01/20/2010: Florzzy from Singapore, Western Region, Singapore: "Hi, I am 47 from Singapore. Last night before I go to bed, I took 2 teaspoonful of Manuka Honey dilute it in a cup of plain water, add 2 teaspoon ( some dripped into the cup so it was slightly more than 2 tsp) of Apple Cider Vinegar and drank it.

I have an Omron wrist BP reader, my BP was 137/96 (average of 2 readings) this (Wed) morning.

Before this, on Monday night my BP was 162/106 (average of 2 readings). On Tuesday morning, I took my BP again and my BP was 155/107 after a night's rest.

I told myself I don't want to end up an invalid. So, the next day (Tuesday morning) I stopped drinking coffee and stopped eating my favorite softboiled eggs and kaya toast. Instead, I drank orange juice, Bread Margarine and 1 small banana. Then later I realized that Margarine is a Hydrogenerated Fat, which is bad for the body. So, I decided to throw away the small tub of margarine I just bought.

For lunch (Tuesday afternoon) I ate 1 China fuji apple, 1 small banana, 5 inches plain french baguette and a cup of warm milo. One hour after my lunch I checked my BP. It was 154/104.

For dinner @5.30pm (Tuesday evening) I ate at a Japanese restaurant - salmon sashimi, grilled saba fish, eel, 2 pcs fried sushi lobster salad toppings, 1 tempura shrimp and vegetables, chawmushi or Japanese egg custard and some rice (left 3 quarter of the bowl of rice behind). I drank green tea and decided not to drink their miso soup because of the salt content in it. Well it looks as if I ate alot, but in fact,it was just a variety of small pieces of each item because it was a Bento spread.

Had Supper at 8.30pm - slice fish soup (my purpose was to eat the fishmeat) and 1 China fuji apple.

I took my BP at 10pm it was 144/94. Then I drank the honey apple cider vingear and went to bed at 12.30am.

My BP this morning at 9am was 137/96.

Before I found this Earth Clinic website yesterday (Tuesday afternoon)I was determined to watch what I eat to bring my BP to normal. After reading the information on apple cider vinegar I went out to buy the Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar after dinner last evening.

I am waiting to see, if I can bring down my BP to healthy level with a healthy diet drinking the Honey and apple cider vinegar.

I only started the above on Tuesday and that was my day 1."

[YEA]  08/27/2011: Mary from Atlanta, Georgia: "I have been taking this brand of molasses for 2 months and my bp seems to be going down. I also take the apple cider vinegar. I take both first thing in the morning. I take 2 tbsp of molasses plain and 1tbsp apple cider vinegar with1/3 cup of spring water."

[YEA]  01/28/2009: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "Alena, a simple D&C should not have caused bleeding to the point of anemia, and if you were anemic before surgery, it should have been corrected before doing it. Did the doctor mention any complications during the D&C? You might want to ask for a copy of the surgical report, to see if you can learn why you are anemic."

[YEA]  09/14/2010: Denise from Milwaukee, Wi: "I am using a combination of Apple Cider Vinegar (1 tblsp each AM) and 2 Reishi Mushroom (1 mg total) capsules daily and at 52 my blood pressure numbers have never been so good. The Reishi also helps with sleep and anxiety."

08/09/2012: Art from Tustin, Ca. Usa: "In reply to, Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa: You're welcome!

It seems like wherever I go, I run into people with hypertension/high blood pressure, so it must be fairly prevalent. Given that high fructose corn syrup and high levels of table salt in processed foods are the norm in many peoples diets, I can certainly see why high blood pressure would be a common problem. Btw, I read another 2010 rat study that suggested that the nac/arginine combo might also help offset the known hypertensive effects of a high fructose high salt diet. It was only a rat study and those don't always translate directly into human equivalency, but it is promising and worth further study in humans.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19806432

In further reading it seems like citrulline, a precursor of arginine might also be effective with nac or even with nac arginine. The safety profile of these three along with their other health benefits seems like it may be a good first line hypertensive therapy approach before trying the prescription route if people are so inclined.

To answer your question, I continued with what I was already taking as I was taking things like the potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin d, multi-vitamin and vitamin b complex for other health benefits other than high blood pressure reduction so I didn't want to lose out on those potential health benefits, plus there is the possibility that those supplements may have been partially controlling my blood pressure already.

