The Dual Symphony of Existence on Matter, 

Soul, and the Question of Human Continuity (Part 2) 

by:lim ju boo - Chinese name -  lin ru wu (林 如 武)

 

I wrote an article for my brother-in-law here:

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-unseen-soul-invisible-dimensions.html

Let us continue on this discussion. 

Human existence has long been understood through two complementary lenses: the material and the immaterial, the visible and the unseen. Science explores the structure and behavior of matter, while philosophy and theology grapple with meaning, consciousness, and identity. Between these domains lies a profound question: Is there something within us that transcends the physical body?

Let me propose a reflective hypothesis, one that does not claim experimental proof, but seeks coherence between analogy, theology, and scientific understanding.

 

1. The Analogy of the Negative and the Image

In the earlier days of photography, images were produced using negatives. These negatives contained the complete informational structure of a photograph and could be used repeatedly to reproduce identical positive prints anywhere in the world so long as we still have the photographic negative with us. The film negative represents our soul, and the positive print of our photo represents our physical body. Both must exist together to make us what we are - the body with a soul  - the living breath of God. No sane person, including the highest trained scientist can deny this. Let me expand on my thoughts further which is my hypothesis even though we are unable to prove this with experimental data - because we live in a physical world. The "negative film" belongs to the spiritual world in another dimension that we are unable to cross over because there is a deep chasm between between these two worlds.

In many traditions, this chasm is described as a vast gulf, abyss or a fixed barrier that cannot be crossed in either direction in those in the afterlife cannot return in the living, and the living cannot cross cannot enter the realm of the dead. 

Ancient Greek description of the afterlife (Hades or Tartarus) often include a chasma mega which is a giant chasm that functions as a barrier or a dark, shadowy path that separates the dead from the the world of the living. 

In the parable of the rich man and the Lazarus, Jesus too reveal the us exactly the same as given in (Luke 16:26).

Hence, it is impossible for scientists like us to cross over this deep chasm between the physical and the spiritual worlds with our instruments to observe, let alone measure what's going on the other world. We can only  sense this logically through revelation. This clearly tell us we cannot even feel there is a spiritual half  (the soul) in all of us as long as we remain living and physical.   

This analogy offers a useful framework for understanding human existence:

1. The physical body is like a printed photograph - visible, tangible, and temporary.

2. The soul may be likened to the photographic  film negative - an enduring blueprint that preserves identity. 

The printed image may fade, tear, or be destroyed. Yet as long as the negative exists, the image can be recreated. This film negative can be kept as long as possible and brought to any other town, city or even to another foreign country not our own where an exact  positive photographic image of ourselves can be produced. Its  like our soul in a form of a negative film where we may travel to  appear in an exact form in another foreign world when we leave this world on death. We need only carry our soul as a negative film where a positive image of ourselves can easily be developed, namely, in another world when we die a physical death here  in this world.      

Similarly, the human body is subject to aging, decay, and eventual dissolution into the elements from which it arose. But if there exists a non-material essence, a “negative”, it may serve as a carrier of identity beyond physical death.

2. The Biblical Perspective: Breath and Dust

This duality is echoed in the scriptural account found in Genesis 2:7:

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Two components are described:

1. Dust of the ground — the material body

 2.  Breath of life — the animating principle

The body alone does not constitute life. It becomes “living” only when infused with this breath. One may interpret this breath as more than a biological function—it may represent a non-material essence, a soul.

3. Rebirth and Continuity of Identity

In the New Testament, the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus introduces the concept of being “born again”—a transformation that is not merely physical but spiritual - the presence of a soul. 

This suggests continuity beyond the present form. If the body is transient, then whatever is “reborn” must be something that persists beyond bodily decay.

Within the framework of the earlier analogy, it is the “negative”—the soul—that carries forward the blueprint of identity into another mode of existence.

 4. A Scientific Reflection: The Journey of Matter

Modern astrophysics provides a striking parallel narrative regarding the origin of our physical bodies.

