Gaye Levy
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Something of that concerns every single one of us is how we will deal with health issues in the event modern medicine and western doctors are no longer available to keep us well. This goes far beyond current health woes because, as you know, stuff happens and someone that is perfectly healthy one day may be stricken with a health-related malady the next.
With that introduction, a few months back I decided to explore whether the use of essential oils could help manage high blood pressure during times of trouble. From the get-go, I will tell you that managing blood pressure with essential oils is a very personal quest. My own, traditionally perfect blood pressure, had suddenly taken a leap from 120/80 to 160/90 and higher. I was not a happy camper.
After consulting with my physician, I decided to experiment using essential oils before taking more drastic measures, named pharmaceuticals.
What is Blood Pressure?
Let me quote from Joe and Amy Alton’s excellent book, The Survival Medicine Handbook:
Blood pressure is the measure of the blood flow pushing against the walls of the arteries in your body. Without this flow of blood, oxygen would never get to all the organs of the body.
If this pressure, however, is elevated over time, it can cause long-term damage. Many millions of adults in the U.S. have this condition, which is often asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms). Because of this, it has been referred to as a “silent killer”. Blood pressure tends to rise with increasing age and weight.
For better or for worse, many adults routinely take blood pressure medications to control this silent killer. The hope is that by managing blood pressure, a stroke or a heart attack can be avoided.
Essential Oils to Manage High Blood Pressure
The results of my research and testing have been quite remarkable. Before I share what has worked for me, I want to state that my use of essential oils to manage high blood pressure began with a baseline of good health. A healthy diet, frequent exercise, and height and weight in proportion are always a good starting point for any sort of natural protocol and I passed on all accounts.
With that out of the way, I can tell you that by applying the blend below, my blood pressure has stabilized at about 110/76 in the mornings and 106/66 in the evenings. On a few occasions, it has been lower; low enough for me to verify that it was not too low. (It wasn’t.)
After a bit of trial and error, here is the recipe I use.
Blood Pressure Salve
1 ounce Simple Salve
30 drops Ylang Ylang
15 drops Cypress
15 drops Marjoram
15 drops Rosemary (optional – if high blood pressure is due to stress)
15 drops FrankincenseAfter melting the Simple Salve, add the essential oils and mix well using a small stick or toothpick. Set it aside to firm up overnight.
Twice a day, take a bit of BP Salve, as I call it, and rub some into the sole of the left foot, right below the big toe. Also rub some below the ring finger of your left hand and over your heart. These are commonly referred to as the “reflex points” for the heart. (You might find the WikiHow on Reflexology interesting.)
If you don’t want to make up a batch of Simple Salve (directions here), you can use coconut oil, olive oil, or some other carrier oil.
Although I prefer the salve, I have also used the same essential oils in a roller ball topped with fractionated (liquid) coconut oil. In that case, use just 10 drops of Ylang Ylang and 5 drops each of the other oils.
Essential Oils Equals Calm Equals Less Stress
There is one additional step I have been taking as part of my overall blood pressure management protocol. Nightly, I have set a diffuser up on my nightstand and have diffused this same blend throughout the night.
To simplify the process, I have mixed a small bottle of the oils in the proportions shown. Then before bed, I add water to the diffuser and 8 drops of my blend. Whether it is a coincidence or not, my nocturnal visits to the bathroom have gone from six or seven times a night to one or two. I am sleeping better and, of course, my blood pressure is back in the normal range.
This has me thinking that perhaps the reason this protocol is working is that the oils have been calming. Calm evokes relaxation and the end result is less stress. Is that really what is happening here?
I leave it up to you to decide whether you want to try a diffuser; all that I can say is that it is working for me.
A Word About Blood Pressure Monitors
I currently have two blood pressure monitors, although one is new and did not arrive in time for this article. One, the LifeSource UB-512 is more than a few years old and is being replaced because the battery cover has broken. It is being held together with tape at the moment but still is cranking away giving readings very similar to those in my doctor’s office. That said, I am looking forward to my new Omron 7 and expect that it will perform equally well.
