact. It is the problem with so many symptomatic therapies, including symptomatic nutritional approaches such as kinesiology, blood tests, urine tests and so many others that are in common usage.

Chromium may be added at a dose of about 200 mcg twice daily. This is in addition to the significant amount in the multivitamin “Metabolic Pak” from Endomet Labs.

Another product for this patient is ICMN. It is used particularly with fast oxidizers, though you can use it with slow oxidizers as well. It is for the liver, it is a methyl donor product with inoslitol, choline, methionine and niacinamide. It is excellent to help detoxification of some types in the liver and for toxic metals and it is CALMING if you give enough of it. He can take up to 4-4-4 and it will help him

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