Homeopathy

Hypertension - 3

Tolerance of high blood pressure commonly varies from person to person. I.e. some would tolerate even very high BP like 220/120 mm of Hg, but some others would suffer even with its rise of 150/100 mm of Hg with assorted sets of symptoms to becoming  bedridden. Normally now, for the age group 20-40, BP up to 130/90 mm of Hg is considered/accepted as the normal range and for the 40-60 age group, 140/90 mm of Hg is considered/accepted as the normal range and for the 60+ age group, 150/90 mm of Hg is considered/accepted as normal range. But, to be on the safer side, it is better to maintain blood pressure level always below 130/90. Diastolic pressure needs to be cared for more than the systolic pressure as it indicates pressure exerted on the heart (strain of the heart). It should not exceed 100mg of Hg.

Complications - Every complaint when not treated properly often frustrates one with complications. The complications of an ailment usually occur depending on the site of action and period of suffering. High pressure is capable of damaging all parts of the body except the hair, nails and teeth. Pressure can burst blood vessels to induce bleeding i.e., small petechial (very minute red spot) haemorrhages to profuse bleeding in any part of the body. It can also damage the parts by pressure itself or with induction of high perfusion to cause the tissue to swell and get disfigured. It can cause angina, ischaemic heart diseases, heart failure, renal failure, Hydronephrosis, intra-cranial bleeding, stroke, retinal hemorrhage, blindness, Epistaxis, tinnitus, etc. 

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Prevention and management – In the initial stages, the patient themselves can keep hypertension under control even without any medication, i.e. by changing lifestyle, controlling emotions, nutrition, exercise, dietary changes, losing weight, etc. Traditionally, garlic, onion, olive oil, etc., are used and said to have a good effect on hypertension and the heart. The other common essentials for controlling hypertension are:

Do’s

• Change lifestyle to cope up with the condition

• Monitor blood pressure regularly to maintain it in the normal range

• Exercise regularly at least for half-an-hour (preferably walking than jogging)

• Monitor your weight regularly and try to reduce weight at your best

• Sleep at least for 8 hours per day

• Meditation to make the mind calm and relax the body

• Take plenty of vegetables, fruits, juices, etc., to energise your blood and body

AVOID

• Stress and strain

• Anger and worries

• Fatty, fried and salty diet, snacks

• Non-vegetarian food, especially mutton. Chicken and fish can be taken within limits

• Smoking, drinking/coffee/tea

• Hot sun and extreme cold weather

• Vigorous exercises which causes profuse sweating

• Unnecessary drugs

• Being overweight

• Constipation and violent cough

Treatment options – As hypertension comes often with complications, it is better to start treatment as early as possible to halt every facet of complaint and complications. The sufferer can opt for any system of medicines to control hypertension. The only thing is, it should be maintained in the normal range without much variations or oscillations and treated without any side-effects or with negligible side-effects. Each system will have its own limitations and advantages. One can choose advantageous remedy in adequate quantity to bring forth good control over high BP with the help of experts.

On getting diagnosed as hypertension, one would hesitate to start or opt for medications and/or go in search of experts to consult for a way to get cured. Also, people often would like to try an alternative system of medicines to get cured. In fact, many a time, hypertension needs medication for life time (in all systems of medicines) and only in a few cases, for people who take care by changing their lifestyle, emotions, stress, weight, habits, sleep, food, can it be maintained in the normal ranges without any medication or with short-term medication. They too may need medicines in future or in the near future even while following all precautions/preventive measures in a strict manner. It is always better to opt for treatment with a nearby family physician since one needs a check-up every three months. 

One should also be aware of the adverse effects of the medicines. You should compare the advantage of drugs overruling their side-effects with the effects of hypertension. As most of the drugs act through the blood to act on blood vessels and other sites, side-effects are inevitable and high toxic quantity can damage the liver and kidney. I.e. whatever the medicines we have, liver (purifier) will break them down to get easy filtering out in the kidney (eliminator). As this natural detoxification process works in s continuous process, you need to take medicines daily as maintaining dose to maintain normal pressure levels. So, you must be conscious and cautious in adding medicines for not loading liver and kidney's work.

Some people take medicines regularly and some others intermittently or irregularly. When medicines are taken regularly, there won’t be any problem at all except the drug effects, but when BP medicines are taken irregularly, it causes sensitive unpredictable ups and downs in the blood pressure. This will cause strain on heart, blood vessels to end in irreversible damage. So once medication is opted, it should be taken regularly. Also you should be cautious about the dosage and in bringing down the high BP to normal level, i.e., BP should not be brought to normal level immediately from a very high level all of a sudden since it may cause shock-like symptoms or sometimes may end in fatality.

