Wellness

[emmysmom]

---

@bebe777 wrote:

---

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:

---

@bebe777 wrote:

---

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:

DH and I take Vitacost Pine Bark Extract.  I just read that if it's taken with Vitamin C, it could raise blood pressure. so people with hypertension should be aware of that.  I am being treated for high blood pressure so it looks like I might need to either switch the timing of when I take the Pine Bark or quit it altogther.

---

@JeanLouiseFinch , have you tried drinking hibiscus tea? 

Dr. Oz, who is a cardiologist, has recommended drinking hibiscus tea on a number of his shows. On several occasions, he's also had very prominent cardiologists on his show who also recommended it. They each said, that according to studies, drinking hibiscus tea was just as effective as taking blood pressure medication (but it didn't have any of the Rx side effects). There's no contraindication against using both at the same time either and they work in different ways. 

To a person, every single one of these doctors also said do NOT go off your blood pressure medication just because you have started drinking hibiscus tea: This is a conversation to have between you and your doctor.

Over time, hibiscus tea can increase the amount of nitric oxide in the body which allows for increased blood vessel dilation. I know that there are other foods which do this (e.g. watermelon and horseradish), but hibiscus tea seems to be particularly effective.

A major issue with high blood pressure is the tightening of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. So the increased dilation of blood vessels be of real value. 

Even though my blood pressure is in the normal range, after listening to these esteemed doctors, I added hibiscus tea to my daily routine because you don't have to have high blood pressure to have a heart attack. So I'm just hedging my bets.

-- bebe  

---

Thanks bebe!  I wouldn't mind a cup of hibiscus tea during the day.  Is that what you take, a cup a day?  Or do have more than that?  Did the doctors make a recommendation?  My medication is a simple water pill.  No, I won't go off it, but adding the tea certainly wouldn't hurt.

---

@JeanLouiseFinch, none of the cardiologists or Dr. Oz gave any recommendations.

Since there''s no down side to more, I tend to make up a half gallon and drink it cold (though not in one day *s*). I add stevia because I like a sweeter taste and I add white tea to get the ECGC (epigallonchatechingallate) white/green tea benefits. White tea doesn't really have any taste. It basically takes on the taste of whatever it's mixed with. 

I start out with one cup of hot hisiscus tea for breakfast and then just drink it along with several other teas during the day. 

-- bebe

---

Bebe..I too an an avid researcher..we have to take care of ourselves and natural remedies have always worked for me. I have made note of all your suggestions..will try and find the hibiscus tea..also use stevia!!!!!! I have been using alpha lipoic acid for several years and some of the other supplements you mentioned! Thanks so much for your input!!!

[SandGirl]

---

@Desertdi wrote:

I quit eating meat with all its hormones at "that time".     Never even had a hot flash.........

---

Did you stop eating ALL meat or just RED meats?

[alwaysphil1]

I am an atrial fib patient and had it corrected 8 years ago but I sometimes go out of rhythm. As an  ex collegiate an somewhat serious athlete, I also have spinal stenosis which is tough to deal with. I have also been in health care for 37 years. I have been reading about pyncnogenol for some time and decided to try it. I get an EKG every 90 days so I wasn't concerned. Any ill effects on QT prolongation (a serious concern of many supplements not closely studied on the cardiac effects) would be noticed. This has been going on for 8 years.

Let me tell you, I have taken it for 6 weeks, and my out of rhythm episodes have been reduced by almost 80% (cardiac health) and I am now going on about 5-6 hours of sleep, partly some back pain induced and work induced (too much). But before, I was fighting to get out of bed. Now, it's a bit of a struggle but there is a difference and before it was after 8-9 hours of sleep. On the arrhythmias, they would normally last 1 and half to two days. The one i had lasted 10 hours and that was about a week after starting. Also, my blood pressure has not been affected and I measure it regularly.

I have been impressed to say the least and had discussion with my cardiology team just to be on the safe side. If this continues over the next 3 months, I am pretty sure no one really knows about this benefit and you know what, we don't know enough to say how it is working. Cariac health is too broad. I ordered a 90 day supply. I suspect I will be reordering.

This is a late reply to your post, but I thought I would throw it out there. 

[MaggieMack]

@alwaysphil1, good for you! I've been using it for hot flashes for years and was pleased to learn about the antioxidant properties recently, too. I had a stretch where my heart would skip a beat, had a bunch of tests run only to be diagnosed with a very healthy heart. Doc said he could prescribe beta blockers to stop the irregularities, I said No Thanks. Spent a bunch of time researching "preatrial contractions" on the Internet. Read some studies that Taurine (an amino acid that is naturally in our muscles) added to the diet could eliminate the PACs. I tried it, it worked. Like magic. Just wondering if this antioxidant would possibly be beneficial for you, too, maybe. Wouldn't hurt to research it.

[Mom2Dogs]

I find this interesting...many years ago my husband took pycnogenol....but the price got pretty high so he quit taking, I forget why he originall took it.

He was diagnosed with A-Fib this summer. it was out of the blue. He went in for an outpatient procedure and was diagnosed at that time.    He recently had routine blood work done and his cholesterol has jumped about 30 points...it was usually low, we think the high number is due to his a-fib drugs because his diet has not changed...We might have to revisit the pycnogenol again....

also my husband's heart doctor says he will be on a-fib meds for life, does that sound right?

[Mom2Dogs]

@alwaysphil1...are you   still on A Fib medicaiton....my husbands doctor says he will be on this for life!  We know several people that no longer take medication for their condition.