Managing High Blood Pressure – Clinical Update
by Dr. Greg Fors, DC – Board Certified Neurologist DIBCN Posted On: 09/29/2009
by Dr. Greg Fors, DC – Board Certified Neurologist DIBCN Posted On: 09/29/2009
Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine HCl)…………………………………………………………………..160 mg
Magnesium (from magnesium citrate) ………………………………………………… 400 mg
Arjuna Bark Extract (Terminalia Arjuna; standardized 10:1 extract) ……………..600 mg
Hawthorn Berry Extract (standardized to a minimum 2% vitexin and 20% procyanidins) …………………..500 mg
Celery Seed Extract (Apium Graveolens; standardized to 42.5% 3-n-Butylphthalide) …………………….300 mg
If this is not enough, 3nB is also shown to enhance detoxification and have anticancer potential in animal studies.(8) Furthermore, 3nB is effective in the management of the chronic inflammation involved in arthritis and fibromyalgia.(9) 3nB is also shown to be extremely helpful for gout by lowering the production of uric acid through inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase.(10)
Of course any botanical extracts of this quality always add costs to a nutraceutical formula, but the increased benefits far out-pace any minor increase in costs. To be truly effective it is important that individuals get adequate quantities of the 3nB from celery seed extract. A recommended daily dosage of 128 mg of actual 3-n-Butylphthalide can be obtained in 4 tablets per day of Cardio-Ease (300 mg of celery seed extract at 42.5%).
Arjuna Bark, another vital ingredient in Cardio-Ease, is an Ayurvedic medicine that has been used to treat cardiovascular disorders for more than three centuries. In more recent studies, Arjuna Bark has been shown to improve vascular function even in smokers.(11) In individuals with stable angina, 500 mg daily of Arjuna Bark Extract cut angina episodes in half and significantly decreased systolic blood pressure.(12)
Also, Arjuna Bark Extract contains phytonutrients that protect against DNA damage from toxins and may help maintain healthy cholesterol. Cardio-Ease now provides the highest quality standardized 10:1 extract of Arjuna Bark to improve results. Our new 10:1 extract (600mg) is almost 4 times stronger than the 1600mg powder used in the original formula.
As with most all herbs, the botanicals contained within Cardio-Ease have not been evaluated for safety in pregnancy. It is generally recommended that it not be used during pregnancy or lactation. Another precaution would be for individuals taking the drug Coumadin (warfarin) to be closely monitored by their physician when starting to use celery extract or any other natural anti-inflammatory, for these may naturally reduce clotting time. Because high-quality botanical extracts can be so highly effective, they may interact with vasodilating medications and may potentiate or inhibit the actions of drugs used for heart failure, hypertension, angina and arrhythmias; therefore caution is advised in these individuals.
Comprehensive Approach to Essential Hypertension: It is always vital to improve diet (see www.dashforhealth.com) and effectively treat other primary causes of Hypertension; see the protocol for essential hypertension in the Protocols section of this site for details. Metabolic Syndrome is one of the leading causes of essential Hypertension and abnormal blood lipid levels, which are why they are also primary indicators of this disorder. In individuals with essential hypertension it is vital to assess them for Insulin Resistance, and if present, consider adding Glucose-IR to your regime.
Numerous studies have now demonstrated a connection between essential hypertension and systemic chronic inflammation. All individuals with essential hypertension should be assessed for this metabolic disorder; lab work such as hsCRP and fibrinogen can be very helpful. If chronic inflammation is present consider adding Inflam-Rx to their regime. To this very effective protocol always remember the importance of utilizing quality Omega-3 Fatty Acids, as found in BIOSPEC’s Super Omega-3.