There was plenty of advice for the reader who is taking the drug Atenolol for her high blood pressure. The drug is affecting her quality of life, and she was wondering what else she could do to keep her blood pressure under control, but without the nasty side effects. Try Autogenic Training, suggests one reader. It can help reduce hypertension as well as self-image and frame of mind, so presumably it's something that could also help the anorexia nervosa patients. More can be found on: http://www.autogenic-therapy.org.uk/index.htm. In a similar vein (pun intention optional), a hypnotherapist tells us that blood flow and pressure are both very responsive to the trance state and deep relaxation. Self-hypnosis can help, but it's best to start out with a qualified practitioner. Meditation certainly helped one reader, who had also been prescribed Atenolol, but the drug slowed down her heart rate so much that she lost consciousness. The drug was also causing suicidal thoughts. Dandelion tea and coffee could also do the trick, and they're as effective as diuretics, says our reader. One reader who has lived with high blood pressure for 20 years suggests avoiding all products that contain the artificial sweeteners Aspartame and monosodium glutamate. Avoid all caffeine, and replace standard tea with Rooibosch (Redbush) tea, and eat plenty of eggs. You could also test Ecoflow's bioflow magnets, or give the Alexander technique a try. From homeopathy, try crataegus (hawthorn) tincture, but check first with a registered homeopath to make sure it doesn't interact with Atenolol. Other homeopathic remedies could include arnica and kali mur. Neways produces a multi-mineral called Orachel, which is a chelation product that has had anecdotal reports of successfully reducing blood pressure. One reader has reduced her blood pressure 'radically' after taking 100 mg daily of co-enzyme Q10. If it causes pain in the upper abdomen, drop the dose to 60 mg. Another reader has had similar success with the supplement, but adds 1500 mgm omega-3 fish oil, and 3 guggulipid supplements a day. Another has done well on a daily regimen of 400-500 mg magnesium. The reader who recommended a raw food diet for ALD suggests the same to treat high blood pressure, and adds that her brother-in-law successfully reduced his blood pressure by drinking 1 litre of orange juice every day. The problem could be caused by the release of the hormone cortisol, which can occur during periods of constant stress. As a result the body becomes resistant to insulin, and the problem can be exacerbated if the person already has a poor diet or does little exercise. This theory, put forward by naturopath Penny Kendall-Reed, is fully explained in her book The Complete Doctor's Stress Solution.