The astronomer Carl Sagan popularized the idea that humans are made of “star-stuff.” The elements essential to life—carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, calcium, and iron—were forged in the cores of ancient stars and dispersed through supernova explosions.

This idea was earlier anticipated by Harlow Shapley and is frequently reiterated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, who emphasizes that our atoms are traceable to cosmic origins.

Thus, even from a purely scientific standpoint, our physical existence is not confined to Earth. The matter that constitutes our bodies has already undergone a vast journey across space and time. Similarly, we may take another outward journey to another star (world) when we die here. 

I  have also written an article we may have come from another world after being  blown here as star dusts, for God to blow into these dusts to make us as a living souls for us  to stay here temporary: 

The Brevity of Human Life:  

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=we+are+made+of+star+dusts

5. Beyond Measurement: The Limits of

 Science

Science depends on observation, measurement, and reproducibility. Yet not all meaningful concepts are directly measurable.

The soul does not appear to interact with instruments in a way that allows for direct detection. However, this limitation does not necessarily invalidate its existence. In science it does not mean if we are unable to see, detect or measure an entity that entity does not exist  

Science itself often begins with theoretical constructs. A notable example is Hawking radiation, proposed by Stephen Hawking. This phenomenon arises from quantum effects near the event horizon of black holes and remained undetected for decades after its prediction.

Once again, such examples remind us that absence of evidence is not always evidence of absence, especially when dealing with phenomena at the boundaries of current knowledge. 

6. A Philosophical Synthesis

If we bring these strands together, a possible synthesis emerges:

1. The body is material, transient, and derived from cosmic matter.

2. The soul, if it exists, may function as a carrier of identity.

3. Death represents not necessarily annihilation, but separation of these components.

Within this framework, the soul may be seen as preserving the informational essence of a person, analogous to a negative preserving an image.

Whether this essence is ever reconstituted into another form remains beyond scientific verification, but it is a hypothesis that blends with both theological teachings and philosophical reasoning.

7.  The Question That Remains

The question of the soul ultimately lies at the intersection of science, philosophy, and belief.

Science tells us what we are made of.
Philosophy asks what it means.
Faith suggests why it matters.

I believe my analogy of the photographic negative offers a powerful way to bridge these domains. It does not claim proof, but it invites reflection.

And perhaps, in matters such as these, reflection is the beginning of understanding.

Extension of My Previous Original  Thought

 

Briefly explained, the analogy the presence of a soul in us and in all living creatures further is  this way:

If the soul is analogous to a “negative” carrying the blueprint of identity, then it may not merely preserve structure, it may also encode memory, consciousness, and moral imprint.

This raises deeper questions:

1. Is consciousness an emergent property of

 the brain, or is the brain a receiver of a deeper essence?

 

2. Does the “blueprint” include not only form, but experience?

 

3. Could moral and spiritual development influence the “quality” of this blueprint?

 

4. As we grow up in life we take many photos of ourselves with mistakes and sins we committed along the way without us knowing it. The latest photo of ourselves will be displayed for our funeral. Those series of photos together with their negatives will be used for or against us as evidences whether we change  from our mistakes or repent for our sins. They will be photographed as our spiritual negatives to be printed and copied in our next world. Such questions move us toward the idea that human life is not only biological but informational and experiential, with continuity that may extend beyond physical existence.

Once again, human beings may be understood as consisting of two parts:

1. A physical body, made from earthly and cosmic materials

 

2. A non-physical essence (soul), which may carry identity

Using the analogy of a photographic negative:

3. The body is like a printed photo—temporary and perishable

 4. The soul is like the negative—preserving the blueprint of who we are

 

5. Taking care of our souls that is "negative photographic film" of our ourselves is exceedingly far, far more important than just taking care of our temporary physical body and physical health here that last at maximum 100 years, for it is from our souls that is eternal that many, many copies of ourselves can be reprinted as evidences for us be saved in the next world, or condemned into the eternal Lake of Fire when we leave this world.  

 

If we live aggressively with anger, selfishly accumulating great physical wealth all the time - all of them we will instantly be forced to leave behind on death. 

