Tiberius (Oklahoma) on 11/17/2025
I always heard, put your feet flat on the ground, sit up straight, and don't move or talk, and sit for about 5 minutes before taking a reading. But I always missed some vital information... The center of the blood pressure cuff should be at heart level and your palm should be facing up. If you have an arm cuff and just leave your arm resting at your side, the cuff is going to be too low and give you a falsely high reading. So, make sure you have your arm elevated (resting on a pillow or table or somethingâÂÂdon't try to hold your arm up; it needs to be resting) to where the cuff is at heart level, your palm is up (this allows muscles to relax in your arm, giving you a more accurate and lower reading). Try not to go too high when elevating your arm as it will make the reading falsely low. You want it at heart level; this is vitally important for consistently accurate readings.
You should sit for at least 5 minutes, not talking, and just relax before taking a reading. You should take about 3 readings and wait 5 or 10 minutes between each reading to get an idea of the average.
Make sure the cuff isn't against anything (like resting directly against your body) or laying on anything; it will give you a falsely high reading.
Don't wear tight pants or tight clothes; they will cause you to have a higher reading.
Don't let your feet hang/dangle, and don't sit in a chair where the seat bottom is cutting into the back of your legs, like an office chair with a seat that leans backâÂÂit will cause a higher reading.
Don't take a reading while you need to use the bathroom; holding it causes you to have a falsely high reading.
Don't take a reading if you are stressed or angered unless you want to see how high it gets in those scenarios.
Readings when you are sleep deprived will be significantly higher.
Taking a reading shortly after a warm or hot shower/bath can cause a false reading (higher or lower depending on how warm/hot it is).
Don't take a reading after you've been doing any strenuous physical activity like exercise; best to wait a couple of hours unless you're just curious how physical activity affects your BP reading.
It's probably worth noting that a doctor's office will almost never take a reading properly, and you will almost certainly have a higher reading. They march you back to the room, take your weight, sit you down and slap a blood pressure cuff on you immediately, usually don't elevate your arm so the cuff is heart level, don't let you relax for an accurate baseline, etc. So you probably don't want to learn based on that or take the readings you get in a doctor's office too seriously, especially if they don't even seem concerned.
The absolute best time to take a reading to learn your baseline is early morning after you've woken up and haven't had anything to eat or drink.
Tina (Amsterdam) on 08/07/2025
Art (California) on 07/02/2025
I suggested he try Beet Root Powder (BRP) as it had worked for me and other friends. I told him that it hadn't worked as well for me as Carditone, but other friends had reported it working almost as well.
He went ahead and ordered this brand from Amazon :
I had explained to him that he would have to experiment with the dose to find the best dose for him. He told me he settled on 5 capsules (3 grams) all at one time per day and that this dose was keeping his blood pressure just below 120/80 whereas 4 capsules (2.4 grams) had kept his blood pressure just above 120/80.
My friend is now a happy camper again and he said the BRP wasn't causing him any side effects that he noticed other than it gave his urine a different odor. I also mentioned to him that he could buy BRP in bulk powder form and perhaps add it to yogurt or similar, but he would have to use a digital mg scale to measure out his dose accurately or find a scoop that would measure his 3 gram dose accurately each time. I explained to him that BRP may also offer other health benefits as discussed here :
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/beet-root-powder
Here is a relevant quote from the article :
Lowers blood pressure
Research suggests that dietary nitrate from beetroot may play a role in lowering blood pressure. However, factors such as age and sex can influence the efficacy of beetroot to lower blood pressure.
Improves gut health
A 2020 review e suggests beets contain bioactive compounds that may improve gastrointestinal health, modulate gut microbiota, and stimulate the metabolism and growth of probiotics.
Reduces oxidative and nitrative stress
Betalain, a plant nutrient found in beetroot powder, helps reduce oxidative and nitrative stress. Oxidative and nitrative stress comes from the presence of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species in the body. These chemicals can damage cells and DNA.
Inflammation often accompanies oxidative and nitrative stress. When inflammation becomes chronic, people may develop long-term diseases such as obesity, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes.
Researchers say that antioxidants, such as betalain, search for free radicals in the body that can cause damage and counter their effects. They also help cells defend themselves from stressors.
Belatains in beetroot powder may also protect liver and kidney function.
Improves athletic performance
Pam (Springfield, MO USA) on 06/04/2025
My blood pressure has been coming down steadily from systolic in the 180s to 124/78 today. I have done nothing different than take the good brand of Kyolic garlic. I'm 75 and in excellent shape, good weight, active biking, walking, gardening. Kyolic Aged Garlic is a game changer and worked, for me, within a few weeks.
Dena Lewis (New Orleans, Louisiana ) on 03/05/2025
Ellen C. (NC) on 01/21/2025
This definitely has made an immediate difference in my blood pressure readings. Within an hour or two of taking a 500 mg. capsule, my Systolic reading went from 147 to 109. My Diastolic reading went from 72 to 57. My pulse rate went from 98 to 79. That was yesterday. I took another capsule with breakfast this morning. I just took my first reading today around 4 pm. today. It was 112/62/72. I can't believe how quickly and effectively this worked for me!
Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 12/09/2024
I am 57 years old and have never been very athletic.
I go to a Barre class once a week and do some ballet barre videos at home during the week. I try to do some stretching and isometric exercises daily.
Last week my doctor took my blood pressure. I was shocked that it was 104/77. For years it has been 125/85 or so. (When I was young it was always 90/60.) So, my blood pressure was not a concern, but now it is closer to my younger self numbers.
I am assuming that this is from ballet. It does get my heart rate up, though I have walked regularly for years, so I don't think that it the reason my blood pressure is down. My muscles and core however, are in the best shape they have ever been in. (That is not saying much at all, for the record - I have never been one to work out or do strength training.)
I did a bit of research and apparently strength training can help reduce blood pressure.
Ballet has also helped me with balance and posture, as hoped. Eventually I will have another DEXA scan and see if it is helping my osteoporosis.
Even if you are not able to go to a ballet class, if you want to try some barre at home, or even some ballet inspired exercises, you can look them up on YouTube. I like Kathryn Morgan and Broche Ballet a lot. If ballet is not your cup of tea, I would try some other form of strength training if you are not doing that and need to reduce blood pressure.
~Mama to Many~
EllieMo (Sacramento, CA) on 10/08/2024
Aaron (MT) on 10/02/2024
I wasn't getting results from other remedies, so I dumped them all and started drinking a Hibiscus / Hawthorne blend. Before that, I was at 155/98/101, and 4 days later I'm at 134/93/97...
The 155 is deceptive though. I know I was in the 160's, but I don't write those down. I wait 10 minutes or so and take it again.
I'm going to keep drinking it to see what a Month gives me...
Ricky 77333 (USA) on 05/14/2024
Make sure to add electrolytes daily.
DB (Southern California) on 04/11/2024
About a month ago during my yearly check up, my blood pressure was in the 150's and I got the warning that I needed to come back in a month for another blood pressure test and if it was still high it was time to go on the meds. I went home and started exercising more, eating better and went to the local Whole Foods and ordered a juice with red beets every morning. Just this week went back to the doctor 20lbs lighter and the BP down at 121/72.... thank you Earth Clinic!!!
Breathing Technique to Drop High Blood Pressure Tiberius (Oklahoma) on 02/05/2024
While I don't know if this is capable of causing a lasting effect or long-term cure, I know it works for me to drop my BP, at least for a little while. Its something that I do, when I see my BP is a little too high for comfort. I, of course, closely monitor my BP to make sure it's staying in check and don't blindly trust anything.
Deep heavy breathing. Exhale everything from the lungs, then sharply/quickly inhale til lungs are full, quickly exhale til the lungs are empty, Do this a few more times, then on an inhale, hold it. It usually causes me to get lightheaded when I hold it, this is the feeling I'm aiming for. I Hold it for a good little bit. Then do it again. When I do this, I'm trying to completely saturate my blood with oxygen as much as I possibly can. I usually quickly feel very relaxed.
In my experience this is a good quick way to drop my BP a good 15-20 points off the top and at least 5 off the bottom and usually more than enough to get my BP in a safe range. Last time I did it, I was around 155/91 and dropped it to 131/84 before I stopped monitoring it, took me about 10 minutes to get there from the 155/91. May have went lower, I'm not sure.
dlwimages (Chapala, Mexico) on 01/08/2024
RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 11/10/2023
This is a quote is from page 448 of the book titled Back to Eden, copyright 1937 by Jethro Kloss. He was herbalist, author, inventor, teacher, food scientist and lecturer. And I keep finding his book is well-researched and accurate in every little detail.
Fast forward 88 years, and when the blood pressure is between 120 to 129, it is called "prehypertension" and "elevated blood pressure" by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Why?
Winnie (Mission Viejo ) on 09/30/2023
Dena Lewis (New Orleans, Louisiana ) on 09/25/2023
Vera (Beulah, CO) on 09/06/2023
Here is a Harvard Health article that shows potassium works.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/potassium-lowers-blood-pressure
Ricky 77333 (a) on 08/13/2023
Just Beef and butter for a month and you'll love the results.
Linden (Santa Fe, NM) on 07/26/2023
Ivy's Mukta Vati is the stronger product but Divya Mukta Vati, more or less the same herbs, also works for me in larger doses.
Cynthia (Madison, WI) on 07/23/2023
The next morning, I started again with 2 TBS and about 1/4 tsp of baking soda to help neutralize the taste. Later that afternoon, another 2 TBS. That evening I took my blood pressure and it was down to 122/83. This morning, the third day, I measured again, and it's now down to 117/82!
To say I'm grateful would be an understatement. I'm going to continue this treatment every day from here on out.
My diet has been relatively healthy, and I'm thin for my age, but I'm going to work on eating more vegetables and fruit, and exercise more. But the ACV has been the real game changer. Give it a "shot" -- a shot of apple cider vinegar!