I hope others are able to derive benefit from this reasonably priced and readilly available combo(nac/arginine) with the good safety profile! It is amazing to me that there were no direct follow up studies after that promising one in 2008. I guess if it isn't patentable, then funding may be hard to come by.

Art"

08/09/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa replies: "Art, thank you very much for this thoroughly informative post, as hypertension is a major health problem. The addition of the NAC with the L-Arginine must be the magic bullet. I don't think the Arginine alone produced near the results as this combination; this is truly good news for those "unresponders" like yourself and others. Did you discontinue the previous natural treatment ingredience and protocols then tried the aminos only?

Lisinipril @ 20mg daily has been very beneficial for me (also an unresponder). I'm not a big proponent of pharms but if the cost is not too high and the negative side effects few, "go-for-it"."

[YEA]  08/24/2012: Art from Tustin, Ca. Usa replies: "Just thought I would update as I have been taking the nac/arginine combination for almost a month now. I just took my blood pressure and the reading was 117/76 so this combination appears to be working very well for me and the first reading at two weeks of supplementing apparently was not a fluke at 123/83.

I also dropped my dose down to just twice a day instead of three times per day, so I am currently taking 600mg of nac with 1 gram of arginine two times per day for a total of 1, 200mg of nac and 2 grams of arginine per day which is fairly close to the dosage used in that 2008 study.
Art"

08/25/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa replies: "Art, thanx again for your post as this is very good news for people suffering hypertension. I don't have any numbers to support as I have many issues that overlap and I can't determine exactly hardly anything as a certainty; but I am taking 1000mg daily NAC 500mg Glutamine or Glutamic Acid 2000mg Trimethyleglycine for maximum Glutathione production; plus an Arginine/Ornithine 1000mg daily. I am venturing a guess that the NAC is only for Glutathione boosting and nothing in itself. The Arginine itself is known to produce Nitric Oxide which dilates blood vessels. In short, a Glutathione deficiency could be a major player in many folks hypertension."

08/26/2012: Art from Tustin, Ca. Usa replies: "Timh, I agree, glutathione deficiency may be a major contributing factor for some peoples hypertension issues as well as many other health issues that have excess oxidation and inflammation as major components and that would be a fairly long list!

NAC is noted for its glutathione increasing potential and is itself a free radical scavenger as well as an anti-inflammatory, capable of inhibiting inflammatory cytokines and mediators like, il-1, il-6, and tnf-alpha so it maybe more than just helping to increase glutathione levels.

NAC is fairly impressive as is its safety profile. The combination with arginine seems to be very impressive. I hope it continues to work!

Art"

08/27/2012: Timh from Louisville, Ky, Usa replies: "This would put Walnuts at the top of the food group in this case as they are high in Arginine, pre-formed Glutathione, and anti-inflammatory Omega 3 EFA's.

Evidently the human body or at least a compromised body cannot properly make the conversion of sulphur containing foods to the acetylated form of Cysteine, making this supplement quite important. I have read that NAC is first line defense in emergency care for many cases of overdose or poisonings. There are more and more studies proving many benefits of Arginine."

[YEA]  09/18/2008: Vicarious from Vancouver, British Columbia: "1st time poster. Hello. 53, male, never drank, stopped smoking at age 30. Don't eat much potato chips or fast food at all etc. Thought I live and eat very healthy. Moved from South Africa to Canada a year ago. Am not a BIG exerciser but can do 30 sit up no problem. But sit a lot in front of the PC etc. Eat mostly Chinese or Fusion food 1m89 tall 92KG and here I am stuck with "HIGH BLOOD Pressure" dizziness very tired mornings. Need Melantonin to fall a sleep, otherwise can stay awake till wee hours. Can't give any personal feed back yet. Will start ACV now. But my grandfather in Austria used to drink one liter of natural Apple juice every day, for every second month (not the clear one). It looked like frosted in the glass bottle. He bought it from what they call in German the "Reform Haus" sort of Health shop 30 years ago. to keep his high blood pressure under control. Maybe someone has tried this I guess that is why the ACV is good for us also."

