Emergency Preparedness – High Blood Pressure

9:33 PM Posted by jo

This is my third post in my Emergency Preparedness series where I address an important issue as lack of access to medicine and medical care in case of emergencies.

What if access to medication and medical care is denied?

In my first post, Emergency Preparedness, I was wondering how people on prescribed medications would handle an emergency situation if access to medication and medical care is denied. I won't bore you and repeat all I previously wrote so I encourage you to go back to my previous posts and read them. ( Some things on this post are a repeat but I felt some things needed to be repeated) My other posts cover a nxiety & depression, pain , diabetes and allergy.

I urge you to take charge of your own health so you're better prepared for any situation where you might not be able to fill your prescription or use any medical facilities.

Natural solutions

Below are some natural solutions to the most prescribed drugs in America today.

Why essential oils?

You can stockpile essential oils, and they have no expiration date if they are stored correctly. Herbs also lose their potency over time.
They are small enough so they can be put in a pocket if needed.
They are more potent so less amount is needed for healing. You have to drink 26 cups of peppermint tea in order to get the same healing effect as one drop of therapeutic peppermint essential oil.

Treat the body holistically
It is important to remember to take a holistic approach to healing and not only rely on natural remedies. Dietary changes, living a toxin free life, exercise, sufficient rest and sleep, and incorporating other healing therapies into your life should also be considered.

Okay, here we go:

#2 High Blood Pressure medications are some of the most prescribed drugs in our country

According to CDC, it is estimated that 68 millions of Americans high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk for stroke and heart disease, the leading causes of death in America. Instead of treating high blood pressure with dietary and lifestyle changes most Americans choose to take medication for their high blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure according to Experts

Avoid all alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.
According to Battaglia, use garlic, onions and ginger in your cooking. He says garlic has been shown to decrease the systolic pressure by 20-30 mm Hg, and the diastolic by 10-20 mm Hg.
According to Dr.Mercola, cut back on the fructose. "Fructose is a major promoter of hypertension - far more so than salt the connecting link between fructose consumption and hypertension lies in the uric acid produced. Uric acid is a byproduct of fructose metabolism, and increased uric acid levels drive up your blood pressure" Mercola
Cutting out fructose and grains from your diet effectively eliminates one of the underlying causes of a number of health problems, including hypertension. (Mercola)
Make sure that the carbohydrates come primarily from vegetables. (Mercola)
Normalize your omega 3-6 ratio. Most are getting way too much of the omega 6 in their diet but not enough omega 3. (Mercola)
Start an exercise regimen.

Time for the oils:

According to Battaglia, essential oils will alleviate hypertension by their:

Hypotensive effect
Sedating and calming effect
Detoxifying effect

Battaglia thinks the most important oils for lowering blood pressure are lavender, ylang ylang and sweet marjoram.

Battaglia also recommends to use a selection of sedative, uplifting and antidepressant oils such as frankincense, Roman chamomile, bergamot, and neroli.

Remember

Never quit any prescribed medication on your own since it may be dangerous. Some medications needs to be weaned of slowly. Consult with your doctor first.

Thanks for reading and come back for my 4th part in this series to find out the solutions to the other medications on the list!

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:

Connie and Alan Higley, (Twelfth Edition, revised 2010). Reference Guide for Essential Oils. Abundant Health
Gary Young, ND (2006). Essential Oils, Integrative Medical Guide. Essential Science Publishing

Salvatore Battaglia (1995). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd

Julie Behling (2011). Medical Preparedness for Adults E-book

The Essential Oils Desk Reference. (Fifth edition 2011). Life Science Publishing

Photo credit

This post is linked to:
Simple Lives Thursday