Blood Pressure Up? Knock down Naturally

                                  DR. SATISH BAJAJ, NIRAMAYA® NATUROPATHY

The increased pressure of the circulating blood in the Cardio Vascular System of the body is called High Blood Pressure or Hypertension. The normal Systolic pressure (at the time when heart contracts to send blood to various parts of the body) should be 120 mm of Mercury & the Diastolic (when heart expands to facilitate back flow of blood) should be 80mm of Hg with slight variations according to the age.

It may start even at a very young age of 25-30 yrs due to very hectic & tenuous life style of cities. Normally people catch it unaware & may suddenly get stroke, paralysis & even death due to a lot of complications. Smoking, alcohol, busy but lethargic lifestyle, raised mental tensions, obesity, excess of fried, processed & preserved foods, excess of salt intake, eatables without fibers etc. are some of the major reasons responsible for HBP. But now when it has started affecting the school going children also, the alarm must be taken seriously. See the Junk foods & harmful drinks being served to them. Take care of the harmful chemicals added to the eatables for color, flavor, taste & preservation.

Some of the main factors causing Hypertension are:

(a)     Reduction in the lumen (due to waste fatty deposits on the walls) & hardening (Arteriosclerosis) of the arteries that increase resistance for the free flow of blood.

(b)     Problem with the functioning of Heart – may be valvular, muscular (cardiomyopathy), arterial (CAD) or any other that are found by different diagnostic procedures.

(c)     Raised Cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolaemia) & increased viscosity of blood.

(d)     Renal Hypertension – due to impaired kidney function.

(e)     Diabetes.  

(f)      Mental Tensions etc.

But it is very common that there are none of the above findings. This is then nominated as Essential Hypertension OR Idiopathic Hypertension (of unknown origin).

You may or may not find a cause, Naturopathy certainly brings down HBP within days if well understood scientific effects of Five Elements are kept in consideration.

Keeping in view the Holistic approach of Naturopathy, HBP should be treated for an overall improvement of all the body functions.

Reduction in Salt, Sugar & Saturated Fats helps a lot in shedding weight. Never take Hydrogenated fats. Stop smoking & drinking alcohol. Don’t eat chemically treated foods. Inorganics are never body compatible. Avoid the foods sans fiber. Take jaggery & honey for a sweet tooth. Red meat, beef & egg are all responsible for higher levels of Cholesterol. Omega – 3 fatty acids found in fish are scientifically proven cholesterol lowering agents but still Naturopathy advises to stay vegetarian. If at all some one is fond of eating fish, the preference should be given to sea fish against chemically contaminated river fish. Always prefer vegetarianism to lower the Cholesterol Levels. Fill the fat requirements with Sunflower & Mustard oil. Tobacco chewing can be replaced with Coconut kernel, Cardamoms, Saumph, lavang etc.

Selection of diet is very important. Scientific research tells to increase the intake of minerals – Potassium, Calcium & Magnesium because it is the deficiency of these minerals that may be responsible for Cardio-Vascular problems.

Rich sources of potassium are De-oiled coconut, Dry chilies & seeds of coriander, cumin & fenugreek. Bael fruit, Cherries, Sweet lime, Loquat, Peaches, Phalsa & Sapota and vegetables like Amaranths, Brussels sprouts, colocasia, sweet potato & sword beans are best sources of potassium. Pulses & legumes have a good balanced amount of Potassium & Magnesium but Cowpeas & Moth beans possess a very high amount of Magnesium also. Among fruits, banana, mango & plums are very rich in magnesium while other sources are green chilies, fresh ginger, turmeric, cumin seeds, kidney beans, Soya beans, betel leaves, onion stalks & fresh water chest nuts. Scientific research has shown that eating two bananas a day is as effective as a good anti-hypertensive medicine.

Putting pressure on abdominal muscles for defecation is not advisable. Passing stools should be an effortless process that is easily attained by increasing fiber in the diet. Green leafy vegetables, pulses with skin, beans, and wheat bran are some of the rich sources of fiber. Pumpkin, cucumber, carrots, radish, turnip & knoll-kohl if taken as salads, are very good Diuretics. Thus they help bringing down HBP.

