Today’s NPR morning edition, “To Lower Blood Pressure, Open Up and Say ‘Om'”, discussed research demonstrating that a daily meditation practiceincreases nitric oxide levels, which opens up blood vessels, and decreases blood pressure. A physician interviewed on the show, Dr. Zusman, talked about how he was able to reduce his patients blood pressure prescription medications. Taking it a step further, it would be helpful to interview licensed Naturopathic Physicianswho recommend meditation together with nutrients and herbs proven to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Some of the natural medicines we use in practice include:
Hawthorne Berry Extract
Magnesium
N-Acetyl-Cysteine
Taurine
Vanadium
Vitamin B6
Potassium
Pomegranate Extract
These medicines do not have the side effects that are common with prescription drugs, and the results I see in practice are excellent. They work on various mechanisms that affect blood pressure including acting as natural ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, beta-blockers, endothelial protectors, renin regulators and antioxidants. It typically takes about 30 days of consistent use to see significant results.
So before reaching for the prescription pad, why not first try a more natural, and less expensive, approach to helping our body to heal.
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick 
Dr. Gina's Blog 