Serving Size: 1 vegetarian capsule
Ingredients per serving:
Rauwolfia 4:1 extract [.192 mg Reserpine, .306 mg Serpentine] 6 mg
Motherwort leaf and flowers 144 mg
Hawthorne berries 100 mg
Jamaican Dogwood bark 100 mg
Mistletoe leaf 50 mg
Suggested Use:
1 capsule 2 times per day. Do not exceed 4 capsules in one day. Lower dose if diarrhea, nasal congestion or depression occurs. Drug potentiation can occur with blood pressure lowering medication.
Should only be taken under the care of a licensed healthcare practitioner.
Overview:
Promotes healthy blood pressure levels. Helps HBP caused by anxious mental states, insomnia, and poor sleep patterns. Another WTSmed professional supplement.
HTN 180 Px is designed to promote healthy blood pressure levels in those patients who have difficulty controlling their blood pressure despite significant dietary and lifestyle modifications.
Many patients who don't tolerate prescription drugs can tolerate the herbs found in HTN 180. In some cases where prescription drugs are used, HTN 180 can further assist in promoting healthy blood pressure without negative side effects. HTN 180 is particularly indicated when anxious mental states, insomnia, and poor sleep patterns are contributing to elevated blood pressure.*
Health concerns relevant to this product*
High Blood Pressure
Anxious mood
Insomnia
Irregular Heart Rhythm
In Depth:
From the WTSmed website:
Background Information
HTN 180 Px contains fast-acting herbs that can often bring down stubborn blood pressure problems within 2-3 days. Some people can't tolerate or develop negative effects from conventional drugs for one reason or another. And in other cases, drugs are not sufficiently effective. HTN 180 Px can often be helpful as an alternative or complementary way to help manage blood pressure issues.*
High blood pressure is potentially dangerous. For this reason, we recommend that HTN 180 Px only be used under the supervision of a doctor. Similarly, we recommend that the discontinuation of any prescription high blood pressure medicine be done only as instructed by a doctor.
HTN 180 Px is designed for those stubborn situations in which the blood pressure remains high in spite of lifestyle modifications. It combines the potent pressure lowering herb Rauwolfia serpentina with gently sedative and cardiotonic plants. Rauwolfia contains the powerful alkaloid reserpine, but avoids the toxicity associated with the drug of the same name. Isolated substances which are very potent in themselves are often mitigated in nature by other constituents which render the overall herb more balanced than the isolated drug. However, Rauwolfia often exhibits dramatic strength in reducing even malignant pressure. Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidea erythrina) is a relaxing nervine, helpful especially in cases where stress plays a role. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycanthaa) is a favorite among western herbalists in the management of all heart and circulatory disorders, as it is a gentle tonic for these systems. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a relaxing and nurturing herb of specific benefit for the heart and circulation when it is taxed by anxiousnees and tension. Mistletoe (Viscum album) is believed to work directly on the vagus nerve to reduce heart rate while soothing and toning frayed nerves.*
Side Benefits
As side benefits, HTN 180 PX is often very helpful in helping people with insomnia to sleep better, and for people with a lot of stress and anxiousness to feel more relaxed.*
Side Effects
HTN 180 Px can sometimes cause loose stools, gastric upset, lightheadedness, and/or nasal congestion. These side effects, if they occur, are usually mild and might be tolerated considering the benefit of lowering the blood pressure. About 5% of people may experience some fatigue or depressed mood (just as prescription high blood pressure medicines often cause these side effects).*
It should be noted that the blood pressure has not typically been seen to go too low using HTN 180 Px, even when added to prescription medications. Nevertheless, blood pressures should always be monitored regularly.*
Considering Contributing Factors
A variety of conditions can contribute to high blood pressure and it's always best to address underlying factors as well as possible.
HTN 180 Px with WT3 protocol
In the management of people doing the WT3 protocol it is imperative to assess cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure. People with severe high blood pressure often can become normotensive with the use of HTN 180 Px within a week. It also aids in mild heart rhythm irregularities. However some people with severe high blood pressure do not respond to an herbal or pharmaceutical approach. People who do not respond within two weeks, can increase dosage to 2 caps three times a day under careful monitoring. People who do not respond should be investigated for high blood pressure due to secondary causes such as renal dysfunction, high homocysteine levels, high stress levels, etc.*
Drug Interactions
Although there is no historical records of people becoming too low in blood pressure with herbal management, one should be aware of the possibility especially if taking pharmaceutical preparations at the same time. It is important to remember that anti-hypertensive pharmaceutical drugs need to be weaned off gradually usually within a 2 week period.*
Supporting Research
Indian Snake Root
(Rauwolfia serpentina)
Hypertension:
Rauwolfia contains the powerful alkaloid reserpine, but its effect does not include the toxicity associated with the drug of the same name. Rauwolfia has been employed for centuries for the relief of various central nervous system disorders, both psychic and motor, including anxiety states, excitement, maniacal behaviour associated with psychosis, schizophrenia, insanity insomnia and epilepsy. Powdered Rauwolfia root, as well as various forms of extracts (ethanolic, dried), has been reported to lower the blood pressure of experimental animals by various routes of administration (1). This herb exhibits dramatic strength in reducing severe hypertension. It produces sedation and a lowering of blood pressure. If administered orally, the effects of reserpine are slow, seldom appearing before 3-6 days of administration and continuing for some time after withdrawal of the herb.
Pharmacology
It is well accepted that the pharmacological effects of Rauwolfia are due to its alkaloids, especially the reserpine-rescinnamine group. Reserpine is the most important alkaloid present in root, stem and leaves of the plant. It varies from 1.7 to 3.0%. The root barks has more than 90% of the total alkaloids in roots. Ajmalicine, ajmaline, isoajmaline, ajmalinine, chandrine, rauwolfinine, renoxidine, rescin-namine, reserpiline, reserpin, reserpinine, sarpagine, serpentine, serpentinine, tetraphyllicine, yohimbine, 3-epi-a-yohimbine are the minor alkaloids identified from samples collected from India. The pharmacological activity of Rauwolfia is due to the presence of several alkaloids.
The experimental pharmacology of reserpine and related compounds has been well documented (2). Rauwolfia and its major alkaloids probably lower high blood pressure by depleting tissue stores of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) from peripheral sites. By contrast, their sedative and tranquillizing properties are thought to be related to depletion of catecholamines and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) from the brain. Following absorption from the gastrointestinal tract the active alkaloids concentrate in tissues with high lipid content.They pass the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. Rauwolfia products are characterized by slow onset of action and sustained effect. Both the cardiovascular and central nervous system effects may persist following withdrawal of the drug. The active alkaloids are metabolized in the liver to inactive compounds that are excreted primarily in the urine.
Contraindications
Rauwolfia products are contraindicated in patients with a history of mental depression (especially those with suicidal tendencies) during or shortly after therapy with monoamine oxidase inhibitors; active peptic ulcer, sinus node disorders, ulcerative colitis; epilepsy; or decreased renal function. Rauwolfia should be discontinued at first signs of depression such as despondency, early morning insomnia, loss of appetite, impotence, or self-deprecation.
References - Rauwolfia
1. Hänsel R, Henkler G. Rauwolfia In: Hänsel R et al., eds. Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Vol. 6, 5th ed. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1994:361-384.
2. Rand MJ, Jurevics H. The pharmacology of Rauwolfia alkaloids. In: Gross F, ed.Antihypertensive agents. New York, Springer-Verlag, 1977:77-159.
3. Blumethal. Expanded Commission E Monographs: Hawthorn. Copyright 2000 American Botanical Council. Published by Integrative Medicine Communications.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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