A weekly Fast (Aakash Element) on Vegetable soup, Vegetable juice or fruit juice is very helpful as it cleanses as well as nourishes the body.

Now to achieve a good control over the above said six main causes, a very careful selection & synchronization of Naturopathy Treatments is required.

Most important is the Water Element. Its primary use is internal. Drinking 10 – 15 glasses of water in a day have multiple of effects. It reduces the viscosity of the blood. A less viscous blood flows in the circulatory system with more ease & can be easily filtered by the Kidneys. Elasticity of blood vessels is also due to their water content. Detoxification of the body by way of perspiration is also dependent upon its water content. Water itself is a Lipolytic agent & thus not only dilutes the plaques in the vessels but also helps in weight loss by breaking & excreting the body fats. Drinking 3-4 glasses of warm water just after leaving the bed aids good defecation & urination.

Among external uses of water, a Wet Sheet Pack around the upper Abdomen helps in improving Kidney functions. A Whole Body Wet Sheet Pack produces a very soothing effect on Nervous System along with detoxifying effects on the whole body. Locally giving steam on the Spine is antihypertensive. A Neutral Bath of 20 mnts is again a strong measure to control HBP as well as is great Anxiolytic.

A Chest Pack of Hot water or Cold water can be selected as per the findings by way of ECG, Color Doppler, Angiographies, and TMT etc. to treat a cardiac condition.

Mud Packs on the forehead, back of head, eyes & on Anaahat Chakraa can put their own Cardio tonic effects.

An Emergency care to save a stroke may be possible by increasing the flow of blood towards lower limbs & reducing its pressure towards the brain. This may be possible by keeping a towel soaked in hot water on the lower limbs & at the same time applying a towel soaked in ice cold water around the neck & on the head.

A scientific Massage can increase the elasticity of blood vessels to significant levels. The direction of the circulating blood can be supported to lower down the blood pressure. A minimum period of massage should be 20 mnts. & it should be done on an empty stomach. It is again helpful in breaking down the peripheral toxic deposits & also tones up Nerves.

If diabetes is the cause for Hypertension, it needs to be treated along with HBP.

For mental tensions, so many among the above said treatments are effective & work as Anxiolytic.

Some other measures are also there that can dramatically change the functioning of the Cardio Vascular System.

Clapping 100 times in fresh air in the morning puts good Reflex effects on CVS.

A brisk morning walk for 20 mnts is very effective. The calf muscles’ contractions give a lot of support to heart by aiding blood circulation back to it. If there is a time shortage, go brisk while doing office work. Avoid elevators & prefer to climb stairs. Choose next bus stop to catch a bus. Avoid use of remote controls.

Learn Pranayaam. Do Anulom – Vilom Pranayaam for purification. Do Aantrik as well as Bahyaa Kumbhak. Do forced inhalation & exhalation. Do Kapaal Bhaati. All these methods create strong Diaphragmatic movements that in turn do very good massage of the heart. Learn the technique of Relaxation. Practice it whenever & wherever you get a chance. Close your eyes & let your body fall free in a chair. Do not concentrate upon any thought occurring in your mind.

A Hot foot Bath of a short duration, say for about 10 mnts before going to bed in winters can prove beneficial & a Cold Foot bath in summers can do the same by way of regulating the heat (AGNI) levels of the body.

A bedtime massage on head, forehead & temples with Desi Ghee (cow’s will be better) or with Almond oil will relieve you of tensions. Rubbing soles of feet with mustard oil is also beneficial.

If not suffering from Cervical spondilytis, take two soft pillows below the head while going to sleep. A slightly raised position of head reduces blood flow to it due to gravity & can save the brain from early morning strokes. Start practicing Shavaasan. Forget about your whole body & just watch your breathing. Feel the fresh cool inhalation & the warmth of exhalation. With closed eyelids, try to see your cheeks or concentrate on your Naval. Feel the difference in the morning.

While some of the mentioned treats are possible by anyone, others require a Naturopathy clinic & an expert practitioner to properly calculate & synchronize the treatments.

So, Naturopathy has not only the power to knock down the Blood Pressure but can keep it stable for very very long duration of tome.

DR. SATISH BAJAJ, 

NIRAMAYA® NATUROPATHY

 satishbajaj@gmail.com, 

 Mob; 986 856 9986