Both Shelly and I have found that our BP readings are lower at night than in the morning. According to our physicians, it is normal to have some fluctuation so there is no cause for worry unless the numbers start to climb above the 140/90 range and stay there.
Regardless of what particular monitor you choose, taking a periodic reading is important so that you can take action if your levels become too high. As I discovered myself, that can happen in a flash.
The Next Step
Before you rush off and begin to self-medicate using essential oils let me say this. If you are under a doctor’s care for hypertension (high blood pressure), keep track of your results and share them with your health care provider before making any change in your drug protocol. With Shelly (aka the Survival Husband), his cardiologist was on board and changed his drug protocol ever so slightly because the results with EOs were promising. Not as good as mine, but promising.
The other thing is similar to all natural remedies, what works for one person make work better – or not at all – for someone else. Always keep that in mind and anticipate the need to experiment to find your own unique formula.
Disclaimer: Remember that I am not a health care professional. Furthermore, essential oils have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and this should not be construed as medical advice.
Essential Oils for Health and Wellness
After a ton of research, for wellness purposes, I use 100% pure essential oils from Spark Naturals. There are a lot of reasons the most important being their commitment to both quality and value. I am satisfied that the raw materials used in Spark Naturals products are tested and authenticated to be of pharmaceutical grade purity.
I also like that they are not an MLM and everyone pays the same price without having to cough up dues or membership fees. Spark Naturals is open about the fact that there is no official system that grades essential oils as A, B, C or Therapeutic grade. If you see a site that makes that claim, it is marketing hype and not fact.
If you decide to purchase the essential oils used in my Blood Pressure Salve from Spark Naturals, you will receive a 10% discount when you use the discount code “BACKDOORSURVIVAL” at checkout.
The Final Word
I personally feel that essential oils are minor miracle workers. Some of my personal favorites include Melaleuca (Tea Tree), Oregano, Peppermint, and Lavender as well as the oils used in the blood pressure salve/blend. That said, if you are just starting out, I suggest you start with these four and branch out as you become more comfortable with using essential oils for day to day first aid purposes.
If the time ever comes when modern medicine is not available, I know for sure that I will turn to my cache of oils to get me through. As I have taken to saying: Stuff Happens – Be Ready!
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
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Spotlight: Essential Oils from Spark Naturals
For health and wellness purposes, I use Spark Naturals oils exclusively. By that I mean any essential oil that is applied directly to my skin. You will find that dealing with Spark Naturals is a pleasure; they have great monthly sales and customer service is top notch!
Below you will find items related to today’s article.
The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is Not on the Way: This book by Joe and Amy Alton book teach how to deal with all the likely medical issues you will face in a disaster situation, including strategies to keep your family healthy even in the worse scenarios. It covers skills such as performing a physical exam, transporting the injured patient, and even how to suture a wound. This medical reference belongs in every survival library.
LifeSource UB-512 Advanced Memory Wrist Auto Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor: I have used this BP monitor for years and it is still operating perfectly. It has both AM and PM settings that store your readings but I prefer keeping a handwritten log instead. You won’t be disappointed in this one.
Omron 7 Series Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor: Based on the reviews, I have ordered this BP monitor since I wanted to try something different.
Coconut (Fractionated) Carrier Oil: Once you start using coconut oil, you will be hooked. This is the liquid form of Coconut Oil, also referred to as FCO. I have been very satisfied with this brand as well as the FCO from Spark Naturals.
Diffusers: You are definitely going to want to consider a diffuser. I keep one in my office next to my desk and two in the bedroom (one at each side of the bed). The diffuser pictured below is this one: ZAQ Dew Aromatherapy Diffuser. The diffuser shown in the article is a ZAQ Mirage.
White Plastic Jar with Lid 1 Oz (10 per bag): I love the size of these compact jars. They are really inexpensive and shipping is free. But, as much as I love these, I love these glass jars better!
