High Blood Pressure – Is it inevitable?
High Blood Pressure is a common ailment. The following 5 case scenarios each describe a different high blood pressure situation. Homeopathy can help an individual address their blood pressure but as you will see a homeopathic approach takes many more things into consideration rather than just the numbers.
Case Scenario #1
A client calls to tell me about a recent concern. She recently went to the Emergency Room (ER) because she woke up during the night not feeling well. She felt anxious, dizzy and felt a pressure in her head. The ER doctor told her that her blood pressure was high 207/109. He put her on daily blood pressure medication and told her to see her regular doctor. As we talked, she was feeling upset and confused, she said I don’t understand, I have never had high blood pressure. The doctor says I will be on blood pressure medication for the rest of my life. She asked me if I thought she would need to be on the medication for the rest of her life or if she could get off the blood pressure medication with Homeopathy?” I told her that there are homeopathic remedies for high blood pressure but that I would need to get a recent health history.
My first question, “what has been going on in your life the last 6- 12 months?” My client said she had been feeling well but that she had been extremely busy and a little stressed. She described her current situation. Her father-in-law has not been feeling well and she has had to take him to his various doctor appointments. She then went on to say that he has not been cooperating with his doctors, let alone with her. She is so stressed because he’s not listening to what the doctors are telling him to do and he is constantly complaining to her about everything; right down to her driving him to his doctor appointments.
She added “no matter what I do for him, he is always complaining.” She was frustrated because she is taking time out of her busy schedule to run her father-in-law back and forth to his appointments because her husband is not able to. On top of it all, her grandson has been sick, the last few months, and she is worried about that too. I am just so overwhelmed with it all, there is never enough time to get everything done.
I asked her a few more questions about her own health and daily routine to help me arrive at a homeopathic remedy for her current high blood pressure. I selected the homeopathic remedy Calcarea Carbonicum 6c in a Homeopathic Remedy Solution Bottle (RSB) to take daily with 10 succussions/taps. Along with 2 Herbal Tinctures: Hawthorne and Horsetail. This homeopathic remedy addressed her current emotional state of feeling overwhelmed with too much to do, and that she could not satisfy her father-in-law.
Case Scenario #2
A client consults with me because of his concern. He has been having nose bleeds off and on the last 6 months or so whenever his blood pressure increases. He went on to say that he has been under a lot of stress with work. His boss keeps piling on more and more work and he’s been needing to work longer hours.
I asked him if he had been having any other symptoms since he’s been having the nosebleeds. He stated that when his blood pressure goes up, he also gets a throbbing headache with a bright red face and then his nose will bleed. I selected the homeopathic remedy Glonoine 30c. I instructed him to take the remedy when he starts to feel his blood pressure increasing. I also recommended that he have a complete homeopathic case history done in order to select a homeopathic remedy to address the main cause of his high blood pressure – work stress!
Case Scenario #3
A new client calls because of his high blood pressure. He states that he has had high blood pressure for the last 5 years and he wants to get off his blood pressure medication. In taking his case history, I found out that he was in a difficult relationship for the past 7 years which ended in divorce. He revealed that his wife had been cheating. He tried to stay in the marriage for the kid’s sake. As it turned out he was very frustrated with the now Ex-wife not wanting to stay monogamous. It seemed he was still having a problem of letting go of the past relationship. He kept going back to the thought of “what could I have done in the relationship that would have prevented the divorce?” Based on the complete case history, I put my client on Natrum Muriaticum 6c in a Homeopathic Remedy Solution Bottle (RSB) to take daily with 10 succussions/taps for the grief he was feeling from the broken marriage. I told my client that if his blood pressure did not start coming down with the Natrum Muriaticum within a couple of weeks, we would then start him on 2 Herbal Tinctures: Hawthorne and Horsetail.
Case Scenario #4
This client calls stating that her blood pressure has been starting to increase the longer she goes without having her menstrual period. She said “I know I am going through peri-menopause;” and asked “will I have high blood pressure when I am no longer having my period and in menopause?”