General treatment – In Allopathy, to keep BP under control, medicines are selected according to the causes. Treatment point of view always differs according the condition i.e., it differs for complicated and uncomplicated hypertension, likewise it differs for diabetic cases, nephrology cases, cardiac cases, etc. 

To

• Dilate the blood vessels to lower the blood pressure – Vasodilators, calcium channel blockers / calcium antagonists are prescribed

• Eliminate water content more frequently to lower the blood volume and thus pressure – Diuretics are used

• Treat / support heart to function in better way without any strain – Nitrate preparations, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers and low dose aspirin are used

• Treat psychological conditions – Anti depressants are used

• Treat sleeplessness – Sedatives are used

• Treat high cholesterol – Statin drugs (Antilipidemics) are used

• Treat renal origin hypertension - angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors / angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) / alpha blockers are used

Treating hypertension according to the cause and using diuretics / calcium antagonists usually give amazing results instantly. However, now people are getting prescribed with multiple drugs to control hypertension on a precautionary ground or as a safety measure with all types of drugs (one for vasodilatation, one for better urine output, one for good sleep, one for calming the mind, one for lowering cholesterol level, etc., + supplements). This approach is not good as they are also prescribed and need to be continued for life time. These dealings will often bring early drug effects and side-effects. The common side-effects of anti-hypertensive drugs are dizziness, sleepiness, discomfort, lack of concentration, headache, tremor, impotence, etc. So, unless otherwise drugs are used within limits, one needs to suffer with artificial complex drug disease also in addition to hypertension effects.

Homeopathic approach - One of the commonest reasons people seek Homeopathic care is for the cure provided by refined medicines, i.e. permanent relief without any side-effects. In hypertension cases (essential hypertension), when Homeopathic treatment is provided constitutionally in the initial stages, there are chances for cure or at least hypertension can be postponed for 3-5 years. But in all other cases, in Homeopathy also, one needs to depend on medicines to keep high blood pressure under control. Also it is helpless while one opts for high blood pressure treatment after the prolonged use of massive doses of allopathic medicines. Here they can get Homeopathic treatment for complications along with their existing allopathic medicines. No need to fear of interactions or side-effects. 

One major advantage of Homeopathy is it has no side-effects. Unlike other systesm of medicines, it doesn't act through the blood after digestion of the drug materials, i.e., it acts simply through nerve endings in the tongue. It reaches the brain from there and works from that higher level. As Homeopathic drugs take the route of nerves one can skip contamination of blood and side-effects of drugs in various organs. Every disease needs care in the initial days itself to root out the complaints or otherwise it can grow roots. Appropriate Homoeopathy medicines, when administered with the guidance of an expert, can ease the condition and assist in preventing further complications.

Homeopathic treatment can provide a natural way to reduce one’s blood pressure by rooting out the cause, treating anxiety, tension and restlessness. The sufferer should also overcome stress and strain by quitting impulsive habit, calming their mind and relaxing the body. Homeopathy can cooperate and help them cope with the situation. Every patient has their own pattern of falling ill and will experience different sets of symptoms even for the same illness as per the diagnosis. Hypertension is in no way an exception.

By emphasising on individualisation, Homeopathic treatment will be provided on a constitutional basis (analysing the patient and his symptoms as a whole). Homeopathy treats the patient (their symptoms) in all ways, always. For selecting the right drug it gives importance to the character of onset of symptoms, its aggravating or precipitating factors, and characteristic symptoms of patient, exciting cause, thirst, sweat, shivering, appetite, sleep, stool habit, mental restlessness, relieving factors, associated symptoms, etc. Comfort feeling can be felt only by the patient and cannot be examined or diagnosed by doctor or lab findings. This well-being sensation and comfort feeling will be provided commonly as the first improvement with Homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic medicines commonly used in cases of hypertension are Acid flour, Aconite, Allium sativa, Apis mel, Ars alb, Aurum met, Aurum mur, Belladonna, Bartya mur, Bryonia, Cactus, Calc carb, Ceanothus, China, Conium, Crataegus, Ferrum met, Gelsemium, Glonoine, Ignatia, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Nat mur, Passiflora, Phosphorus, Plumbum met, Pulsatilla, Rauwolfia, Strophanthus, Veratrum viride, Viscum Album etc. These medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a Qualified Homoeopath.

Hypertension:  Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

(Disclaimer: The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for any health problem or medical condition.)

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Published on Dec 25^th, 2006