Seeking Natural Treatment for Primary Aldosteronism... Is There One?
One of my dearest friends has just been diagnosed with Primary Aldosteronism... a rare adrenal cause of hypertension. It was only found after he experienced a severe brain bleed and neurosurgery back in July last year. At the time all his tests came back negative and his specialists were perplexed as to why he's had the stroke. Against all predictions his recovery was extraordinary and he walked out the hospital 4 weeks after surgery - we were told he's never walk or talk again.
Since then they've discovered the cause of his hypertension... Primary Aldosteronism.
He is of course on a chemist shop sized number of drugs.
He is also committed to ultimately going drug free.
My question is - have you had anyone else seek natural support for this condition?
And... does anyone know of successful natural treatments for this condition?
Thank you
Jane
Houston
03/21/2018
Hi Jane,
Primary Aldosterone may not be as rare as it is diagnosed..they estimate 10% of high blood pressure cases may be caused by primary aldosterone. They are probably rxin spironolactone to block the excess aldosterone produced by the adrenal gland. He should take this! With potassium, renin and aldosterone levels in check, his blood pressure may go back to normal. If they find a tumor on one of his adrenial glands, they may want to remove it. Often (I forgot the percentage) this will remove the need for high blood pressure meds and the spiro.
I don't have insurance and I went untreated for 10 years. Then I developed unstable angina and nearly died. They placed a stent in my heart and my blood pressure was normal for nearly a year. Now even with meds it has spiked again. They were stumped as to why I had a 90% blockage in my heart at the age of 46 without eating fast food or even fried food..
I too am looking for a natural way to get my adrenial glands to work properly again but most of the literature is on underproducing not over producing glands. I can't afford the surgery and I don't know if it is one or two glands..or if it is really secondary aldosterone.
One study I read said that vitamin D could help. I know I've tested low for this in the past. He may want that test as well.
Good luck!
Illinois
11/06/2023
Illinois
07/21/2024
Michigan
09/09/2025
I don't know of a natural cure, but some information is helpful to know.
Newer research is showing that in resistant hypertension sometimes requiring more than one or two Blood Pressure medications, there may be 20-30% who have primary or secondary aldosteronism.
The kidneys and adrenal glands regulate blood pressure (aside from having atherosclerosis, clogged arteries and veins, etc.) in a feedback loop involving renin, aldosterone, angiotensin I and II and it's call the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS).
The diagnosis is not made in one step. A first step is to test for the Renin Activity Level and then the Aldosterone levels. There are different ratios between the two, the Renin Activity and the Aldosterone levels. One can have low renin or high renin activity and still have the high blood pressure.
See the Primary Aldosteronism Foundation for excellent explanations:
https://primaryaldosteronism.org/pa-is-an-endocrine-disease/
Higher aldosterone levels may be caused by very small, benign, non-cancerous nodules on the adrenal gland atop the kidneys. If only one is found, they do a laparoscopic surgery to remove it, and treatment is more effective if there's only one small nodule on the adrenal gland.
Medications may also be given to handle the higher than normal aldosterone production, but results are mixed depending on the individual case.
Because a medication may block the receptors for the aldosterone being naturally produced, the body counteracts that medication effect by producing even more aldosterone, so whether a treatment is a prescription medication or a natural, non prescription medication were to be found, the body would counteract that action by the treating medication and dosage would have to be raised, which is done.
So, it seems that a natural or prescription medication treatment is not without its problems and also side effects of whatever is used, and if a small, laparoscopic surgery can solve the issue, which it can in many cases, then the docs prefer the surgical route which is effective and has a statistically very low risk factor.