Aromatherapy Glass Roll On Bottles, Frost Cobalt Blue-Set of 6: You are going to want some of these for your oils. I put essential oils (singly or in combination) in a roller ball with a bit of fractionated coconut oil and use it to apply EOs topically. Note that I prefer the cobalt blue roller ball containers but they are also available in clear. These complement the custom salves I mix up and store in these 1/2 ounce ointment jars.
Glass Droppers, Pack of 6: I bought a package of these and loved them. When I went to re-order, I accidentally ordered plastic instead of glass droppers. Learn from my mistake. The price is the same so get the glass ones.
Essential Oils Desk Reference 6th Edition: I thought long and hard before purchasing this book myself, but once I did, I was so grateful I took the leap. The information is cross-referenced in many ways making it easy to find what you are looking for. When searching for a particular remedy, you may see multiple oils listed and any will work but they are presented in order of typical efficacy. The nice thing is that if you do not have #1 on hand, you can move down the list. I have found the recommendations to be spot on.
NOW Foods Essential Oils : I use essential oils from Spark Naturals. For healing purposes, I feel they are superior. On the other hand, NOW Foods has decent essential oils at a budget price: NOW Foods Rosemary Oil, NOW Foods Peppermint Oil and Now Foods Lavender Oil are especially nice.
Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!
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114 Responses to “Managing Blood Pressure With Essential Oils”
Hello, thanks so much for sharing your information with us. I have also used clary sage with success in dealing with high blood pressure. I am excited to try your recipe!
I find the calming effect from the essential oils that I use to be one of the favorite parts of my day. I have a small diffuser that I keep at my desk instead of using air fresheners these days.
I have been using essential oil for soap but would like to start using for health also. Like most things in life, I have a habit of buying to much so my question is, how long does essential oil last?
A lot will depend on storage conditions. If kept cool and in their original dark bottles, essential oils should last for years. This is especially true if they are sealed and have not been exposed to air. Like any oil, over time they will turn rancid if subjected to temperature fluctuations and air/oxygen.
Gaye, I receive your emails but I don’t see you on my Facebook anymore. Did I do something to stop your facebook posts? If so, I miss them and hope to be able to connect again.
Helen
Helen – Alas, Facebook misbehaves and thinks they are doing you a favor by not showing my posts. The best advice I can give you is to go to my FB page and start liking and commenting. That will “tell” FB you find my posts interesting.
Also, some people have a “notifications” button at the top of the page. Be sure to select that you want to be “notified”.
Other than that, I don’t know what to do other than whip FB with a wet noodle (kidding).
I’ve been studying herbal medicine for many years…to rely on pharmaceuticals is delusionary and unwise. There are only a few that are really effective. Take your care into your own hands and learn. Statins, most prescribed medication, is a total hoax, as is most cholesterol scares. It isn’t about FATS, we’ve been lied to…..it’s SUGAR. WANT TO GET HEALTHY? Learn how to alkaline your body. Most western diets create an acidic condition, which is basically the root of all disease. Take cancer for example, which is merely a symptom of acidosis. If your body is 7.4 pH, cancer cells become dormant, if your body is 7.6 pH, cancer cells CANNOT grow, and your blood will be more oxygenated. FACT..sugar feeds cancer, but I bet your oncologist never told you that. We have been really mislead and I’ll informed. Learn to eat well, and you will be very healthy…thing that concerns me is trauma injury. Not afraid of any illness what so ever…take control brothers and sisters
How can one check pH levels in your body? Just curious. Lots of drugs in the market today do seem to do more harm than good that is for sure.
I have read that you can fine your bodies PH with an ordinary PH test strip. You will lay it on your tongue, but there was something about doing it in the morning, or not doing it in the morning. I’m sorry, I am old and forgetful. I am trying very hard to raise my PH. Definitely no soda pop.