I told my client that her blood pressure was increasing because of the hormonal changes going on in her body. When you are not having a menstrual bleed your blood pressure goes up and when you do have your cycle, your blood pressure goes back down to normal. The homeopathic remedy you need is Lachesis Muta. Lachesis Muta is for when women have symptoms when they are not bleeding. This would include PMS symptoms, headaches, when a woman skips her period or in this case going through peri-menopause.
I put my client on Lachesis Muta 6c in a Homeopathic Remedy Solution Bottle (RSB) to take daily with 10 succussions. In this case she will probably not need to take the 2 Herbal Tinctures: Hawthorne and Horsetail.
Case Scenario #5
While taking a client’s Chronic Homeopathic Case. The client tells me he feels lightheaded and spacey from time to time. I questioned him about this. I asked him to describe what he was doing when he experienced these feelings. He replied “I am more apt to feel this way when standing up from a bent over position. Such as after tying my shoes or when I pick something up off the floor.”
I asked more questions to see if he has low blood sugar, low blood pressure or any other health condition with these symptoms. My next question was “do you feel this way more in the morning when just getting up or when needing to eat?” “No,” he replied. “Feeling lightheaded and spacey can happen at any time of the day.” I went on to ask him, “Have you been told that you have low blood pressure?” Have you checked your blood pressure recently?” He stated that his blood pressure has always been on the low side for as long as he can remember. The homeopathic remedy he needed was Phosphorus for low blood pressure with feeling lightheaded and spacey.
Blood Pressure – Why it Matters
There are 2 Types of Blood Pressure
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
- Hypotension (Low blood pressure)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are around 75 million people, (29% of the population), In the United States that have high blood pressure.
How is Blood Pressured Measured?
When doctors take a person’s blood pressure, they measure the force that blood exerts on the walls of the arteries as it flows through them.
Systolic pressure (top number on a blood pressure reading) measures the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts.
Diastolic pressure (lower number) represents the blood pressure when the heart is resting between beats.
What is a Normal Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
If the blood pressure is too high for too long, it can cause serious damage to the blood vessels. Persistent high blood pressure can put a strain on the walls of the arteries and cause life threatening health conditions such as heart failure, vision loss, stroke, kidney disease, and other health problems.
Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Most people with high blood pressure (hypertension) will not experience any symptoms, which is why it is often called the “silent killer.”
High Blood Pressure Symptoms
- Headaches,
- Nausea,
- Vomiting,
- Dizziness,
- Blurred or double vision,
- Nosebleeds,
- Heart palpitations,
- Breathlessness
Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
Low blood pressure is when the blood pressure is low enough that the flow of blood to the organs of the body is inadequate and symptoms and or signs of low blood flow develop.
Low Blood Pressure Reading
A low blood pressure reading is having a level that is 90/60mmHg or lower.
Low Blood Pressure Symptoms
- Lightheadedness,
- Dizziness,
- Fainting.
- Blurred vision,
- Nausea,
- Fatigue,
- Lack of concentration
These symptoms are most prominent when individuals go from the lying or sitting position to the standing position (orthostatic hypotension).
Common Causes of Low Blood Pressure
- Reduced volume of blood,
- Heart disease,
- Medications
Conditions That Can Cause Low Blood Pressure
- Pregnancy,
- Heart problems,
- Endocrine problems,
- Dehydration
- Blood loss,
- Severe infection (septicemia),
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis),
- Lack of nutrients in your diet
Homeopathy Addresses High and Low Blood Pressure
Homeopathic Remedies for Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
There are approximately 270 homeopathic remedies for high blood pressure. The following are a list of commonly used homeopathic remedies for high blood pressure.
