I've just joined the forum but have been using Resperate almost daily for six months now. As someone who has done yoga and meditation, I find it a pleasant way to (usually) start my day, and now do 20-minute sessions.

Trouble is it just doesn't seem to have an effect on my bp which is quite disappointing. I've just compared some recent average readings with some from about a year ago and there is little difference - I'm now a couple of points higher at about 150/90.

I'm also on a modified DASH diet (vegetarian), take a garlic supplement and and have had a few acupuncture sessions.

Has anyone any suggestions before I resort to medication, which I am still reluctant to do.

I would also add in regular aerobic exercise, at least 4 times per week, preferably more.

I found that acupuncture works for me, but it takes several months at least 2-3 times per week, then must be continued to control it. I don't know how long you have been trying it, but it may be worth it to continue.

I also read elsewhere on this board about competing products to Resperate, such as Zona Plus. I don't know if it will help, but it comes with a money back promise. Maybe it could be complimentary therapy.

Good luck to you!

Thanks JBC. I didn't put my whole life history in (can do if you like folks!) but yes I do run and swim each week, four or five times for over a half hour each time.

Interesting you say that level of acupuncture might be required. My guy says after 4 sessions if nothing happens it's not likely to. I'm waiting a few days after my fourth session to see what happens.

Next on my list of things to try is probably herbal medicine...

I found the Chinese herb Zhenju Jiangya Pian helps, although it is hard to find. But be careful when getting herbs on the internet or Ebay. They may be fake or may not have very good quality control. See if your acupuncturists can recommend something.

I guess what I meant regarding the acupuncture is that it took a while for my BP readings to be consistently stable. If you have done 4 sessions and didn't notice a temporary drop in BP, then it seems reasonable that it may not work for you. And for me I had to keep doing the appointments to control my BP. I would love to do acupuncture 3 times a week for the rest of my life but it is just not practical.

Good luck.

Yes I agree, I am very cautious about buying any herbal, homoeopathic etc product on line; my acupuncture guy does Chinese herbs so I'll mention your suggestion, thanks. Other than that maybe a medical herbalist, i.e. western as opposed to Chinese.

Indeed acupuncture several times a week, aside from being inconvenient, could get a bit expensive!

Thanks again JBC.

I haven't managed to get of medications yet but here are few things to consider

1) I assumed when I started that I wasn't getting any salt because I didn't put any on my food. salt, It amazing how a lot of canned goods, prepared foods, cheese, even cereals have large amounts of salt. I was getting plenty in all sorts of foods. Here are some typical values...

- slice of bread 100mg.
- helping of canned beans 370 mg.
- piece of cheese 200 mg.
- bowl of many cereals 300 mg.

I've found that if I can keep my salt below 1000mg a day, my blood pressure is a lot better. And if I happen to get a good dose of salt it can take the system 3 or 4 days to clear it. A really good daily value for me is around 500 mg or less.

- moved to soup in the morning -- only take cereal once a week, or I carefully chose cereal that has low salt amount.
- I love bread but I try to keep down to 5 or less slices a day. (Get a bread maker, and experiment with using less and less salt.)
- Canned food can very a lot. Some canned tomatoes have plenty, others are virtually salt free.
- Watch out for fast food meals -- many are loaded with salt.

I still eat salted foods, including one of my favorites is salted nuts and pumpkin seeds, but I limit the amount I eat, and if I have a high sodium day, I try to have low sodium days on each side. Also try to load up on bananas and potatoes two food high in potassium. It seems that body can tolerate more salt if it has more potassium.

2) MSG and various food additives... I know that MSG in sufficient quantities affects my blood pressure. One also has to look out for things like sodium benzate, and other sodium additives -- often put in fruit juices. For some reason the body really seems to get sodium out of these.

3) I've had some remarkable results with mushrooms. Some varieties have a power effect on BP. Unfortunately it only lasts for a 6 or so hours. But if you like mushroom, nibble through the day, you can drop your blood pressure a lot.

4) Exercise is good ... so is a working up a bit of sweat, and so is hot bath. both help the body to sweat off a bit of salt. It helps.

5) Exercise -- weight lifting, walking, sawing, dancing, any kind of movement. Alternate between an hour of less activity -- say reading , or watching TV, or listening to music, then do something active for an hour. Go for a walk, rake the lawn, shovel the snow, vacuum around the house. Then check your blood pressure. Exercise puts one's blood pressure up a bit, but the relaxation afterwards drops it even more... and if you alternate the two, the blood pressure steps down and down. Try it.

6) Keep at the Resperate ..but maybe cut back the amount of time per session, and try it more times a day. Each session should lower your pressure a bit. The idea is to keep working at it ... so that it not climbing as much between sessions as it being lowered in each session. 5 or 6 10 minutes sessions in a day can be very effective. Unfortunately not always possible with work and so on.

Thanks ccc3, for your very full reply with some interesting points. I too have a bread maker and use Lo Salt instead of ordinary - I believe salt of some kind is necessary for the yeast to work properly but am happy to be corrected on that.

I'm interested that you limit cereal and eat soup for breakfast. I eat quite a lot of cereal cos I do a fair amount of aerobic exercise and feel I need the carbs - but only low- or no-salt varieties. Do you make soup yourself - just veg soup or what?

And yes, I've been wondering if I should do two short Resperate sessions each day, one in the morning and one in the evening (like you're supposed to with meditation) instead of one long one.

Hope to hear from you again soon.

My soup is usually whatever left over in the frig. I tend to make it mostly myself... lots of vegetables. I use tomatoes I froze down from the garden from last fall, I like putting in pumpkin (again frozen down).

Good luck.....

Salt is not needed for the bread to rise. It is just there for taste. We have reduced it in our bread recipes. Let me warn you, however. I baked one loaf with no salt at all (over my wife's protest). The taste was so flat the only way I ate it was with lots of jelly!! Still living that down.

What is the standard numbers for BP, Sorry, It's been awhile I was diagnosed with BP, exercise and eating right, is my own medication. although, I have been gaining weight.

Hello Virginia - by standard numbers if you mean what is considered OK bp then you should read up some literature or authoritative websites e.g. the British Hypertension Society (I am in UK). However anything consistently over 140/90 is I think generally considered to be too high. My experience is that bp can vary quite a lot from day to day so I think average values can be useful.