Iodine
I started taking Lugol's Solution (10% Potassium Iodine and 5% Iodine) and within 4 weeks my blood sugar has gone from 7.1 to 4.9. I am not doing or taking anything else so it has to be the Lugol's. My blood pressure has also come down to the extent that I am seriously considering coming off my BP medication. It was routinely 145-155 over 90-96 and now is down to routinely 115-120 over 68-72.
Kefir
Kefir For High Blood Pressure
An electrician, aged about 35 years, in my town had some skin problem. He went to a Skin Specialist for treatment. The doctor prescribed a powerful medicine (antibiotic/steroids) for him. The doctor did not specify any probiotic treatment after the powerful treatment. His skin problem cleared in two days. Two weeks after the treatment, he had very severe headache. He went to his GP for a check-up. The GP did many tests and finally told him that he had very high blood pressure (220/180) and some people might not survive at this high blood pressure. The doctor prescribed some medicines for high blood pressure. On my advice, he also took one cup of milk Kefir ( a probiotic food ) in the morning on empty stomach. In two week time, his blood pressure returned to normal level (120/80).
It seems that the powerful medicine eliminated not only the bad bacteria responsible for his skin problem but also the nitric acid generating probiotic bacteria (L.Plantarm, L. Rhamnosus and L. Fermentum) in his digestive system. Since sufficient nitric oxide was not generated in his digestive system, the stiff blood vessels were not dilated. Because of this, his blood pressure went very high. Since Kefir contains nitric acid generating bacteria, he was cured of his high blood pressure problem in two week time. in my opinion, probiotic treatment after an antibiotic/steroids treatment can be anyone of the following two or both:
1) Take one cup of milk kefir in the morning on empty stomach for two weeks.
2)Take probiotic capsules or liquids containing some or all probiotic strains mentioned below. The medical problems and the probiotic strains needed to cure/prevent the associated medical problems as mentioned in the research papers available in the net are:
1) Diabetes Type 2 - L. Casei and L. Achidophilus.
2) MRSA Infection - L.Casei And L. Achidophilus.
3) C. Diff - L. Casei, L. Achidophilus and L. Reuteri.
4) High Blood Pressure - L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus and L. Fermentum.
5) Vitamin B2 Deficiency - L. Fermentum.
6) Vitamin B9 Deficiency - L. Plantarum.
7) Vitamin D and B12 Deficiencies - L. Reuteri.
8) Heart Disease - B. Longum, L. Plantarum and L. Reuteri.
9) Severe Constipation - B. Longum, B. Infantis, B. Breve and B. Lactis.
Kefir does not contain any Bifidum bacteria. Bifidum bacteria names starts with B. (e.g. B. Longum). Milk Kefir I use, does not contain L. Reuteri. If anybody knows any corrections or addition to the above list, please let me know.
There is an article available in the net on "Milk Kefir Remedies for High Blood Pressure" by John of Melbourne. He says that he solved his blood pressure problem by drinking milk kefir.
Best Wishes P. Raghavan.
In reply to P. Raghavan (Virudhunagar, Tn, India),
While I have no doubt whatsoever that kefir is a healthful source of probiotics and probiotics can be beneficial to human health, how can you be sure that it was not the hypertension meds that his doctor prescribed that caused the massive reduction in blood pressure as opposed to the kefir or possibly a combination of the meds and kefir?
Kefir has studies behind it that suggest it may be helpful for hypertension, but I haven't seen any studies yet that have shown such a massive reduction in blood pressure so quickly by itself. It seems that for the sake of safety in cases of hypertension where the pressure readings are so dangerously excessive, it may be safer to first let the doctor get the blood pressure down to a safer range before experimenting with kefir.
If a person's blood pressure is 220/180, it is absolutely possible that they can die or have a major health event from that condition. The way you described this anecdote, some readers may get the impression that kefir alone may be able to bring this aggressively high blood pressure down to the normal range and may decide to try kefir instead of seeking immediate medical attention.
