Tag Archives: blood pressure

Check your mouthwash if you have high blood pressure

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I listened to a podcast from the Huberman Lab, How to Improve Oral Health and Its Critical Role in Brain and Body Health, recently. I learned a lot, and I want to share a couple of insights that can improve health.

(The whole podcast is a good listen if you like to keep up with the latest science about health, and… it’s 2 hours long! I listen sometimes while driving into Austin for work several days a week. It’s available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and other venues.)

First, know that some kinds of mouthwash can actually raise your blood pressure. (Timestamp on YouTube is 1:22:38.)

Wow! That was news to me!

There’s an ingredient in antiseptic mouthwashes that you want to avoid: chlorhexidine. It’s an antimicrobial substance used to treat gingivitis.

Turns out the oral cavity (mouth) has a microbiome that includes microbes that regulate blood pressure!

Who knew, right?

Chlorhexidine in mouthwash kills these helpful microbes, leading to higher systolic blood pressure. That’s the top number.

Here’s more on this finding: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324621#Mouthwash-may-do-more-harm-than-good

Dr. Huberman also recommends against using alcohol-based mouthwashes because they deplete the healthy oral microbiome.

Takeaway: read the ingredients, especially if you use mouthwash and have high blood pressure.

Second, xylitol is a low-calorie sweetener that streptococcus mutans bacteria eat (like any sugar). Unlike other sugars, xylitol prevents formation of an acid made by these bacteria that demineralizes the teeth and leads to cavities. (Timestamp is 1:14:23.)

So xylitol keeps teeth mineralized and prevents cavities.

It also helps the body produce more saliva, which also supports remineralization of the teeth.

When I do intraoral manual therapy for my clients with jaw tension, I ask them to swish with a little mouthwash before I put a gloved finger into their mouths. I’ve used salt water too. Although it doesn’t freshen breath, rinsing with salt water helps keep healthy mouth bacteria in balance.

I started doing this when the COVID virus was such a concern, and I still use an air filter.

I like to use Spry breath mints made with xylitol to freshen my breath, and when researching nontoxic mouthwashes, I learned that Spry makes a xylitol mouthwash that is not alcohol-based.

How Phyllis got off pharmaceuticals

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Phyllis was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. She also had thyroid issues, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. At the most, she was taking 12 different pharmaceuticals.

Besides reversing her diabetes (to read that story, start with Part 1 here or read this summary), she got off all her prescription meds.

Getting off medication is a taboo in many people’s minds. Once prescribed a medication, they believe that they have to take it for the rest of their life because their condition is irreversible. They believe that no longer taking a medication would be disobeying a doctor’s orders, and doctors are like God.

Medications can be extremely helpful, even life-saving. Byetta made a major difference for Phyllis. Yet it turned out she only needed it for a while, until her body became healthier and less resistant to insulin.

If you are in doubt about whether you might ever be able to go off a medication, ask your doctor if lifestyle changes can make a difference. Continue reading →

Restorative yoga class changes

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Yesterday I wrote that I was limiting the size of my Sunday night Unwinding class to three students. I realized last night from setting up a different way that there’s room for one more student.

So the new maximum is four. I have a couple of regulars and would love to have a couple more.

I encourage you to visit and find out for yourself if this class meets your needs. If you’d like to check it out, please call or text or email ahead (preferably by Sunday noon at the latest) to make sure there’s space and props for you. I’d love to introduce you to restorative yoga!

If you’re already a regular, please know how much I appreciate knowing when you’re not going to be there. You’ve been great about that!

Starting next week, I’m initiating something new — taking blood pressure and pulse/oxygen readings before and after class. 

One student has high blood pressure and insomnia. She says she always sleeps well after taking this class. I’m curious about whether there’s a connection between blood pressure and insomnia. She has a blood pressure measuring device that she’s letting us all use. 

I bought a fingertip pulse oximeter, which measures pulse rate and oxygen saturation. We’ll use that as well, before and after class.

I love reading what scientists have learned about the effects of practicing yoga. I’d like to add something to that body of work, even if it’s not a double-blind study with controls. Does everyone’s blood pressure decrease after a restorative class? If so, how much? Does their pulse slow and oxygen saturation increase? How does this tie into stress, sleep, and being centered?

Stay tuned to find out!