Actually, it is CARBOHYDRATES of all types. All carbohydrates convert to Glucose in the digestive process. Whether refined table sugar, HFCS, wheat, navy beans, corn, etcetera, etcetera. And the GI scale is a delusional myth. The “Diabetic Diet” book by Dr. Bernstein is a VG resource as are the EARLY versions books by Dr. Atkins on the Atkins Revolution… with the best probably being “Low Carb High Fat Diet Revolution” (can’t recall author offhand; he is Swedish, which is where this book was written about 2012 and recently translated to English… Sweden has since moved to now formally recommending the LCHF Diet as their national recommendation and STRONGLY recommending against Low Fat diets).
I remember getting the Atkins book when it first came out then later when it was newly updated. The books are still sitting in the garage somewhere. Shelly did well with them but my cholesterol went through the roof. Is there a reason you say the EARLY Atkins books? I don’t have any of the more recent books (those published after his death) so have no basis of comparison.
By the way, I dropped Rosemary from my last batch of BP salve and Shelly’s BP has risen by 20 points. Mine is the same – very normal if not low. Just goes to show you we all respond differently.
I can only post what double-blind placebo controlled clinical research studies show (plus my own anecdotal report). Otherwise the other difference (that explains why we respond “differently”) is the placebo effect.
If one truly believes that, regardless of what research has proven, that Rosemary EO will lower their BP, and believes that sufficiently for the Placebo Effect to kick in (about 5-20% of any given case, depending on situation), then for those few, that is what would happen… I believe that in one of the early trials of Prozac (???) the placebo pill came very close to the success rate of Prozac. And in several studies (one of the ones with L-Deprenyl as I recall) the placebo (an inert substance) had more severe side effects in some categories!
Of course the problem is that the placebo effect simply can’t last forever. A year. 2 years? 5 years? But likely not near that long before it poops out.
As for the Atkins books, it is a little complicated. Dr. Atkins started out as a cardiologist who had himself put on about 90 lbs while going through college and medical school. After several attempts at very low calorie diets (which made him miserable and simply caused a loss in energy – but no weight loss as it just slowed his metabolism down significantly) and Glycemic Index Carbs diets (which just made him fatter more slowly), he read about the Banting Diet and decided to try a modern version of it… And lost 26 lbs in 6 weeks. He then tried it with several of his patients and some interested peers – and found the same results (some even more significantly, those who reduced carbs the most). As he experimented along he developed what ended up being published as the Atkins Diet Revolution in 1972 initially (several reprinting with no updating).
There was a surge of popularity (his book was on NYT Best-selling List for over 5 years) and then he faded from the scene to some extent. Some was because too many people looked at LC as another “fad” diet, something you did for 3-4 months and then went back to normal eating (why “dieting” doesn’t work – it has to be a lifestyle change). And part was the fault of Atkins. Number one was the nutritional aspect. He had the Low Carb part right (and the fact that certain Carbs are total no-no foods), but then emphasized on protein where the second emphasis HAS to be on fats (preferably animal / bird / seafood fats… long with the highly saturated fats of coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil – as far as other plant oils, Olive Oil is at best “okay”) with moderate levels of complete (animal-based) proteins. The other aspect was that Atkins had a spell there where he got heavily involved with “Complimentary Medicine” (being sued several times, temporarily losing his license to practice a couple times, etcetera – but never regarding “his” diet – it had been a recommended diet since before William Banting even… see Wiki for a quickie).
Anyway, if one reads “Dr. Robert Atkins” (Mary Rogan) one finds the complicated man that Atkins was, how he craved attention, yet wanted the respect of his peers. So as time went on, he went down the complimentary medicine path while backing off on focus from the Diet (as shown by books he published then). As that didn’t work out how he hoped, he returned to The Diet, but began making slight changes here and there (starting with the “Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution” and, IMO, going downhill from there; this was 1992, 11 years before his death, so we’re talking about books well before his death, not simply afterwards).
