Expert: Eric Brandt - 11/20/2004

Question
I'm an extemely healthy and active 71 year old, hiking and swimming and professional artist. I'm working on getting about 30 pounds off to hopefully go off of blood pressure medication. Along with that goes the diuretic and the natural compound hormone. Is there something to replace those last two in the way of herbal remedies? I really eventually want to completely get off of prescriptions.  What I'm taking for the diuretic is hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tabs.  

Answer
Hi Marilyn,
I do not know of a "natural" diuretic that would as effective as hydrochlorothiazide.
As for an alternative hormone, the health food stores carry many brands of plant extracted hormones that mimic estrogen and provide relief from menopausal symptoms. I am not convinced they are any safer than the prescription ones. I have seen women complain of breast tenderness with these "natural" hormone replacements. But you might want to try them anyways. As for the hormones being used to prevent osteoporosis, there are no studies I am aware of that support their use for that purpose.
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Sincerely,
Eric Brandt, B.Sc. Pharm