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I have high blood pressure, what supplements I should take or not take.

I have been taking pressure medication for a few years, but recently my feet are swelling and I'm afraid it could be my heart. Or my meds, not sure which. But I have been also taking some anti-inflammatory supplements and wondering what elements may be bad for me. I am taking beetroot powder, boswellia capsules, pine bark extract, vitamin D3, a regular multivitamin tablet, I am thinking to get off my pressure meds for a week to see if my feet and ankles recover. I know I should see the doctor, but I have so much to do and my leg is in pain so it's hard for me to move. My leg in pain has nothing to do with my foot swelling, since I had a knee operation years ago and the orthopedic doctor said it's a result of a hip problem. My basic question is: since I have high blood pressure and am taking meds, what supplements or foods should I be wary of?
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Avatar universal
If those are the only supplements you're taking, they shouldn't have that effect.  But only one of them is an anti-inflammatory, so there's that as well.  That one is the boswellia.  The only major caveat to that one I know of, and you can research this stuff easily by buying a good herbal, is it contains some of the same acid that aspirin is made of.  It's not a lot, so it's not a big risk, and if you've never had an ulcer problem it's not an issue.  A multi if you're taking one tablet especially if it's a drugstore vitamin doesn't have enough of anything in it to cause harm -- and if it's a one a day, probably not enough for much benefit either.  The beetroot powder I'm not sure why you're taking, but beets are very high in fiber and so when you eat them they can make some people go to the bathroom a bit more than usual, but this is usually a good thing.  Pine bark is a source particularly of one very potent antioxidant, and I suppose as such it might have a bit of an anti-inflammatory effect, but wouldn't cause the swelling.  There are many better anti-inflammatory plant medicines out there than the ones you're taking, again, except for the boswellia, which is mostly used in rheumatoid arthritis.  Don't know what the swelling is, could be water retention, could be a sign of diabetes, don't really know.  Could be your medication, but if you've been taking it for years without this problem I'd consult a doctor and get a diagnosis.  Best of luck.
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Meant to add, the main one to avoid is licorice.  There is a form called DGL that is safe to take, but regular licorice contains an ingredient that can raise blood pressure.  Not an anti-inflammatory, though.
Thanks for your comment. You say there are better anti-inflammatory plant medications out there, so what are they? Your input is appreciated.
It's complicated, because this is done best if you know what you're dealing with.  A hip problem, for example, which I have developed and it really is unpleasant, may be inflammation or it might be something structural.  I also don't know all the things that might be going on with you.  So you have to do some homework of your own and maybe see a professional in natural medicine.  But for a short answer, the strongest natural anti-inflammatories are probably turmeric and ginger.  Especially the turmeric.  But there are a lot of them -- devil's claw, fish oil, white willow bark.  Then there are the anti-histamines, which also reduce inflammation -- freeze dried nettles, quercitin, bromelain, etc.  There are proteolytic enzyme combinations.  As I say, a lot of stuff, depending on what it is you're dealing with.  
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