Many exist here without love, charity and compassion for anyone, without sharing anything at all, do not wish to acknowledge the presence of God who breathe into us  a living soul. 

Science shows that our bodies come from star matter, while theology suggest that life comes from a divine breath. Although the soul cannot be measured scientifically, it may still be a reasonable hypothesis to explain consciousness and identity.

It is almost impossible for scientists to prove spiritual entities and dimensions they cannot see or measure because of this great chasms, except revealed to us as I have already earlier explained.

 

Even for physical entities such as dark matter that constitute about 85 % of all matter in the universe, 68 % of the total energy in the cosmos are dark energy,  as well as neutrinos, primordial gravitational  waves that ripples in spacetime created during the Big Bang - all of them are extremely difficult to detect. So are quantum and subatomic such as axion that are hypothetical ultra-lightweight particles or quantum entanglement / fluctuations - all of them belonging to our physical world. 

If we find it so difficult to detect these entities  that are physical, how much more difficult it would it be to cross over a deep chasm separating the physical and the spiritual worlds for us to know what exist in the other dimension? They can only be revealed to us in scriptures as I have already quoted several verses on this.

 A very few of us like myself have very strong intuition to feel beyond - something  constantly telling me their presence for me to express to share here.   

However, for most other scientists  they use their trained and qualified knowledge as a springboard to logically build up a hypothesis which normally can be shown experimentally later with an an accuracy of over 95 %. 

 

See here also my views on the physical - the thermodynamics of death:  

 

 https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=thermodynamics+of+death

 

References for Further Reading

Science and Cosmology

1. Cosmos – Carl Sagan

 

2. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry – Neil deGrasse Tyson

Physics and Theory

3. A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking

Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness

4. The Conscious Mind – David Chalmers

Theology and Spiritual Thought

5. The Bible (especially Genesis and the Gospel

The Unseen Soul, Invisible Dimensions, and the Limits of Human Understanding

My brother-in-law Ong Geok Soo working in Singapore wrote to me and to everybody through WhatsApp telling us he does not believe in a soul. He mentioned when a person or any living creature dies,  the body just break down without any soul left. He says he uses his "theory on quantum mechanics" to explain but he did not say how his "quantum mechanic" works - how life could exist without a soul? 

Let me explain my strongest beliefs in spiritual entities far beyond science can explain.

Human knowledge has always advanced within the narrow window of what can be observed, measured, and verified. Yet beyond this visible world lies a deeper question that science, by its very nature, cannot fully answer: whether human existence is purely material, or whether there exists a non-physical essence, what many traditions call the soul.

Modern science, including disciplines such as Quantum Mechanics, has greatly expanded our understanding of the physical universe. However, its strength is also its limitation. Science is designed to study matter, energy, space, and time. It does not possess the instruments or methodology to investigate what lies beyond the physical. Therefore, to conclude that the soul does not exist based on scientific reasoning is not truly a scientific conclusion, but rather a philosophical stance rooted in materialism.

Interestingly, even within physics, reality is far less solid and straightforward than it appears. What we perceive as tangible matter is, at its deepest level, governed by invisible fields, probabilities, and interactions that cannot be directly seen. This alone reminds us that unseen realities can exist and exert influence without being directly measurable. It is therefore not unreasonable to consider that existence may include dimensions beyond our current ability to detect.

The biblical narrative presents a profound and consistent view of human nature, describing man not merely as a physical organism but as a being composed of body, soul, and spirit. In Genesis, life begins when God breathes into man, and he becomes a living soul. In the teachings of Christ, the soul is portrayed as something beyond the reach of physical harm, and in the writings of the apostles, a clear distinction is made between the physical body and the inner, enduring essence of a person. This perspective suggests that what we see is only one aspect of human existence, while the deeper reality lies within.

Beyond the individual soul, Scripture also speaks of an unseen order, a structured hierarchy of invisible forces and entities. These are described not as abstract ideas, but as active realities influencing the course of the world. The struggle of human life is portrayed as extending beyond physical conflicts into a realm of unseen powers, authorities, and spiritual forces. Such descriptions imply that reality is layered, with dimensions that remain hidden from ordinary perception yet are no less real.

