𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀:

❤️ High Blood pressure is more common in males than females

❤️ High Blood pressure is most common in non-Hispanic black adults

❤️ In 2019, over ½ a million deaths had hypertension as a primary or contributing cause

❤️ 1 In 4 adults with high Blood pressure have their condition under control

❤️ In many instances, hypertension is asymptomatic

❤️ Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing high Blood pressure

❤️ If you are diabetic, you are twice as likely to have high Blood pressure

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻s𝗶𝗼𝗻:

❤️ In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is no ancient “disease” called hypertension

❤️ Two of the most common symptoms of hypertension are headaches and dizziness

❤️ Some contributing factors to high Blood pressure:

➳Stress: worry, anger, repressed emotions, resentment, etc

➳Old age: Kidney Jing declines w/age = can lead to Liver patterns & Phlegm

➳Diet choices: excessive sweets, processed foods, dairy, cold & raw foods, alcohol = damages the Spleen, leads to Heat, leads to Phlegm

➳Phlegm

➳Overwork: damages the Kidneys and Liver over time

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗖𝗠, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:

❤️ Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency

❤️ Liver Yang Rising

❤️ Liver Fire

❤️ Phlegm

❤️ Spleen deficiency

❤️ Blood stagnation

❤️ Some other patterns may include Liver Qi stagnation w/Blood rebelling upward, Wind, Kidney Yang deficiency, etc.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 -𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻(𝘀)

❤️ Hawthorn - circulatory enhancing herb. It may help improve Blood vessels. Mildly lowers BP, inhibits plaque buildup on arterial walls. angina, palpitations, oppression in the chest.

❤️ Motherwort - used in formulas for hypertension with anxiety/stress, palpitations. oppression in the chest.

❤️ Maca - used in cases of renal hypertension

❤️ Khella seeds - vasodilator

❤️ Yarrow - peripheral vasodilator, also used for nosebleeds

❤️ Garlic - lowers BP, vascular herb, plaque formation

❤️ Passionflower - vasodilating effects, anxiety/stress-induced hypertension

❤️ California poppy - for hypertension-associated adrenal exhaustion due to stress/anxiety

❤️ Tian Ma - used in TCM for headaches, dizziness

❤️ Linden - stress-related hypertension

❤️ Milky oats - for stress-induced hypertension

❤️ Bugleweed - for stress-induced hypertension. Relieves oppression in the chest.

❤️ several TCM formulas are beneficial. Choosing one depends on what patterns of disharmony are present.

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘁 & 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀: (check with your Dr. if you are unsure)

❤️ If overweight, reduce and maintain a healthy weight

❤️ Eat a healthy diet: reduce salt, sugar, saturated fat, & processed foods

❤️ Eat a healthy diet: include leafy greens & veggies, legumes, lentils, & whole grains

❤️ Reduce/omit coffee and alcohol

❤️ Quit smoking

❤️ Include omega III fatty acids (wild-caught salmon, sardines, halibut, etc.)

❤️ 30-minutes of aerobic exercise per day

❤️ Meditate, yoga, qi gong, tai chi, pranayama

❤️ Consider supplementing CoQ10

❤️ Make certain you are getting the RDA vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, & calcium

❤️ Remember that not all herbs are suitable for everyone. Please check with your Dr. or a qualified herbalist before starting a new herb.

Things to Know About Bitters

Dates as far back as ancient Egypt

In nature animals intuitively eat bitter plants when needed

Many bitter herbs are classified as a tonic

Bitters can influence all stages of digestion (Cephalic, gastric, intestinal)

Stimulates HCL production and increases digestive enzymes = helps break down foods/nutrients

Stimulates Insulin and glucagon secretions = helps normalize Blood sugar levels

Generally:

Combine cool bitter herbs & warm bitter herbs (or spicy herbs) to create a digestive bitters formula that may be taken daily

If it doesn’t taste bitter it isn’t going to work!

Used for:

Indigestion, flatulence, bloating, nausea, borborygmi, intestinal cramps

Low HCL (contributes to Gerd, IBS, Sibo, rosacea)

Constipation, diarrhea, slow transit time (how long it takes for food to be eliminated: appropriate = 18-24 hours)

Loss of appetite, malnutrition, malabsorption including poor fat and protein digestion, food allergies

Weakness due to viral or bacterial infections

Excessive sweet cravings (which may actually mask a craving for bitter)

Depression, mood disorders

Digestive weakening due to aging, low vital energy

Anemia

Avoid = Children under 5, acute GI inflammation/irritation, excessive stomach acid

Use w/caution = advisement of Dr and/or trained herbalist = Pregnancy

Cool bitter herbs for digestion

Dandelion root

Chicory

Artichoke

Chamomile

Horehound

Blessed thistle

Gentian

Hops

Bitter orange peel

White poplar bark

Warm bitter herbs for digestion

Turmeric

Angelica root (archangelica)

Fenugreek

Aged tangerine peel

Mugwort

Warming herbs for digestion

Cardamom

Ginger

Clove

Anise seed

Fennel seed

Prickly ash

Bayberry bark

Yarrow = neutral

Recipies

Rosemary Gladstar

2 parts fennel

1 part artichoke leaf

1 part dandelion root

1 part (organically cultivated) gentian

½ part ginger

Michael and Lesley Tierra

The Tierra’s suggest making tea, drinking ¼ cup prior to meals. Here are directions on how to make a decoction from Mountain Rose Herbs:

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-infusions-and-decoctions

2 parts white poplar bark

2 parts (organically cultivated) gentian root

1 part bayberry bark

1 part ginger

½ part clove buds

David Winston

1 part dandelion root

1 part orange peel

1 part angelica archangelica

1 part artichoke

Rosemary’s folk method can be used for all the recipes

Combine the herbs and make a tincture. Here we are using 80-100 proof alcohol as the extractant. Use fresh or dried herbs

Place finely chopped herbs in a clean dry jar.
Pour enough of the menstruum to cover the herbs, and continue pouring until the liquid rises 2 or 3 inches above the herbs. The herbs need to be completely submerged. Cover with a tight-fitting lid use wax paper to avoid alcohol coming in contact with a metal lid.
Place the jar in a warm location and let herbs and liquid soak (macerate) for 4-6 weeks.
Shake the bottle daily during the maceration period.
Strain the herbs from the menstruum with a fine steel mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth reserving the liquid. Store liquid in a glass bottle(s) in a dark location.

I suggest keeping a 2 oz tincture bottle full of your bitters in the kitchen. Take 10-15 minutes before a meal. David Winston suggests 15-30 drops in a small amount of juice or water, swish around your mouth for a bit and swallow.