COPD & High Blood Pressure.
68 year-old male.

On April 7 I was taken to our local hospital by paramedics. I had an acute respiratory failure and couldn't breath. I was diagnosed with a severe case of bronchitis and was given the (blanket) title of COPD. I'm not so sure about the COPD title, as COPD is considered a disease and this was my first ever encounter with this condition. I go to Doctors about once every 25 years! This was my wake up call and now see my Doctor on a regular basis. Upon my first visit my Doctor (she) checked my blood pressure and found it to be elevated, 160/88. She placed me on 20 mg of Lisinoprill and 50 MG of Toprol. After about 8 days with the Toprol, I was beginning to get am adverse reaction which was effecting my stomach, so I discontinued the Toprol. I purchased a blood pressure monitor and my blood pressure is coming down.

My Doctor has given me the goal of getting my blood pressure to a manageable (realistic) level of 135/85 and this is most likely in consideration of, irregular heart beat and a high anxiety. She say's I'm anxious, I always had a high anxiety with a good energy level. Furthermore, I would prefer a high anxiety with a good energy level compared to a low anxiety with a low energy level.

Here's what I'm taking now which seems to be working in reducing my blood pressure. Along with my multi vitamin, I take the following; baby aspirin, Lisinoprill, Garlic soft-gel, and Cayenne Pepper (peppermint). Also, I'm getting more exercise and taking at least 15 minutes a day whereby I prop my legs up to attain better blood circulation, especially to the heart. For my lungs I'm taking a Chinese herb called 'Clear Lungs' and this stuff really works.

One thing for sure... I've found a good Doctor and one that is very thorough. I like her as a person, admire and respect her. Any woman Doctor that has gone through med-school in her time frame, didn't have an easy time of it when you consider the fact there will always be a few male interns with wimpy sensitive ego's. Most of all, she puts up with my wacky sense of humor!

Herbal folks and herbal books all proclaim the benefits of cayenne pepper or caspium on blood pressure. I haven't found any good solid scientific references to it. It might be that the heating effect, opens up surface blood vessels and in some way therefore lowers temporarily blood pressure. It may also be that long term the hot pepper has other actions. One hypothesis is that cayenne pepper is effective against infections and maybe against the infections that cause heart disease and high blood pressure. Kill the infection and you may kill the cause of heart disease.

So, for the moment it not on my blood pressure reducing list -- for the simple reason I haven't found a good controlled medical study that found an effect. That doesn't off course mean it doesn't work and I haven't seen any studies to that effect either.

Also herbal claim that caspium increases metabolism and lower appetite, thus helping in weight reduction efforts. haven't found any solid evidence for that either.

I even have a book on this .... Left for Dead by Dick Quinn, 1992. It about his remarkable recovery from serious heart disease after bypass surgery, through the use of cayenne pepper. He claimed it took him off all heart medication, removed his need for high blood pressure pills, and generally made him feel 20 years younger. Despite have very poor prognosis, he went on to live another 17 years before heart failure finally got him.

http://www.cayennecompany.com/company_history/
http://www.road-to-health.com/plaque/

I'm tending to be fairly generous with cayenne pepper .... if it even half as good as some folks claim it a miracle drug.

HERBS:

GARLIC is good for heart, blood vessels and the increase in blood flow. However, there is no indication that it will produce lower blood pressure. Also, garlic is compatible with cayenne pepper. My wife is Japanese and any documentation I have is in Japanese and Japanese web-sites. The Japanese have conducted very comprehensive research's on garlic in discovering its many benefits.

CAYENNE PEPPER (My first introduction). I reside in the high desert (Mojave) and one of my favorite activities is camping. I was at a fairly high elevation during the winter whereby the temperature can drop to 30 degrees. I made the acquaintance of another camper who was American Indian. I asked how he stayed warm during the night. He showed me some pure (full strength) cayenne pepper and sprinkled some in the soles of his shoes and offered me to try some. I sprinkled some in the soles of my socks, and my lower legs and feet had a very confortable warm feeling all night. He also told me he ingested the cayenne pepper, but I didn't want to try that without further research as I have a tender stomach. Cayenne pepper is largely grown in sub-tropical and tropical climates and it's benefits are well documented in South American country's. The herbal industry much like the pharmaceutical industry offers a lot of disinformation that borders on falsities and especially on the internet where it seems to be open season (my opinion).

About two months ago I took cayenne pepper exclusively, nothing eles. I took three caps per day and after the fourth day I saw a significant lowering of my blood pressure. From 160 down to the mid and lower 130's. The cayenne I take is called 'Kool-Mint Cayenne', produced by NOW. This particular product is buffered with peppermint and guar with no adverse reaction to my stomach. I'm not here to recommend this product to anyone but simply illustrate what has worked for me. I've always found prescription drugs and herbs to be a very individual thing as we all have a different body chemistry. Cayenne pepper will usually assimilate fairly fast into your system in comparison to garlic which can take months until any benefits can be realized.

CLEAR LUNGS is a Chinese herbal formula manufactured by Ridge Crest Herbals. Fairly good documentation and positive testimonies regarding this product. For those of us who have had or have a bronchitis condition, this product is a real blessing. It simply keeps the air passage clean and open and free of any mucus build-up on the lungs and it works immediately.