- Aurum Metallicum – Elderly people, grief, heart disease
- Belladonna – Headaches
- Crataegus – Heart disease, elderly people
- Glonoinum – Headaches, nose bleeds, heart disease
- Lachesis – After anger, peri-menopausal, menopause, heart disease
- Natrum Muriaticum – Grief, depression, heart disease
- Staphysagria -After anger, grief
Homeopathic Remedies for Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure)
There are approximately 130 homeopathic remedies for low blood pressure
- Carbo veg – From severe diarrhea and dehydration
- China – From blood loss, severe diarrhea and dehydration
- Crataegus – Heart disease, elderly people
- Gelsemium – Dizziness, vertigo
- Glonoine – Heart disease, prolong sun exposure
- Natrum Muriaticum – Grief, prolonged sun exposure
- Phosphorus – Dizziness, spacey, focus problems
- Rauwolfia – Faintness
- Sepia – Poor circulation, hormonal
Homeopathy – Getting to the Root Cause of High or Low Blood Pressure
Whether someone is newly diagnosed or someone has been on blood pressure medications for a while there are homeopathic remedies that can be taken to address the root cause of the blood pressure condition. This is accomplished by having a complete case history done to help select the best Homeopathic remedy for the individual based on their situation. There is not one “go-to” remedy for a particular health condition. In homeopathy, we treat the individual and need to understand that individual in order to select the homeopathic remedy that will strengthen the person and help them recover from the condition.
Homeopathy’s Role in Addressing High and Low Blood Pressure
Homeopathy’s approach to health is holistic. A blood pressure condition, even recently diagnosed, would be considered long term or chronic. A complete case history is necessary in order to consider existing health conditions and events that contribute to emotional highs and lows.
- This is best done by seeking out a trained and certified homeopath. They would proceed to take a complete health history getting a snapshot of how the person’s general health is from birth to the present time.
- However, the main focus would be on what was going on in their lives prior to them developing high or low pressure. Looking back at the last 6-12 months of their life for stresses (i.e. relationship, work related, financial, or caring for a loved one).
- And consider other physical high or low blood pressure symptoms they are having such as: headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, nose bleeds.
How the Homeopathic Remedy is Administered
A 6c chronic fundamental homeopathic remedy will be taken daily with 10 succussions for a period of time. Those on blood pressure medication, will continue taking the medication with the expectation to lower their medication dosage with the goal of getting off the medication altogether.
Additional Blood Pressure Points
Do You Have “White Coat Syndrome”?
If your concern is high blood pressure, purchase a blood pressure machine to periodically check the blood pressure on your own. Then when you go for your doctor’s visit, you can show them the readings you get at home. You may just have what some call “White Coat Syndrome,” this is when your blood pressure is higher in the doctor’s office due to your nervousness.
Fun Fact – Did You Know…
You want to pee before having your blood pressure checked. Needing to pee, can cause your blood pressure to register higher. Make sure and check to see if you are having a urine test before emptying your bladder.
Homeopathic Remedies for “White Coat Syndrome” – Yes Homeopathy Can Help with This Too!
If you do happen to be one of the people that become nervous going to the doctor’s office there are three Homeopathic remedies that can help:
- Aconite Napellus 30c and Gelsemium Sempervirens 200c – When feeling anxious and wondering what the doctor will tell you about your appointment or blood pressure.
- Argentum Nitricum 30c – When feeling anxious and predicting what the doctor will say about your appointment such as your blood pressure is high or your test results came back and you have …….
Take both Aconite Napellus 30c and Gelsemium Sempervirens 200c OR Argentum Nitricum 30c (by itself) the night before your doctor’s visit and repeat the next day half an hour before your appointment.
I have had clients tell me that after taking these homeopathic remedies, they were not nervous at the doctor’s office and their blood pressure reading was much better.
In my opinion, high blood pressure and taking medication for high blood pressure is not inevitable. Being vigilant about our health and seeking assistance when we need it to help us through life’s challenges can address the factors that contribute to high blood pressure. Diet, herbal remedies, stress reducing exercises and homeopathy can keep our bodies functioning and in tip top shape. Luckily in this day and age it is easy to find the knowledge and expertise we need to help us reach this goal!