If the kefir alone doesn't happen to work for them, the potential for death or serious health event may increase significantly. Because of the potential for serious health consequences of very high blood pressure, it might be safer to err on the side of caution in cases of such high blood pressure / hypertension.
Art
(Vancouver)
01/01/2017
A very happy, healthy and blessed New year to everyone at Earthclinic.. This simple logic of antibiotics killing the bad n the good bacteria together does sound Correct n believable as my own health went totally downhill 14 years ago after a complicated pregnancy n child birth and umpteen amount of antibiotics n painkillers like Tylenol 3s for months all together.
My question is about the regular yogurt that we East Indians set at home everyday,, is it not effective enough? And also if I start with probiotics when is the best time to take them? Thank you so much for all your detailed n informative posts..
(Virudhunagar, Tn, India)
01/02/2017
Meenu,
Regular yogurt contains only two probiotic strains namely: L. Bulgarius and S. Thermophilus. Some manufacturers of yogurt add one or two probiotic strains like L. Achidophilus, L. Casei, etc. Since regular yogurt contains only a limited number of probiotic strains, its benefits are also limited. On the other hand, Kefir contains about 30 probiotic strains . So its benefits are many: increased life expectancy, less number of medical problems, increases energy level, etc. If you find a milk kefir starter which also contain L. Reuteri, its benefits will increase considerably. You can take Kefir when the stomach acid level is very low like early in the morning on empty stomach.
Best Wishes P. Raghavan.
(Virudhunagar, Tn, India)
01/04/2017
Art,
As per your statement, high blood pressure problem mentioned in my thread, might have been cured by one of the following:
1) Kefir
2) High blood pressure medications
3) Kefir and high blood pressure medications
The electrician developed high blood pressure problem immediately after an antibiotic/steroids treatment. It is well known that any antibiotic/steroids treatment will disturb probiotic balance in the digestive system. The current high blood pressure medications are : Diuretics, Beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, Calcium channel blockers, etc. These medications will not correct the probiotic balance in the digestive system. Also, I knew three people who were Diabetes Type 2 with high blood pressure problem, took Kefir to cure Diabetes Type 2 problem. To their surprise, their high blood pressure problems were also solved. All these three people became Diabetes Type 2 with high blood pressure problem after antibiotic treatments. My opinion is that Kefir cured the high blood problem in the above case.
I agree with you that if anyone with high blood pressure problem want to try Kefir routine, they should not give up their blood pressure medications.
Also, Kefir should not be taken if
1) they are allergic to Kefir or
2) they have chronic migraines or
3) they have compromised immune systems such as those undergoing Chemotherapy.
If one wants to try Kefir routine for high blood pressure problem, the person may read 33 Kefir user reviews available in webmd and also articles on Kefir in livestrong.com. If possible one can do lab stool testing to determine probiotic deficiencies of nitric oxide generating probiotic bacteria ( L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus and L. Fermentum ). Probiotic deficiency of a particular strain can be determined by counting the number of bacteria of the particular strain in a unit volume of stool and comparing with those of healthy individuals. If there are probiotic deficiencies of nitric oxide generating bacteria, there is a very good chance that Kefir will work. Otherwise it may not work since the underling cause for high blood problem may be different.
Best wishes P. Raghavan.
In reply to P. Raghavan (Virudhunagar, Tn, India),
My main concern was the extremely elevated blood pressure level. I am a firm believer in good gut bacteria having healing qualities of many types, but anyone with pressure readings that high should be under a doctors supervision until the blood pressure is lowered and stable in something closer to the normal range before attempting to see what kefir can do for them. This is a case of safety first because blood pressure that high can be fatal if not brought under control fairly quickly.
I think you already know that I am a follower of your posts regarding kefir and probiotics and I appreciate your posts because you come back regularly to update and follow up on your previous posts plus you also add information about the research that has lead to your conclusions. Thank you for your posts and I hope you keep them up!