Anyway, he began adding higher amounts of allowed carbs, small amounts of prohibited carbs, many artificial products (sold also by the Atkins Foundation) to have fake flour, fake mashed potatoes, protein bars with sugar alcohols and soy protein (sugar alcohols DO digest somewhat in the intestines, contrary to popular belief and some claims by low carb / diabetes diets advocates and soy, well, soy is just plain wrong on so many levels) and a lesser emphasis on ANIMAL fats over plant oils (with coconut oil and palm oil being exceptions). And actually some of that existed back in his early books, just got worse as (driven by need to publish something “New”) more books were put out, the (commercial sales) Atkins Foundation fired up, etcetera…. Then IMO, the situation worsened after Dr. Atkins died with the take-over then of the Foundation and the selling of rights for publishing additional material with the Dr. Atkins diet tagging.
Thanks so much for this information! I am looking at starting to use essential oils as part of my health routine. I have some medical issues and I refuse to become a ‘walking pharmacy’ as my mother was before her death. When taking prescription drugs there are always so many side effects and then the doctor adds another drug to combat that side effect etc. I use as many natural things as I can to aid in my health issues. Right now I am trying to lose about 75 pounds. Is there an essential oil or other natural product you can recommend that will help this issue. I do not have a thyroid gland and that is part of the problem but I found that the prescription drug I was taking did not do the job. My numbers were always just right but I gained weight no matter how I increased my exercise or limited my calorie intake. Something was definitely wrong. Since I stopped taking the drug and started using raw thyroid as a substitute I am no longer gaining weight but am having difficulty losing what I had already gained.
Any thoughts or ideas on this would be greatly appreciated.
when i first became hypothyroid, i had the same problem. my doctors told me that i couldn’t be hypothyroid because all my blood tests were within the normal range. they were wrong. everyone has their own normal range, and each person’s can be very different. for example, my normal range for tsh (thyroid stimulating hormone) level is from 1 to 1.5, approximately. the “normal range” in general is from about 0.5 to 5.5 (it varies a little from one lab to the next), but if my tsh is 3.0 i’m very sick! you have to find an endocrinologist who understands this, and who will adjust your dosage according to your symptoms, not just assume you’re fine because your tsh is somewhere in the normal range. most of them understand this, but there are still some endocrinologists who haven’t gotten the memo yet.
I, too, have been struggling with exactly the same issue. In 1985 I was diagnosed with Graves Disease and given radioactive iodine which effectively destroyed my thyroid gland. I went from hyperthyroid to hypothyroid and began putting on weight….about 75 pounds to date. As you did, I tried everything to shed the weight. The doctors assured me that synthetic thyroid supplements would bring me back to normal, but that did not happen. I would suggest seeing a naturopathic doctor for this issue. My naturopath suggested a rotating pill regime wherein twice per week I take a slightly increased dose of Nature Throid. This gives me the energy boost I need (without sending me into hyperthyroid territory) and I am starting to lose weight (along with good diet and regular walking). Good luck and I do sympathize with your plight. My goal is to arrive at a point wherein I do not depend on allopathic medicine for anything unless it’s an emergency visit.
Thanks so much. That sounds like exactly the type of treatment I am looking for. Don’t think either of us would have taken the radioactive iodine to totally destroy the thyroid gland if we knew then what we know now, right? There had to be a better way but that was the most convenient for the doctors and the long range affects were not so important I guess.
i would have chosen surgery, but i was on medicaid at the time, and they weren’t about to pay for the more expensive option! my sister had the same problem (graves’) and had surgery, and she’s been stable on synthroid from the start. but i had some thyroid gland left, and i think that’s why i never stabilized–my immune system was still gradually but erratically destroying those cells (my theory). last year i had an ultrasound that showed all the cells were atrophied and nonfunctional, which may be why i’m more stable now. but that process took 20 years! i think some people need the whole thyroid extract (armour); after all, there are 4 or 5 different hormones produced by the human thyroid gland, and medical science still only knows what the function of two of them are. i suspect if 90% of thyroid patients were male instead of female, they would’ve figured that out already–but maybe i should give them a break; they’ve only had about 70 years!
Question for you. I know you use Sparks oils..can you use a different frankincense? I don’t have this version, only have carteri and serrata, but want to try this recipe out! Thanks!
