Acupuncture Can Lower High Blood Pressure; I proved it!

176 over 113; Terrifying!

In mid December, I took my blood pressure one afternoon and it was in fact, 176 over 113. It terrified me. I had visions of having a stroke, of dying, of leaving Bev with the business without me. It was a Saturday and I immediately called my PCP, which happens to be a good friend of mine (and is brilliant). She calmed me down and said if it gets to 200 let me know and I’ll get you on Western meds.  For now, acupuncture can lower high blood pressure, in conjunction with  an herbal formula.  In addition, you need to be managing your stress levels which will help your blood pressure. Can I just tell you how grateful I am to:
1.) have a PCP I can call on a weekend, and
2.) have a PCP that believes in my medicine.

Bottom line, I got myself an acupuncture treatment from my RiverWest Acupuncture clinic.  I got an herbal formula that I started that same day.  Then I signed up for some personal training.  And subsequently, began eating in a completely different way. In the past, when I thought about “losing the X pounds” I was resistant. And I was pissed that I had to subject myself to the restriction. When I thought about having a stroke and dying or being paralyzed, making wise food choices, has all of a sudden become much easier. I did not need the New Year to roll in to make resolutions about being healthier.

The results: In just two weeks, I’m already seeing the difference in how my clothes fit me. My blood pressure is slowly but surely coming down. I see my trainer twice a week. I record my food daily to keep myself accountable, and I take my 4 scoops of herbs twice a day, without fail.  Bev has not heard one grumble out of me. I actually feel empowered, I feel good about myself, and what I am accomplishing.

I will say that my business coaches always tell me that I’m unusual in my zest to accomplish things. We regularly finish our annual strategic plan for the year by June. That’s just the way I’m wired. But the one place that I struggled was around my health. I don’t know if I felt invincible because my grandmother was 99 when she passed and I’ve always been really strong, so didn’t see myself has being weak enough to have a stroke. Or if I just resisted the regimen of being healthy because I “thought” I was healthy. Normally my blood pressure has been 117/78. What I do know is that the thought of passing from this world in 2014 or anytime soon thereafter, was not an option I wanted to dance with. At least if I had any say in the matter.

I feel extremely fortunate to have so many connections to so many good health practitioners, and to understand the healthcare system I also realize a lot of people don’t have that. Thus, one of the things I’m going to start to offer my patients is a health coaching regimen. Part of it will be getting clear about what you want your health goals for the next 6 months or a year to look like. I will couple that with treatments. The treatment will get billed to insurance if my patient has insurance. Please talk to me if you would find this to be helpful to you. Here’s to 2015 being a fantastic year for our Portland acupuncture patients!