FEBRUARY 14, 2018: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

"A heart is not judged by how much you love, but how much you are loved by others."
–Tin Man, The Wizard of Oz 

The heart is an incredible organ which continually pumps oxygen rich blood and nutrients to the cells. Arteries that are blocked with plaque cause blood pressure to go up. Coronary artery disease is a cause of high blood pressure.

There are herbs that help to lower blood pressure such as snakeroot, hibiscus, and hawthorn. Other remedies include garlic, green tea, and ginger. 

Garlic has been used for centuries as a treasured medicinal plant. It dilates blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood through the arteries. Garlic can also bind to heavy metals such as lead and cadmium and eliminate them from the body.

There have even been discussions by herbalist Sebastian Kneipp about a Bavarian water being used to lower blood pressure. He advocates a water enema.

In the Asian world, ear massage has been used to lower blood pressure. The ear is a microcosm for the entire body. Ear massage is thought to balance the body internally enacting on the energy in the large and small intestines.  

I utilize magnesium, taurine carnitine, and citrulline to lower blood pressure. Citrulline has been shown to increase nitric oxide – a vasodilator. CitraNOX provides 3,000 mg of citrulline which is effective in lowering blood pressure. You can purchase it from Botanical Bounty by calling (646) 723-1823 or visiting the apothecary on East 57th Street in New York.

Until tomorrow...

FEBRUARY 13, 2018: CANNABIS - CBD OIL

Cannabis, also known as marijuana (sometimes spelled "marihuana") among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug. The major psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly abbreviated as THC). Cannabis contains more than 400 different chemical compounds, including at least 66 other cannabinoids (cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), etc.) which can result in different effects from those of THC alone.

Cannabis is one of the earliest cultivated plants and is very versatile. It has been used as food, fuel, fiber, medicine, and as a religious sacrament. The use of cannabis has been found to have occurred as long ago as 1000 B.C. According to James Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of the Bible, there is no mention of marijuana in the Bible. Today, cannabis is used by inhalation. Routes of administration range from anal to oromucosal delivery. 

There are three main forms of cannabis referenced by their Hindi names:

1. Bhang - seeded mix of flower tops
2. Ganja - seedless unfertilized female flower tops
3. Charas - resin from sifted flowers (also known as hashish)

Today, you can legally purchase CBD oil. CBD is completely non-psychoactive. Hemp derived CBD is anti-inflammatory and has analgesic effects. I frequently recommend it for chronic pain, inflammation, stress, and anxiety. I use Canbiola which you can purchase from Botanical Bounty by calling (646) 723-1823 or visiting the apothecary on East 57th Street in New York.

Until tomorrow...