Lowering Blood Pressure Without Side Effects.
By: Dr. William Wong, ND, PhD.

According to the American Heart Association these are some of the side effects of prescription blood pressure lowering medications:

1. Impotence, decreased libido.
2. Gout.
3. Muscle weakness.
4. Leg cramps.
5. Fatigue, Tiredness, Light headedness, Dizziness, Fainting.
6. Increased Blood Sugar Levels.
7. Cold Hands and Feet.
8. Depression.
9. Slow Heart Beat, Racing Heart Beat.
10. Asthma.
11. Skin Rash.
12. Loss of Taste.
13. Chronic Dry Hacking Cough.
14. Kidney Damage.
15. Swollen Ankles, Fluid Retention.
16. Constipation.
17. Dry Mouth.
18. Fever.
19. Stuffy Nose.
20. Diarrhea.
21. Heartburn.
22. Headache.
23. Excessive Hair Growth. (1).

Extensive list of not so nice things aren't they?   Have your docs ever spoken of these side effects to you when they've prescribed BP medication?  Likely not.  You might have second thoughts about taking the stuff if you knew all the side effects and damage the drugs could do!   So why are the doc's so insistent that forks with increased BP go on the drugs?  Well, they are trying to prevent heart disease and strokes.  That's a good thing, isn't it?  Yes it is if you don't have to kill Peter to save Paul.    The kidney damage, racing heart beat, excessively low pulse and fainting spells at the wrong time (like when driving) can kill you as well as a stroke or heart attack will!   And, while most folks want to live regardless of how miserable the  quality of their existence is, some persnickety folks will ask about quality of life issues while going through the side effects.   Indeed market studies show that Americans would prefer  to be able to treat their high blood pressure with out having side effects!    In some patients the side effects of the medications are considerable.  Life just ain't no fun just sitting in a recliner, not being able to drive, go out, play golf, exercise or have sex.  (Some patients can't lift their heads off the pillow without getting dizzy)!  And never mind being able to think clearly enough and, have energy enough to get in a days work!

Let's look over some more disturbing information about blood pressure meds, and the patients who take them.  There are some 50 million folks in the States with high blood pressure!  (2).   Only 27% of those patients have their condition successfully under control! (3).  So you're having side effects and the drugs aren't really working all that great!  Are the benefits you're not getting worth suffering through the side effects?  

That's one of the reasons many patients would rather take their chances, not use the medication and maybe, possibly have a stroke or heart attack somewhere down the line as opposed to taking the meds and definitely, absolutely having the side effects.   Non understanding docs call these patients non compliant which can blacklist them for insurance benefits.

Have I stood on this soap box long enough?  Good; you've understood that while lowering blood pressure is a good thing the means of getting there should be side effect free.  Let's take this idea a step further.  What if there was a way of lowering blood pressure that was also life enhancing?  One that, after a while, also made you feel good!  And no, you couch potatoes out there needn't worry, I'm not talking about exercise, though that is something that should be done by most BP patients.   I'm referring to a new University of New Hampshire tested preparation from China called Holistrol.   This new formulation of ancient Chinese herbs is the proprietary blend of a Hawaiian company called Pharm East.

Holistrols' double blind placebo controlled research was highlighted by the American Heart Association at the 2003 Inter-American Society for Hypertension conference.  During this 12 week study patients with mild to moderate hypertension were given either Holistrol or a placebo for 8 weeks.  Afterward blood pressure  monitoring continued for another 4 weeks.  The FDA approved clinical trial  (4) found that:

1. Holistrol treated subjects showed a quick response: most of the patients blood pressures  were back to normal in 2 to 4 weeks.
2. Holistrol subjects reported improved energy and mood.
3. Holistrol subjects blood pressures remained stable and in the normal range even 4 weeks after not taking the product.
4. Hoistrols' natural ingredients were shown safe for long term use.
5. Holistrol works by decreasing resistance to blood flow (Central and Peripheral Vascular Resistance), this action:
   • Improves blood flow to the heart.
   • Increases blood flow to the brain.
   • Increases elasticity of blood vessels.
   • Decreases pressure in the pulmonary artery and all arteries in general.

It does this all naturally using time proven and safe herbs from Chinese Medicine.

The opinion of the study writers were that:

"Holistrol safely and effectively help reduce high blood pressure within 4 to 8 weeks.  While at the same time improving mood and energy level."

Physicians who have tested the product on their patients report similar findings with one doctor saying that: "Holistrol is as effective as and better than ANY hypertension medicine".

Some other good points: Holistrol does not force blood pressure to lower as the drugs do.  It supports the body in maintaining normal blood pressure.  There's difference there.  Holistrols' mechanism of action actually seems to make blood vessels healthier!  That's why when the test subjects went off the herbal product their blood pressure did not shoot back up as would have happened if they had been on any of the current crop of blood pressure medications.  One of the reasons BP medication is so dangerous is that there is a rebound effect if you ever stop using the meds.  Blood pressure rockets back up showing that that while the medication was lowering the blood pressure it was only treating the symptoms and not getting to the cause of high blood pressure.  One of the root causes of high blood pressure is the lack of elasticity in  the arteries.  The ingredients in the Holistrol have been used for centuries to improve arterial health.  

One other point needs to be made here.  If a younger person just going into high blood pressure with a mild hypertension begins using the standard medications, yes the BP might be controlled but the conditions causing the blood pressure to rise will not be changed.  If these same folks began using the Holistrol instead, then the physiological reasons for having the high blood pressure might be changed resulting in a healthier life and no need to go on the drugs.  No young man or woman wants the side effects of drugs to interfere with their lives!   

If  you have mild to moderate high blood pressure, can you afford to not to try to get healthier and have normal blood pressure?  Do you really want to live the rest of your lives taking meds and having side effects?  It's your life,  you decide!   

Resources:

Holistrol from Pharm East 888-275-3570, email - info@pharmeast.com , Website - www.pharmeast.com.

References:

American Heart Association Website: www.americanheart.org
Vasan R., et al, 2001: Impact of high blood pressure on the risk of cardiovascular disease.  New England Journal of Medicine, 345(18): 1291-1297.
Padwal R., et al, 2001: Cardiovascular risk factors and their effects on the decision to treat hypertension; evidence based review. BMJ 322:977- 980.
Blum J.,L. 2003: A Pilot Perspective, Randomized  Placebo-Controlled, Blinded Trial to Test the Efficacy and Short Term Safety of Holistrol A Supplement to Reduce Elevated Blood Pressure (Mild to Moderate Hypertension).   Presented Inter American Society for Hypertension Conference 2003.