The Bible further emphasizes that the visible universe itself originates from the unseen. What is perceptible to our senses is temporary and passing, while the unseen is enduring and eternal. There are even moments recorded where this hidden

dimension becomes briefly visible, suggesting that it exists alongside our physical world, though normally beyond our awareness.

What is remarkable is that this understanding is not confined to Christianity alone. Across civilizations and centuries, thinkers and traditions have converged on similar ideas. Plato reasoned that the soul is immortal and distinct from the body, while René Descartes proposed a dualism between mind and matter. Immanuel Kant acknowledged that certain realities, including the soul, lie beyond empirical proof yet remain deeply significant to human reason. In Islamic thought, the soul is described as belonging to a domain known fully only to God. In Hindu philosophy, the Ātman represents the eternal self that transcends physical existence. These parallels suggest that the intuition of a non-material essence is deeply embedded in human consciousness.

At the same time, human life in the physical sense is undeniably brief. Even under the best circumstances, it spans only a few decades, a fleeting moment in the vast timeline of the universe. Scripture vividly captures this reality, describing life as a vapour that appears for a short while and then disappears. Everything tied to the physical body, strength, beauty, wealth, and achievement, inevitably fades with time.

It is within this context that one of the most penetrating questions in Scripture is posed: what value is there in gaining the whole world if one loses the soul? The teachings recorded in Mark 8:36 and Matthew 16:26 confront us with a profound contrast between the temporary and the eternal. Material success, power, and recognition may appear significant, yet they are ultimately transient. If the soul endures beyond physical life, then sacrificing it for temporary gain would represent the greatest possible loss.

Disease and death is no respecter of any person. I know of many of my doctor colleagues and friends have passed away, and so were all my professors and senior lecturers in England who taught me. I have written at least two article on the brevity of human life here:  

 

1. https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=brevity+of+human 

 

2. Also on  humanity fleeting moments 

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2025/11/humanitys-fleeting-moment-in-age-of.html

This does not mean that physical health and well-being are unimportant. Caring for the body is both wise and necessary. However, when viewed in the broader perspective of existence, it becomes clear that the body is temporary, while the question of the soul, if it indeed exists, carries far greater and lasting significance.

When my brother-in-law Engineer Ong Geok Soo appeals to “quantum theory” to deny the soul, he is, perhaps unknowingly, stepping beyond the boundaries of science into philosophy. Physics can describe how particles behave, but it cannot determine whether consciousness is purely material or whether a deeper, non-physical reality exists. The absence of evidence within scientific instruments does not constitute evidence of absence in metaphysical questions.

In the end, the question of the soul is not merely scientific, it is existential. It asks each of us to consider what we are, what endures, and what ultimately matters. If there is even a possibility that the soul is real and eternal, then it would be wise to give it the attention it deserves. For if the unseen is indeed eternal, and the seen is only temporary, then the priorities of life must be reconsidered in that light. 

Let me give a summary version for my brother-in-law and to all gentle readers here: 

Human beings have long debated whether we are purely physical or possess a non-material soul. Science, including Quantum Mechanics, studies only the physical world and cannot prove or disprove the existence of the soul. Therefore, denying the soul based on science is a philosophical belief rather than a scientific fact.

The Bible teaches that humans consist of body, soul, and spirit, and that the soul endures beyond physical death. It also describes unseen forces and dimensions that exist beyond human perception, suggesting that reality is far greater than what we can observe.

This idea is supported by many thinkers such as Plato, René Descartes, and Immanuel Kant, as well as by other religions, all of which recognize a non-material aspect of human existence.

Human life on earth is brief, rarely exceeding 100 years, while the soul is eternal. This is why Scripture asks: what is the value of gaining the whole world if one loses the soul (Mark 8:36; Matthew 16:26)? Material success is temporary, but the soul carries eternal significance.