Art
Kefir
It is suspected that High Blood Pressure in many cases are associated with well below normal level of Nitric Oxide generating probiotic bacteria in the digestive system. Nitric oxide is generated by these bacterias from the food we eat. Nitric oxide will join blood stream and dilate all stiff blood vessels in the body. Kefir contains nitric oxide generating probiotic bacteria.
One lady in my town took one cup of Kefir in the moring on empty stomach for 8 weeks. The lady was suffering high blood pressure and was Diabetes 2. After this Kefir routine, her blood pressure is now normal and she is not diabete now. Another man who was suffering from high blood pressure did the same Kefir routine. His blood pressure is normal now.
Just because this Kefir routine cleared two people from high blood pressure problem, it will be hard to think it will work for everyone. But one can try this Kefir routine since there is nothing to loose.
(Virudhunagar, Tn, India)
02/14/2017
Probiotic Capsules for High Blood Pressure
One of the reasons for high blood pressure problem is the probiotic imbalance in the digestive system. Probiotic imbalance is caused by :
1) Antibiotic / Steroid Treatment,
2) Stress,
3) High fat diet ( Animal fat and Vegetable fat ),
4) Sedentary Lifestyle,
5) Smoking,
6) Alcohol, etc.
According to research papers available in the net, there are probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the digestive system that can generate nitric oxide from the food we eat. Nitric oxide will join the blood stream and dilate all stiff blood vessels in the body. The nitric oxide generating bacteria mentioned in these papers are : 1) L. Plantarum 2) L. Rhamnosus 3) L. Fermentum. If there are deficiencies of nitric oxide generating bacteria in the digestive system, high blood pressure problem will develop.
There are multi strain probiotic capsules available for about us dollar 28 ( 60 capsules ) in Amazon.com. Its name is : ULTRA-30 Probiotics - 18 strains - 60 capsules. This capsule contains L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus and L. Fermentum. Among these three probiotic strains, L. Plantarum plays a critical role. The simple procedure to solve the high blood pressure problem is as follows :
" Take one probiotic capsule in the morning 30 minutes before breakfast for 60 days " .
If the high blood problem is not solved in 60 days, then the reason for high blood pressure problem is other than probiotic imbalance like :
1) Genetics,
2) Chronic kidney disease,
3) Ardenal and Thyroid disorder,
4) Sleep Apnea, etc.
My guess is that high blood pressure problem will be solved by this procedure for more than 60 % of the people.
Best Wishes
P. Raghavan.
(Iowa, Usa)
02/15/2017
P Raghavan,
As it happens, I have just returned from spending a week with my parents and was dismayed to see that my mother, while taking excellent care of my father, has stopped making time for the habits that used to sustain her in excellent health. I have ordered probiotics for her and will follow up with your instructions. Your method seems to be a very logical way to find out the source of her elevated blood pressure. Thank you for sharing it.
Kefir and Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the best treatment for High Blood Pressure is as follows:
1) Take one cup of homemade milk kefir in the morning on empty stomach for 8 weeks.
2) Mix 2 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, a pinch of sea salt and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, sesame seed oil or olive oil in a glass of water. Drink this just before dinner for 8 weeks.
These will cure high blood pressure problem.
Kefir is a milk-based Fermented Probiotic food while Apple Cider Vinegar is a Fermented food. But both are fermented foods. According to research papers available in the internet, there are some types of probiotic bacterias that can generate nitric oxide from the foods we eat. These nitric oxide generating bacterias can be classified as follows:
Tier I (critical) = L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus.
Tier II (useful) = L. fermentum.
These three types of probiotic bacterias are in Kefir. Nitric oxide generated by these bacterias will join the blood stream and will dilate all stiff blood vessels in the body. This will reduce the blood pressure.
Apple Cider Vinegar contains -
1) Fiber called pectin - It is called Prebiotic and it will be used by Probiotic bacterias as foods. This will help probiotic bacterias to multiply fast.
2) Many useful enzymes - Enzymes are necessary for many chemical reactions to take place inside our body. If some of these enzymes are missing inside our body, some chemical reactions necessary for our body will not take place.