We must have been commenting at the same time. I just posted this:
“I did not mention it in the article but I have made a batch without the Frankincense to see what happens. Frank, as we call it, can be quite precious (expensive) but it does kick things up a notch. Now that I have stabilized, I want to see if it can be omitted.”
So yes, absolutely. Use what you have on hand and track your results. I have not started to use the BP salve that I made without Frankincense so I am not sure what will happen. That said, there are many good EO brands out there so if you already have some, by all means use it.
I forgot to ask a question that I’ve had for a while about diffusers. Do you know if the Reed diffusers would work very well?
I have been experimenting with DIY reed diffusers. They smell heavenly but I doubt that there are any huge therapeutic benefits other than a nice smell (which, now that I think about it, can be calming and stress relieving).
With water diffusers, the oils become a part of the mist that we breath so they actually enter the body both via the lungs and the skin.
I should post my DIY reed diffusers in an upcoming Survival Buzz. I use the el-cheapo oils from NOW Foods in them so they really cost only pennies to make. They still smell nice 🙂
I know I’m not the only one who has been anxious for this ‘recipe’. I know you had a personal motivation for conducting this experiment, but we appreciate you sharing with the rest of us. I have been having such great results from some of my EO ‘cures’ that I cant keep myself from sharing them with everybody lol. Fortunately Blood Pressure is not an issue that my immediate clan is dealing with right now, but this one is definitely getting printed out for the future. I would suspect that if a person (like you did Gaye) and just started seeing elevated BP’s than this type of gentle nudging could be more effective, faster acting, than somebody who has had high BP chronically for a longer time. If anybody in my circle starts seeing higher numbers this will DEFINATELY by my first line of action(closely monitored of course). HAA HA, I just love EO’s. I’ve said for years that I just knew there had to be a way that mankind had treated ailments for millennia before all the recent chemical concoctions from big pharma came along.
Is the assumption you will use this EO protocol for high blood pressure every day for the rest of your life?
I plan to continue as long as I have to in order to avoid meds. I did not mention it in the article but I have made a batch without the Frankincense to see what happens. Frank, as we call it, can be quite precious (expensive) but it does kick things up a notch. Now that I have stabilized, I want to see if it can be omitted.
This is a work in process.
Different sites are saying not to use Rosemary if you have high blood pressure. You’ve added it to your BP salve. Have you heard something different about Rosemary? I know it’s good for memory and improved thinking (I need a lot of that!), but have you heard if it is now used for blood pressure?
Indeed, for some, Rosemary EO has been know to raise BP. On the other hand, Rosemary can bring about a sense of calm thus lowering your BP. I have tried making the salve both ways and have better luck with the Rosemary essential oil. If you are concerned, try making it without at first and see how you do. You can always add it later.
I’ve made your BP salve and have already had success !! I’m so thrilled! Thank you so much. I’ll continue to use the Rosemary. Could you tell me which kind of Francincense you use? Is it the Boswellia Sacra (Sacred)?
Thank you again for sharing such helpful info.
That is terrific! I am now finding that my BP remains low/normal even if I forget and only use the salve once a day. I use Frankincense Boswellia Frereana (I get it from Spark Naturals).
//www.sparknaturals.com/?id=377
I only have Frankincense Carteri. Do you think I should get the Frereana? I am going to do as you suggested and leave out the Rosemary and see how it goes. I”m on two different BP medications and would love to eventually be able to come off of them.
Paula – I am not well educated as to the differences but I think you should be fine. Now that my BP is under control, I no longer add the Frankincense and am holding my own.
Hello Gaye,
Thank you so much for posting this information. I have a family member dealing with this issue (which seems to run in the family since 2 of his 5 children also were also on meds to control it. I’ll make your Simple Salve, (leaving Rosemary out) but giving them the bottle to try it topically, but with the option and info. to leave it out if they experience any adverse effects. Wonderful blog posts and thank so much for helping our family with your knowledge. Can’t wait to read more of your work!