Blood pressure is the pressure the blood puts on the walls of the arteries. It depends on the force of the heartbeat, how elastic the vessel walls are, the resistance in the tiny capillaries, and how thick the blood is. When the pressure climbs, the real question is what’s driving it up. Forcing the number down without clearing the cause doesn’t heal anything.
Four Things That Drive It Up
- Thick, sluggish blood. Excess cholesterol and other sticky, mucus-like waste load the circulatory system and thicken the blood. This usually goes hand in hand with a clogged bowel, which is why cleansing the bowel is part of purifying the blood.
- Clogged kidneys. The kidneys filter all of the blood; there’s no bypass. Their tiny vessels are about the width of a hair, and any sediment there makes the heart pump harder to push the blood through.
- Hardening of the arteries. When the body needs calcium, it will pull it from the walls of the veins and arteries as well as from the bones. The vessels grow hard and lose their give, and the heart is left pushing blood through a crimped straw.
- Emotional stress. Stress can kill. It’s important to find ways to unplug and relax.
The first three are brought on by a poor diet, too little rest and exercise, and a lack of vitality in the body. That’s why no formula works alone. You cannot be healthy while breaking the laws of health.
I keep three combinations for blood pressure. Each one goes after a different cause, and they can be used together.
Formula One: Calming the Stress
This one is built on Dr. Shook’s old Calming Herbal Food Compound, for when stress, physical or emotional, is pushing the numbers up.
- Buckthorn Bark, 6 parts. Gently keeps the bowels moving, so the body has a way to carry off what it doesn’t need.
- Speedwell Herb, 4 parts. An old European calming herb, long used to ease tension and support the blood vessels.
- Valerian Root, 3 parts. Part of the calming backbone, easing an overactive nervous system without dulling you.
- Licorice Root, 3 parts. Sweetens the formula and traditionally supports the adrenals, which take a real hit during chronic stress.
- Linden Flowers, 3 parts. Another old European calming herb, gentle on the nerves and the blood vessels.
- Rue Herb, 1 part. The other half of the calming backbone. Rue has traditionally been avoided during pregnancy, and that’s a genuine concern; leave it out if you’re pregnant or may become pregnant.
- Goldenrod, 1 part. Supports the kidneys, helping clear what the body releases.
Formula Two: Clearing the Arteries
This one is built on Dr. Shook’s old arterial formula and goes after the vascular system itself, helping clear what has built up in the arteries.
- Buckthorn Bark, 30 parts. By far the largest part. Because this formula clears waste out of the vascular system, waste the liver has to process and the bowels have to carry out, it needs strong bowel support.
- Senna, 12 parts. Works with the Buckthorn to keep elimination moving. Together they also make this formula helpful for constipation.
- Sassafras Bark, 3 parts. A traditional blood purifier with a long history in American herbalism.
- Goldenrod, 3 parts. Supports the kidneys, helping clear fluid out of the vascular system.
- Buckbean, 3 parts. A bitter tonic that supports digestion and the liver.
- Black Cohosh, 3 parts. Traditional support for circulation.
- Poke Root, 3 parts. Traditional support for lymphatic clearing.
- Cassia Bark, 3 parts. Adds warmth and its own bit of circulatory support.
We make this one by the ounce: 30 ounces of Buckthorn and 12 ounces of Senna, with 3 ounces each of the other six herbs. Those big numbers are on purpose. This formula is all about clearing, and the bowels have to be kept moving for the rest of it to do its work. Those who use it find their bowels working better too.
Why Sassafras is still in it. Sassafras has centuries of traditional use behind it. In the 1960s the FDA restricted it after safrole, one of its natural compounds, was linked to cancer in laboratory animals given extremely high doses. My father was a biochemist, and he taught me to actually read studies like that one rather than just the headline. A finding from animals dosed at levels no one traditionally consumes doesn’t tell you much about generations of ordinary, moderate use. Dr. Christopher believed the same, and so do I. I’m not going to quietly drop an herb with this much tradition behind it.
Formula Three: Boosting the Circulation
This one is built on Dr. Christopher’s old circulation formula, and Cayenne runs the whole show. Cayenne equalizes blood pressure: if it’s high, Cayenne traditionally helps bring it down, and if it’s low, it helps bring it up. I’d like to see a drug that can do both at once. To me, that’s a gift straight out of God’s pharmacy.
- Cayenne, 3 parts. The leader, increasing the power of the heart and moving the circulation.
- Parsley Root, 3 parts. Supports fluid balance.
- Ginger, 2 parts. Adds warmth and helps the circulation.
- Goldenseal Root, 1 part. Supports the mucous membranes.
- Garlic, 1 part. One of the oldest cardiovascular supports there is.
- American Ginseng, ½ part, and Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero), ½ part. Traditional tonics for overall vitality.
How the Three Work Together
None of these formulas are designed to force blood pressure lower. They clear whatever is driving it up. When stress and a vascular system that needs clearing are both part of the picture, Formulas One and Two work well together. Formula Three adds a kick to either one when a program needs a bigger push.
“Parts” can be any measure you like, as long as you use the same one throughout a formula. I make each one as a tincture: put the dry herbs in a glass jar and pour in 80-proof vodka until, once settled, there’s about 60% herb sediment on the bottom and 40% liquid on top. Shake daily. The traditional timing follows the moon, from new moon to full moon, about two weeks; I prefer a full three months for a good, strong extract. Then strain and bottle.
A common amount is ½ to 1 teaspoon in water or juice, up to three times a day. This is not a quick fix. It normally takes two to three months for the pressure to begin to come down, and when it does, the numbers stay down, because the causes have been cleared. Keep taking whatever medication you’re on until your body shows you it no longer needs it.
Other Helps
- Kelp is an arterial cleanser that tones the walls of the blood vessels. It is believed to help remove deposits from the artery walls and restore their elasticity, and it can help normalize low blood pressure too.
- Cayenne on its own: work up to a teaspoon three times a day. A pinch with meals helps move the blood.
- Garlic in the diet, regularly and generously.
- Wheat Germ Oil, a traditional source of vitamin E, long used to support healthy blood vessels.
- Cut back on liquor, tobacco and late hours, which all strain the circulatory system.
This is shared for educational purposes, from my own study and experience. It is not medical advice.