3) Many Minerals - These minerals will change our body ph level from acidic to alkaline.
Apple cider vinegar also play an important role in reducing the blood pressure especially the enzymes it contains.
Best wishes P. Raghavan.
(India)
04/09/2016
Hi P. Raghavan,
Where in India do you get kefir? I looked it up in Amazon as well but could not find it.
(Virudhunagar, Tn, India)
04/09/2016
My daughter in USA bought milk kefir starter (Brand - Mr and Mrs Kefir) from Amazon.com for about US $ 12. I got it from her.
P. Raghavan.
Lemon Juice in Hot Water
I read that fresh lemon juice in hot water lowers bp. I tried every morning and it worked for me! I have halved my meds!
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Hi, I started using lemongrass essential oil for my high blood pressure. I put a drop on my wrist and rub it on the other wrist and then I put a small bit of coconut oil on my heart area and one drop on lemongrass oil. The lemongrass oil may burn sensitive skin, but the coconut oil stops the burn. I have high blood pressure and I did this 1 hour before my Dr appt, my BP was 118/80. I am convinced that this is the reason my pressure was normal.
Low Carb Diet
I learned years ago that a low carb diet will dramatically lower high blood pressure quickly, usually within 12 hours! You will know it is working when you notice you are urinating more frequently. I know the low carb lifestyle has been controversial, but I have proven the benefits to myself for years. Also, acid reflux/heartburn will disappear while on a low carb diet!
(Dearing, Ga)
03/23/2010
Hi Miriam.
I have been posting here for years now. Somewhere on here, I said that I believed sugars ( Carbs ) contributed as much to Higher blood pressure as does sodium. I also find that diet effects my blood pressure by as much as 15 to 20 points.
So yea, I think you might be on the right track about those carbs.
I think the key is to stay hydrated, but keeping the kidneys flushed. Asparagus extract can help keep kidneys flushed also.
Lugol's Iodine
I began taking 2 drops daily of Lugol's iodine. Within 2 weeks my blood pressure dropped from 135/82 to normal ranges I.e. 120/72 and some days even lower. Also ingesting a tsp of diatemaceous earth but since I was inconsistent with the later, I must credit the iodine. PTL!
Lycopene
Lycopene for High Blood Pressure: Lycopene in cooked tomatoes is supposed to be very good for high blood pressure. Apparently you get the most benefit from cooked tomatoes and apparently that's why a Mediterranean diet is supposed to be so good for you. I wondered whether you can buy it in tablet form and found that these tablets are available from health food stores.
Magnesium
I have a cardia arrhythmia which resulted in a stroke. My blood pressure was also on the high side (150/160 over 80/90). None of the doctors that I'd seen ever mentioned the importance of magnesium in blood pressure control.
All I knew of magnesium at the time is that it caused loose stools and using it could cause other mineral deficiency as a result. Yet I read that it's vital for hundreds of things in the body, including normal heart rhythm and blood pressure.
I started using the cheapest form of magnesium supplement (oxide), in tablet form, 500 milligram. Swallowing it with water caused as expected, loose stools. I found that if I crushed the tablet with my teeth, let it mix with my saliva, rubbed it against the roof of my mouth to break it down further without swallowing it until it was a slurry, the magnesium would be absorbed directly into the bloodstream bypassing the intestinal tract.
I've been able to take (3), 500mg tablets one hour apart without diarrhea. After 1 week of taking one tablet per day in this fashion, my blood pressure dropped to the 120's over 80. My heart beat became more regular, I reduced my digoxin With doctors' OK from 250mcg to 125mcg because it was making me too tired.
Magnesium relaxes the blood vessels, lowering BP and also reduces muscle spasms and cramps. It's referred to by nutritionists as "The Master Mineral". Another way of getting magnesium is through the skin by adding Epsom salt to bathwater. It's also an electrolyte, and may be why Lea's (below post) is coming down. Our soils are depleted of minerals due to over farming. We are all deficient in many things as a result.