09/19/2008: Tina from Montreal, Canada replies: "if you often eat chinese food that could have a bearing on your HIGH BLOOD Pressure. if the food is cooked at home you can control what goes in it. if you eat at chinese resturants the food is loaded with msg and sodium in my experience. i love chinese but i dont do take away any longer because of this. i too would feel dizzy and my bp would go up and i would have awful headaches. hope this helps

tina"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/31/2011: Pluto from New York, Ny, Usa: "I had "idiopathic" high blood pressure, around 160/80 when I went to the doc for a far-removed complaint a couple of years ago. He gave me drugs. They lowered it, but I also felt shaky from them; I took them for about 5 months and suddenly I got a physical depression. It was the kind where I liternally could not get out of bed. It took superhuman strength to get myself out of bed and haul myself off to the doc who didn't get this at all.

I got in touch with a caridologist who gave me permission to stop the damn things.

By now, though, the depression was so bad I could not eat and I was losing wieght so rapidly I looked like a scarecrow and was literally falling out of my clothes (I hope it doesn't happen to you, but it really does happen -- you fall OUT of them. So weird).

What happened was this natural fast (it seems nature did impose this on me) allowed my BP to drop within a month to 123/80. Weird.

Long story short: I emerged from this drug-induced, last straw depression and started living normally again. Next doc visit, gee, BP was rising again.

Finally, I put 2 2 together. Divine inspiration. It must be my diet! I was vegetarian. You would think this is a good thing. Apparently, not for me. Grains were killing me. The mainstay of my diet. But they were something I was not eathing while not eating (see above). I was only eating cartons and cartons of yogurt back then.

Sooooo, I quit grains (flours, pastas, rice the usual, also potatoes) and sugars (including honey, etc) cold turkey. Next doc visit, 3 months later (I swore I would get bp down "naturally") I clocked in at 110/70. No meds.

OK, I dumped the grains and I eat fish and poultry. But look at the change! And my gums no longer bleed when I floss.

I am 55, female, slender. Five foot, five and a half inches tall. Type O . I always had a good figure even at my 140 lb high (I still looked slender. Good muscles, I guess) but doing the no-grains, no-sugar has reduced me to 125, just like that. No pain. (In case you're wondering -- no booze! )

I am sorry as all heck that I can't be a vegetarian. But I simply cannot."

07/31/2011: Baldev from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India replies: "As per the blood goup diet. You being Group O, Non Veg. Diet will suit you better. so, you have done the right thing.

Baldev"

08/01/2011: Pluto from New York, Ny, Usa replies: "Hello, yes, thank you for your confirmation. Years before I'd read that type O blood needed meat and not grains. It seemed strange! It took me this long to figure it out, but I did it by myself using myself as my own guinea pig. Amazing. I wish more people would know about this. It would save so much agony out there. That's why I posted. I hope people can google and find the information."

11/04/2012: Sheila from Ball Ground, Georgia replies: "Hello, I study nutrition & holistic healing. You should read the book, "Wheat Belly". I got mine on Audible.com for audio book or u can get on Amazon.com It is a proven fact that gluten (anything made w/wheat among some other grains contain gluten) causes the majority of the diseases in the world. Diabetes, HBP, Cholesterol-high, heart disease, obesity, psychosis, depression, anxiety... Unbelievable book that this cardiologist wrote after devoting many yrs of his life testing patients. After 20 days patients conditions basically clear up. He says that 90% of all gluten intolerant people don't even know they are. Many people don't register when they test. Yet, take them off the gluten & they clear up! :-) You gotta check into that. I have lost 40 lbs & not so bloated any more & my diabetes & HBP is now cleared up too. But, I have also adopted ACV mixed w/garlic & honey http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/articles/art_cidervingarlichoney.html & it went down 30 points from my last visit & cinnamon is my big wonder cure for diabetes, look that one up too! Only take less than 1 tsp daily in warm water or in your tea or coffee split up in 3-4 cups (total 1 tsp--no more-important). http://diabetes.webmd.com/cinnamon-and-benefits-for-diabetes

I am loving life w/healthy eating holistic healing. I just wish more people knew that just healthy foods, spices, herbs & vitamins & supplements are the key to good health & curing ailments & disease too! Btw, check out this movie! Amazing, .. Eye opener movies: "FAT, SICK, & NEARLY DEAD" (he cures all his diseases w/juicing in only 30 days literally/documentary) and also watch: "FOOD MATTERS" Harvard doctor tells how we can heal w/food over medicines. Medicine only bandages it food cures you. :-)

I know, I know, .. My husband says I can't save the world, but, I dang sure will try! :-) Good luck everyone & I hope this helps all who reads this. Sheila"

04/25/2011: Linda Gitzlaff from Oconomowoc, Wi: "I am 60 years old with spondylosis and osteoarthritis with muscle involvement. I wake up about 2:30 a.m. with pain on rt. side upon movement and have been applying heat. By 8 a.m. pain is resolved. My question is will taking the baking soda cause my BP to rise... I am hypertensive. Can you suggest any other alternative treatment besides the D3 and the magnesium supplements?"

