Hello,
It has been some time since I last posted! Since then, I've closed my EBay store, (it was just too much!), and have spent the summer trying to enjoy my kids. We have a part-time job delivering fliers for a local carpet cleaning company
http://earthcarecarpetcleaning.com/ which we really enjoy for several reasons: It is something the kids and I can do together and we earn money at the same time! They are really great folks -- definitely check them out if you need your carpets, furniture or air ducts cleaned!
I became very ill in May/June. I spent about two weeks altogether in the hospital. It was quite an ordeal and it was all because of a medication reaction to Zanaflex (tyzanadine.) It took quite some time for it to get completely out of my system, but since then I've been improving by leaps and bounds! I had been undergoing extensive physical therapy for my numerous injuries over the years, and once off the Zanaflex, my improvement increased exponentially! The only reason I'm back in physical therapy, after having been released, is because we were hit by a deer. It totalled my car and set me back a bit. I'm almost better from that, though.
However, I've had one lingering problem -- don't know if it is from the Zanaflex or just general pain or whatever -- but my blood pressure has remained high. As you may know, I was originally put on a low carb diet because of this. Here's a list of my low carb books
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sharron+Long+carbFor whatever reason, I can't seem to get my carbs low enough for a long enough period of time to get it back down this time around. I went searching for natural remedies because my elder brother recently died because of complications from high blood pressure medication! I don't want to go that route! I don't do very well with "allopathic" medications as a general rule, anyway... so I typed "natural lower high blood pressure" into Google and found some interesting sites. One mentioned the need to avoid licorice as a supplement, which I'd been taking to strengthen my adrenal glands. I cut that out right away! Another site listed 68 natural ways to lower your blood pressure. As I was writing, I was thinking, man! this is going to be a lot of pills and a lot of money!! Co-enzyme Q-10 was on the list and it suggested a higher dosage than what I've been taking, so I noted to increase it from 100mg to 200mg a day.
I kept looking. Then I found
http://www.earthclinic.com/ It is a treasure-trove of home remedies and natural supplements. The site is a collection of anecdotal reports of various people's experiences with different supplements and home remedies. There I found my old-friend apple cider vinegar amongst other things. I had been thinking maybe apple cider vinegar might be helpful for high blood pressure, but recently when I'd taken what I have in the fridge, I'd had unpleasant side effects, like a burning stomach. What I read at
http://www.earthclinic.com/ said that some apple cider vinegars are way too acidic -- apparently, they are supposed to be standardized, but they really aren't. I got my PH test strips and checked it -- sure enough! It was very acidic. The site recommended adding baking soda, so I added 3/4 teaspoon to bring it to about 7.4, which is our bodies natural PH. I added a couple of drops of stevia and drunk it. It really wasn't too bad -- rather like slightly salty apple juice. This was Saturday night. (1 tablespoon ACV + baking soda)
I drank the same preparation yesterday morning and again yesterday afternoon. I had begun my menstrual cycle Sunday morning, and I usually have pretty bad cramps and pain in my lower back. It started like normal, but by afternoon, I had definitely noticed a lot less pain than I usually have. I actually forgot to take my naproxen when it was scheduled! I was amazed when I realized it -- I normally am very aware of when the six hour dosing is approaching even under normal circumstances. I've not missed a dose since we were hit by the deer a few weeks ago! ...and to miss one on my cycle?!?
I continued to read about different remedies and was intrigued by the blackstrap molasses reports related to menstruation. I was also interested in the inhaled hydrogen peroxide protocol. I purchased some "full strength" molasses -- not quite blackstrap, though I understand the difference is in the amount of times it is boiled. I'm thinking about just pouring this into a pot and boiling it once more. I also purchased a small misting bottle and filled it with hydrogen peroxide.
Apparently, there is some concern over some brands of hydrogen peroxide having contaminents like heavy metals and stabilizers. It shouldn't have any color (stabilizers) when put into clean water and shouldn't fizz (metals). I did both tests and mine came up fine. Cool, too -- it is the 2/$1.00 kind at Dollar Tree!
I added molasses to the apple cider vinegar and baking soda mix last night. (1 Tablespoon molasses + 1 Tablespoon ACV + 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.) That was NOT a good thing for me! I barely slept at all. Finally, around 3 am I had a piece of lunch meat, some peanuts and I mixed up some lemon juice with the molasses and baking soda. (1 Tablespoon lemon juice + the same as above.) I've used lemon juice to help me sleep for about a year now. I went right to sleep.
I've been able to cut my naproxen intake by at least 1/2, maybe more, and I'm not taking the Baclophen which I usually have to take round-the-clock when I'm on my cycle, and I'm not taking any Tramadol at all! Definitely seeing an improvement in the pain area! I've taken the vinegar, soda and molasses mix three times today, so far. I don't expect I'll usually need it this much, but I needed a "pick-me-up" mid-morning, so I had another dose. This afternoon I added 1/16 teaspoon of turmeric to the mix because it is supposed to help with inflammation of arthritis and menstrual issues. I just took it, and I'm feeling rather invigorated. I don't think I'll be taking it right before bed!
I've been misting my painful places with the hydrogen peroxide, and it seems to help. Most interesting is the dog's response to it! My daughter sprayed him because he'd dug at himself and caused a sore. She noticed fleas jumping out, so she got a flea comb and sprayed him down thoroughly. Fleas gone! His back side was all red looking earlier, and now it is much less red in appearance.
Since the purpose of all this is my blood pressure being high, I'll report on that as well -- because I do have something to report! I'm really rather amazed because the site said it would take two weeks to see improvement, but I do respond very well to natural remedies. I've been running very high, and was unable to measure it before Sunday because of the poison oak on my arm. This means I don't really have an "official" start reading. I did take it Sunday, though, and it seems pretty typical of what my blood pressure has been. I took it in the morning and afternoon, (forgot in the evening), and had readings of 153/93 and 151/91. Today, I've taken it twice so far and have readings of 155/81 and 152/85. The second was after my son told me he'd stabbed himself with a knife! This is an improvement of 12 points in one day! It is usually lower in the evening, so I'm curious what it will be...
I plan to add hydrogen peroxide inhalation and "oil pulling" most likely, but I want to do this for a while and see how I do.
Blessings,
Sharron
