Recently I saw a very interesting patient who had uncontrolled blood pressure levels despite taking four different blood pressure drugs together. She was taking four different classes of anti-hypertensive drugs, namely –
  • Calcium blockers
  • Angiotensin Receptor blockers
  • Aldosterone blockers
  • Alpha 1- adrenergic blockers
Despite this huge amount of medication her blood pressure was very unstable and was spiking to dangerously high levels. Her liver was fatty and she was in the obese range for body weight, weighing 250 pounds. The most unpleasant and distressing symptoms for this poor woman were the effect these drugs were having on her brain function. She could not think straight and was unable to remember the simplest things. Her fatty liver was not coping with the workload of breaking down (metabolizing) these drugs and the interaction of all these drugs on her brain chemistry was causing cognitive impairment; indeed she felt as though she was developing dementia. The antihypertensive drugs were causing constipation and abdominal bloating. I booked this woman into a health retreat where she could be detoxed and removed from a stressful family situation. I decided to withdraw the two drugs that were causing mental confusion namely the calcium blockers and the adrenergic blockers. I recommended Livatone Plus and Magnesium powder and a good quality fish oil supplement. I withdrew her aspirin as with her high blood pressure I did not want to increase her chances of a brain hemorrhage. The most important issue for this woman was to lose weight and to improve her liver function and this was quite urgent otherwise she was at high risk of stroke and possible kidney damage. Thankfully her kidney function was still normal at this stage and she was not diabetic. She spent 2 weeks at the health retreat and took her supplements regularly. She was able to de-stress and go for walks and take yoga classes. When she left the health retreat she came to see me and her blood pressure was 40 points lower despite having ceased two of her blood pressure drugs. She was able to think clearly and her memory had returned. Over many years of obesity and sugar addiction this woman had developed an imbalance in her metabolic hormones – namely she had become resistant to the hormones insulin and leptin and when I measured these hormones in her blood they were abnormally high. To get her into the fat burning zone I had to lower her levels of insulin and leptin. To improve insulin metabolism I recommended Glicemic Balance capsules and magnesium supplements. I also asked her to follow the eating plan in my book Fatty Liver – You can reverse it. This eating plan is very low in carbohydrate and contains plenty of healthy fats from seafood, avocado, cold pressed olive oil and coconut oil, raw nuts and seeds and lean red meats and white cheeses. She had to increase her intake of vegetables both cooked and raw. I asked her to stop grazing (eating or picking all the time) and to eat three meals a day. After six months this woman had lost 90 pounds and had reversed her fatty liver. We were able to halve the dose of her two remaining blood pressure drugs and she was able to return to work. I am continually reminded of the importance of the liver function when treating people who have poorly controlled hypertension. It is true as the ancient Chinese doctors say “The Liver is the General of the Army of the Body” Note: do not stop your blood pressure medication unless you check with your own doctor and are supervised by your doctor.

The above statements have not been approved by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.