04/27/2011: Joyce from Joelton, Tn. replies: "Question: Have you tried MSM (methylsulfonyl-methane)? If not, you should and don't be afraid to take the larger dose."

04/29/2011: Gavin from Manganui, Northland, New Zealand replies: "I think with baking soda you might get a rise in your BP. In the book "Wardmaster" writen in the nineteen thirties.. The author says that if you have a flare up of arthiritis you take baking soda until your ears start ringing.. (High bp. ) and wrap up warmly and go to bed.. This stops the inflamation and settles things down again."

[YEA]  12/06/2011: Arsh from Jasper, Alabama: "Blood Pressure is a bit high? EAT BANANAS!

I just have to share this because it has worked for me and I am utterly amazed. I started having trouble with my blood pressure a couple months ago and I needed to bring it down. I started taking a super dose of D3, 5-htp to combat the associated anxiety, and Aspirin daily to help thin the blood.

It *helped* but I was still feeling bad often.

I started doing some research and found that potassium had been shown to significantly decrease the blood pressure issues so I decided to grab a bunch of bananas and give it a try. I've been eating one banana a day for over a week and my blood pressure has been so much better! I had been feeling like the veins in my arms were on FIRE some of the times, my emotions were hard to control etc. After eating a banana a day for only a couple days, those feelings diminished until I can barely tell I have a problem anymore. It has REALLY helped how I feel.

So definitely eat some bananas and give it a try if you have problems with your blood pressure! If you hate bananas, any source of potassium will do. Raisins, some canned tomato products... Etc. Just Google "Good Sourse of Potassium" for more info on what to eat. Good luck!"

[WARNING!]  05/17/2009: Jackie from Grand Rapids, Minn: "about a month ago i started an amino acid for low mood and anxiety , suntheanine. it made me feel so calm, just wonderful. i can find no side effects noted on any website, however i believe it made my blood pressure go up.hindsight, i think it's wise to monitor your bp before and after starting any new supplement.because everyone is different. i was taking 100mg of suntheanine in the am and 200mg with 500mg gaba at night to rest better. i started waking up with a dull headache and a sickish feeling which prompted me to check my bp. usually 110/60 it was 136/86.i thought it was going to be too low! i stopped the suntheanine and gaba but my pressure still stayed up. today i took 2 doses of acv (2 tbsp with the sediment in it in water) and i started feeling like my old self my bp was 123/69 so i know i'm on the right track. it was reported on the mayo site that often prescription antidepressants cause the bp to go up and the cause is unknown. i figure maybe its the same with natural supplements too, just depends on the person.since i quit the suntheanine and gaba i don't wake up with a hangover feeling. my bp went up a couple of years ago when i took rhodiola and i stopped it"

[YEA]  09/19/2011: Ritap1 from Woodbridge, Virginia, Usa: "I have been having lots of problems with my blood pressure the last few month. I have been in the emergency room 9 times since July with redings as high as 245/139. I am on 4 different kinds of medication but the don't seem to work. My head is always hurting me and my stomach feel like I got poisoned. I all blame this on my teeth. In the first week of July I had 2 teeth extracted and 2 amalgam fillings removed and since then I never felt the same.

Yesterday I looked around on the net on what I can do to get some of my energy and my health back. I found the beet juice protocol and started it on the same day. I had 1 glass of beet juice with asparagus yesterday and one this morning, ate 2 apples and one carrot after the juice and I can't believe my bloodpressure today. Its been under 130 all day, I just measured again and it was 118/73. Yes I am still on meds but the meds never got my blood pressure down like that. I also had much more energy and actually got things done for a change.

Thank you Earthclinic!"

11/28/2011: Deborah from Chantilly, Va, Usa: "Has anyone had any experience with beet juice for high blood pressure? I've read that the nitrates in beet juice are just as effective as taking nitrate tablets."