High Blood Pressure: A Naturopathic Doctor's Root-Cause Approach to Natural Blood Pressure Control

You take your medication. You've cut back on salt. You check your numbers. And your blood pressure is still a concern, or you worry about being on pills for life. If all you've been told is "eat less salt and take this," you may be missing the bigger picture.

I'm Dr. Elie Klein, ND, a naturopathic doctor (naturopath) with 23 years of clinical practice and the author of Read This If You Have a Heart, a book on lowering high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar naturally.

Who this page is for

This page is for you if:

• Your blood pressure is high despite medication
• You've been told to cut your salt and it didn't solve the problem
• You worry about lifelong medication and its side effects
• You also have diabetes or prediabetes, extra weight, or you're getting older
• You worry about heart attack or stroke
• You have fatigue, or cold hands and feet along with high blood pressure

Ready to talk? Start with a free 15-minute conversation, or book your first consultation.

Book a Consultation or a Free 15-Minute Call

Why blood pressure rises: it's largely a metabolic problem

High blood pressure typically comes with aging, diabetes, and being overweight. These are the most common links, though kidney disease and other factors can play a role too. What they share is a metabolism that isn't working as well as it should.

Here's the simple version. When metabolism slows, your cells take up fewer nutrients. Higher blood pressure is partly your body's compensation: it raises the pressure to push more nutrients and oxygen to tissues far from the heart.

Blood circulation also isn't only about the heart pumping. In the smallest vessels, blood moves through fluid dynamics: sliding layers of fluid influenced by minerals, electrical charges, and proteins. These dynamics start to fail when metabolism breaks down, and circulation to the extremities suffers with them.

Metabolism, in turn, is affected by stress, hormones, nutrition, lifestyle, electromagnetic influences, and circadian rhythm. Treating only the number leaves the cause in place.

Salt and blood pressure: what the research shows

In my book I reviewed studies showing that:

• High salt intake doesn't consistently raise blood pressure. It does so in only about 20 to 30 percent of people.
• Sodium and potassium work together to regulate blood pressure. Getting enough potassium can offset the effects of a high sodium intake.
• Too little sodium is linked to more cardiovascular disease and heart events. In plain terms, a very low-salt diet may do more harm than good for some people.

One caution: people with significantly reduced kidney function or chronic kidney disease need careful attention to potassium intake.

My root-cause, functional medicine approach

The solution is simple in principle: use knowledge and experience to find the underlying causes and address them. I use common tests to assess metabolic, inflammatory and nutritional influences, such as blood sugar and insulin, markers of inflammation and kidney function, and key nutrient levels.

Your plan is individualized. It includes a personalized diet plan, lifestyle changes, and targeted nutraceuticals, with my support in putting it into practice. See also my approach to blood sugar and my approach to cholesterol.

Working alongside your doctor and your medication

My approach isn't meant to replace your doctor's care. It's meant to complement it and, ideally, support and improve it. I've helped people reduce and come off blood pressure medication when that was their wish. This is done with their doctor's awareness and agreement whenever possible, and only once blood pressure has been consistently under control over time, in a safe way. Please never stop or reduce your medication on your own.

How we work together

1. Before your visit: you complete a health questionnaire and send me your recent lab work and home blood pressure readings.
2. Your consultation: a one-on-one video visit where we go through your history, unhurried.
3. Targeted testing: only what's needed to find the causes.
4. Your plan: diet, lifestyle and individualized treatments, with my support.
5. Follow-up: we track your readings and your labs together and adjust.

What we aim for

Healthier, steadier blood pressure readings, more energy, better circulation, and confidence about your heart health. If you'd like examples of the results other people have experienced, reach out to me and I'll send you a link.

Seek emergency care right away for severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body.

Virtual care across Ontario, or in person in Vaughan (Greater Toronto Area)

Appointments are by secure video from the comfort of your home, whether you live in Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Mississauga, Hamilton, Ottawa, or anywhere else in Ontario. If you prefer a one-on-one visit in person, you're welcome to come to my home office in Vaughan, in the Greater Toronto Area. Most extended health plans in Ontario cover naturopathic care.

Book a Consultation or a Free 15-Minute Call

Related reading

• Salt in context: usually it does not raise blood pressure
• Thyroid problems: my root-cause approach

Frequently asked questions

Can high blood pressure be lowered naturally?

Often, yes. Because high blood pressure is largely a metabolic problem, addressing the underlying metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional causes can bring it down, as a complement to your doctor's care.

Does salt cause high blood pressure?

Not consistently. Studies I reviewed in my book show salt raises blood pressure in only about 20 to 30 percent of people.

Can too little salt be harmful?

Studies link very low sodium intake with more cardiovascular disease and heart events.

Does potassium lower blood pressure?

Sodium and potassium work together, and enough potassium helps offset the effect of sodium. People with significantly reduced kidney function or chronic kidney disease need careful attention to potassium intake.

Why is my blood pressure high even though I take medication?

Medication treats the number, not necessarily the cause. If metabolism, hormones, or nutrition are driving it, the problem can persist.

Is there a natural treatment for hypertension?

Natural treatment, as I practise it, means finding what's driving your blood pressure and addressing it through nutrition, lifestyle, and nutraceuticals, alongside your doctor's care.

Can a naturopath help with high blood pressure?

Yes. As a naturopathic doctor, I look at the metabolic, inflammatory, and nutritional causes behind your blood pressure and address them, as a complement to your doctor's care.

Can I come off my blood pressure medication?

Some people reduce their medication over time, with their doctor's awareness and agreement, once their blood pressure has been consistently under control. Never change your medication on your own.

Can I get help with blood pressure virtually?

Yes. I see patients across Ontario by secure video, from my home office in Vaughan, in the Greater Toronto Area.

References

Sources for the salt and sodium research discussed on this page:

1. Weinberger MH, Miller JZ, Luft FC, et al. Definitions and characteristics of sodium sensitivity and blood pressure resistance. Hypertension. 1986;8(6 Pt 2):II127-II134.
2. Intersalt Cooperative Research Group. Intersalt: an international study of electrolyte excretion and blood pressure. Results for 24 hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion. BMJ. 1988;297(6644):319-328.
3. Elijovich F, Weinberger MH, Anderson CAM, et al. Salt sensitivity of blood pressure: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension. 2016;68(3):e7-e46.
4. Alderman MH, Madhavan S, Cohen H, Sealey JE, Laragh JH. Low urinary sodium is associated with greater risk of myocardial infarction among treated hypertensive men. Hypertension. 1995;25(6):1144-1152.
5. Alderman MH, Cohen H, Madhavan S. Dietary sodium intake and mortality: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). Lancet. 1998;351(9105):781-785.
6. Graudal NA, Gallöe AM, Garred P. Effects of sodium restriction on blood pressure, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, cholesterols, and triglyceride: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 1998;279(17):1383-1391.

This page is educational and isn't meant to replace your doctor's care.