Wellness Library: Strategies that are Complementary to Conventional Health Care

Circulatory and Heart Challenges and Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

(The following natural approaches to “tuning up” the heart, circulation and lowering the blood pressure are not meant to be prescriptive. They are maintenance suggestions only. People with HBP and who have or suspect they have any of the following conditions should be under the constant eye of a qualified physician. Especially suspected heart attacks require IMMEDIATE medical intervention. The list below is NOT all inclusive.)

Hypertension:	Means the same thing as high blood pressure When the blood pressure goes above (Systolic) 140/90 (Diastolic) Systolic (the top number) refers to the pressure the heart must generate to pump the blood through the body. Diastolic is a measure of the amount of pressure to pump blood to the heart. Natural: To lower BP use Rauwolfia, Hawthorne Berry, Garlic, Mistletoe, Olive Tree Leaves (mild), Green Tea, Siberian and American Ginsengs, Potassium, Co Q10, Magnesium, Calcium, Selenium
Hypotension:	Means low blood pressure When the blood pressure drops below 90/60 it is below normal. Natural: To raise the BP use Rosemary and Licorice Root
Heart Attack:	When a small or large area of the heart is damaged by not getting a supply of blood for about 20 minutes. That part of the heart dies. Person may feel squeezing, pain or pressure in chest, short of breath. Pain may spread to shoulder, left arm and 4th and 5th fingers and up to neck and jaw. May have nausea, vomit, sweating. Symptoms may come and go.
Murmur:	When the valves in the heart do not shut tight after blood flows through them, a little blood leaks back through them causing this abnormal sound. (This is not necessarily a serious symptom.)
Tachycardia:	Abnormally increased heart rate
Bradycardia:	Abnormally decreased heart rate
Palpitation:	When one is aware of a faster and harder heartbeat than usual
Fibrillation:	When the heart quivers and/or contracts irregularly and rapidly
Angina:	Painful spasm and cutting off of blood flow from heart, shoulder, and left arm. Feeling of pressure and breathless anxiety. Last seconds or minutes or can come and go multiple times. Natural: (General builders of the heart) Hawthorne Berry, Motherwort, Barberry, Co Q 10, Omega 3 fatty acids, Virgin Olive Oil
The Circulatory System:	Made up of the heart, the blood, the lymphatic system and the vessels throughout the body that carry fluids. .Blood cells are also called Erythrocytes. Blood contains Plasma which is what remains when the living red cells are removed. The red (iron containing) part of the blood is called Hemoglobin; it delivers oxygen to the cells of the body. The blood also contains little platelets that help the blood to clot when there is an injury. Natural: Marigold (Calendula) flowers, Nettles, Bilberry, Hawthorne Berry, Garlic, Vitamin E The Lymphatic System houses the White Blood cells which are part of the body's immune and defense system. The lymph filters fats, bacteria, viruses and other wastes from the blood. Natural: Ginger, Tamarind, Hawthorne Berry, Co Q10, Carnitine, Garlic, Vit E, Vit C
Atherosclerosis:	A form of arteriosclerosis (where the walls of the arteries thicken and lose elasticity) were fatty plaque, undigested proteins and calcium deposits stick to the walls of the arteries thus narrowing or blocking them. Natural: Restrict saturated fats from diet, restrict pastries or foods that mix sugar with fats and oils, stop smoking, EXERCISE, East Salmon or other fish (no shell fish) weekly, Vit B6
Cholesterol:	A fatty substance that is found in most animal tissue. The body uses some cholesterol to make its own steroids. However, excesses are stored and can become hardened into stones or deposited. LDL or "Bad Cholesterol" transports cholesterol to the cells. HDL or "Good Cholesterol" transports cholesterol to the liver where it can be processed and excreted from the body. (The ratio between the two should be no more than 4.0.) Natural: Lower with Guggul, Garlic, Flaxseed, Alfalfa, Lecithin Vit B5 (Pantothenic acid), Niacin, Oat Bran, Barley, Vit A, Bromelain, Fish Oils, Carnitine
Tryglycerides:	Other fats in the body - elevate after high fat meals. May be stored. Natural: Lower with EXERCISE, lower dietary intake of saturated fats especially - and oils. Use lecithin, fish oils

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Diabetes

NOTE: There are two types of diabetes: Type I (IDDM – insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) which is also referred to as early onset. It usually presents itself before age 40 and one is born with this type of diabetes. They are insulin deficient. The other is Type II (NIDDM - non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) which usually makes its appearance after age 40 and is caused generally by one’s own lifestyle along with a genetic predisposition. 90% of the cases of diabetes are of the Type II variety and 80% of Type II diabetics are very overweight and eat diets high in starches and sugars. They are insulin resistent.

TYPE II DIABETES

Typical Symptoms
1 out of 4 are overweight
A physical shape like an apple (overweight)
Sugar/Starch cravings (Carbohydrate Addiction)
Sleepiness after meals
Sleepiness relieved by snacks
Hypoglycemia
Difficulty with weight loss
May have thirst for cold and frequent urination
Often HBP, Cardiac, Cholesterol, Tryglycerides+

Dietary Aids
5 small well mixed meals daily - examples:

Only Carbohydrates that do not cause a fast release of insulin ("low glycemic") 40%
High fiber foods (especially green veggies)to accelerate the passage of starches 15%
(Limit fruits-pears, apples, pineapple)
High fat but mainly vegetable oils (flax, olive, nut,soy, safflower, canola, grape, sesame avoid saturated fats except (limited) butter, cream and hard cheese (45%),
avocado (Do not overheat oils/fats)
Proteins Fish (especially salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, halibut, cod), skinless, no hormones, additives, tofu, soy powder drinks with chlorella/spirulina (15%)