8.10.15 Since you asked- responding to requests: As we grow older, learning to address health issues with both Western Medicine and Naturopathy

     Since You Asked: responding to requests: As we grow older, all the health imbalances we've been quietly cultivating since youth begin to accumulate. They slowly veer toward 'conditions ', 'diagnoses'. Part genetic predisposition , part habitual repetition and choice, part circumstance , they make small or larger noises over the years, but we often don't know the most manageable things to do that will effectively slow their pace, or resolve them. 
     Even when they finally officially arrive on the scene, unless we've had the time, money or propensity to utilize natural healing tools , that seems a distant idea , in an acute situation we are drawn to the meds our doctor is familiar with ( and a response that is culturally accepted and not vulnerable to liability. .
More confusing are the concrete naturopathic tools that can moderate the need for meds or preclude some meds all together , safely . 
     Recently , someone close to me developed accelerated HTN. He took one pill , but I pulled him up short , convincing him that the oncologist wanted him on a med if it wasn't resolved in a week.
I did a lye rapture review, put a summary if my findings past the Oncology Naturopath, speed ordered what we needed , and in three days he began to take the supplements . A 140/95 went to 124/84 in four days, to 115/72 in two weeks. The doctor was delighted, and the liver avoided some serious ongoing challenge by a med.
     We just don't know how quickly HTN meds, feel miserable , and lead to the need for 'water pills' ( that make people miserable and exhausted), anti- coagulants , (life savers with a huge cost to our health , )and cardio meds.,versus taking a week or two to try naturopathic supplements . 
     When we have an idea a problem will approach us, or it's upon us but there's a little wiggle room. , if we can carve out a little money, we can carve out a lot of health.
     We don't have to plummet down that road that surprises us , as one med necessitates more and more liver-challenging meds.
     For example , approaching HTN, many take a week to see if Taurine 500 mg 2x day, Cardiotone by Ayush Herbals, 2/day, , Hawthorne leaf, flower and berry, equal parts ground up , often 6 capsules a day, and Magnesium Malate 500 mg. Day, will settle things . 
     Some sort of breath work , meditation, mindfulness , EFT, and/or a little home biofeedback machine will support settling the nervous system and stress component.
You go take your blood pressure at the store each day ( stop and shop has an online site that will keep your records for free) and watch your blood pressure drop. 
     Blood pressure is a tip of an iceberg that you want to know about , to see what you can do to ensure your good health and happiness .
     It may seem complicated , but if you remember that the supplements you buy last awhile , the machine you can save the $100 for and is worth it's weight in gold.
     Half the time after we begin a med, the supplement options become much more complicated . And our capacity to transition out of the med use certainly is possible , but I often helped clients do that with an integrative medicine doctor overseeing , or at least a doctor that was willing to become a bit informed about the process of healing to ensure responsible choices and safety .