Magnesium
I was surprised that you made no mention as to how important Mg+ is in dealing with high blood pressure.
There is much research and information out there as to this health issue of blood pressure. I read one book from 2004 titled, "The Magnesium Solution", by Jay S. Cohen, MD and then discovered just how many books have been published with information on how well magnesium etc. supplements have saved the lives of many. I purchased this small book and was amazed at how informative it was. You may want to delve into the huge amount of literature there is out there concerning the advantages of Mg+ along with K+, Ca+ et al since your site supports nutritionally educating the public.
There is also a site titled, 'MedicationSense.com mentioned in said book as well.
Kind regards. Elaine
EC: Dr. Cohen has passed, according to his foundation site mentioned above, MedicationSense.com. "It is with very great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Jay S. Cohen. He was compassionately devoted to his patients and an ardent researcher and author, lately focusing on erythromelalgia and medication side effects. His recent book regarding flouroquinolone side effects is being heralded by the many patients who are suffering with serious, long-term health problems after taking drugs such as Cipro and Levaquin." https://www.medicationsense.com
Magnesium
I've been fighting pre-hypertensive blood pressure for 2 years. I refuse to go on the "legal" drugs and have been trying Chinese medicine and herbs for the last two years.
Nothing made sense of me having 140-135/90-85 blood pressure. I eat organic, I don't eat red meat, I avoid GMO and chemical foods I go to the gym and run 5 days a week.
By chance I came across Dr Carolyn Dean on youtube and after listening to her video, I bought elemental magnesium as well as magnesium oil.
I started taking about 600mg a day including using the spray I would say 400 pill 200 spray and within two weeks my Blood pressure went down to 120/80 for the first time in a few years.
I realized I had never been eating healthy, because eating healthy doesn't mean eating greens, juicing and avoiding red meats, eating healthy means eating greens & juicing food sources that are mineral'y rich and not depleted as well as avoiding red meats.
Magnesium
I have recently found myself with high blood pressure. In experimenting twice now, magnesium has done a bang up job in lowering my blood pressure.
One hour ago, it was 158/96. I immediately drank water with one heaping tsp of Calm magnesium powder. Now, it's 135/83. That's a huge decrease!
I have order Magnesium Glycinate, because if I keep using Calm (which is Magnesium Citrate), it will soften my stools too much.
(Tx)
08/16/2018
I have been w/this hypertension-grotesque readings, still alive, no cardiac problems, no banging headaches etc and on and tried various prescriptions with no effect and the side effects are horrendous for me-severe fatigue and simply NOT FEELING right-so since these prescriptions are not doing a good job and the ACV/garlic didn't do diddly squat the same.
I remembered good old mag sulfate proven to lower BP in preeclamptic--now THEY state the use is for prevention of seizures - bull....it was given to get that BP down-so am now fasting throughout the day. I am drinking almost a gallon of distilled water w/a tiny pinch of sea salt every other glass and will now add a tiny pinch of good old mag sulfate/epsom salt and increase very very gradually to maybe less than 1/8 tsp daily and see what happens in a week or so-I break the fast late evening w/a cup of authentic oat meal....this is only MY IDEA and cannot recommend to anyone out here the same.
Signing myself -sick and tired OF being sick and tired and this BP problem came outta the blue 5 years ago.
Magnesium
To everyone: My BP tonite was 158/96. I immediately drank water with one heaping tsp of Calm magnesium powder. Now, it's 135/83. That's a huge decrease!
I've ordered Magnesium Glycinate, because Calm is Citrate which will soften the stools too much. The Glycinate supposedly doesn't.
Magnesium
I've recently been battling high blood pressure, and did all of the things that are recommended (lower salt, increased potassium) to balance my electrolytes.
Although my blood pressure improved, it still bounced around inconsistently. I finally figured out what was missing: increased magnesium.
The RDA for magnesium is 400mg/day and my diet wasn't providing me with anything even close to that number. As a result, my blood pressure has now stabilized at 120/80 (and below). Hope this helps someone!