I think while we should care for our physical health, it is far more important to consider the state of our soul.  For if the unseen is eternal and the visible is temporary, then the greatest investment we can make is not in what we possess  temporary in this world we are on transit for a 100 years at maximum, but in what we ultimately gained eternally in another world. While we are still here, I don't think it is very pleasant to describe ourselves or any person as a soulless person like a piece of stone. Everyone likes to be labelled as a living, loving, soulful person with compassion and empathy - that's the living soul in us.  

We need to respect God who created  us who gave us life, and not be arrogant especially if we are professionals like scientists, doctors, and engineers.  

I thought I had written many times on this subject. Here's just one of them; my brother-in-law and others can read and delve further. 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=Soul

 Let me once again share my thoughts on the existence of a soul using this analogy or illustration on a article I wrote earlier on:

The Dual Symphony of Existence (Part 1) :

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=duality

I shall continue to explain logically on this subject why I think our soul is the "eternal negative photographic film" of our positive, but temporary photo print here in this world, and from this negative copy (soul)  many positive copies of our lives can be duplicated in another worlds when we die. 

Give me time to think how to put it  before I can write.  If readers can freely share their thoughts with me, it would be a blessing for their souls too for it is more blessed to give than to just receive. 

(Acts 20:35)

- jb lim 

An Integrative and Holistic Approach to Managing High Blood Pressure in the Elderly Advice for a Daughter Caring for Her 76-Year-Old Mother

 

 

Dear Doctor JB Lim

 

I read some of your articles on integrative medicine. Just two of them are quoted here among many.

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=integrative+medicine

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2025/09/integrative-medical-education-in-china.html

 

They were very interesting to most people these days as more and more patients  are switching back to more holistic approaches and less and less  drug dependent modality to treat  their chronic health problems. I have a problem with my own mother, aged 76 who has high blood pressure. She has been taking her doctor’s medicine from a government clinic for over 20 years without any  cure in sight - to all those untold chemical  medicines she has been ingesting . Not that just alone, her other  problem is,  she has to wait for at least 2 to 3 hours before she can see the doctor for just the same medicine, and, I cannot accompany her and wait there for her just to see a doctor as I need to go to work. 

 

Do you think you can suggest another alternative or integrated approach to manage her high blood pressure at home without constantly going to the clinic or hospital which is very tiring for her for her age and for me too having to take care of her. I shall be very grateful for your medical expertise and health advice.   

I have also written my comments for your beautifully and highly professionally written articles. Check them out.

Thank you very much Doctor Lim 

Jessie Wong 

 ----------------------

An Integrative and Holistic Approach to Manage High Blood Pressure in the Elderly

 

Advice for a Daughter Caring for Her 76-Year-Old Mother

 

Dear Jessie,

 

Thank you for your thoughtful letter and for your interest in integrative medicine. Your concern for your mother reflects both love and responsibility, and many families today face the same dilemma, elderly parents with chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, requiring long-term medication, repeated clinic visits, and the fatigue that comes with age.

Hypertension (high blood pressure, or HTN as we doctors commonly abbreviate it) is one of the most common chronic conditions in older adults. Many patients have been taking antihypertensive medication for decades, often without ever feeling “cured,” because high blood pressure is usually managed rather than permanently eliminated.

Your mother has been on treatment for more than 20 years, and understandably, both of you are wondering whether there is a more natural, less exhausting, and more holistic way to manage her condition.

The answer is yes, but with an important caution.

Lifestyle, dietary, and traditional supportive approaches can be extremely helpful, sometimes even as effective as a single medication in mild or early hypertension. However, prescribed medicines should never be stopped suddenly without proper medical supervision. The safest and wisest approach is not “alternative versus modern medicine,” but rather integrative medicine where both work together.

Understanding the Root of High Blood Pressure.

Blood pressure rises for many reasons: excess salt intake, obesity, stress, poor sleep, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol, kidney disease, ageing arteries, and sometimes hereditary factors.

One major contributor is excessive sodium (salt) intake.

Salt, chemically known as sodium chloride, causes the body to retain water. More retained water means a larger circulating blood volume, which increases hydrostatic pressure inside the blood vessels, rather like increasing water pressure inside a garden hose.

This is why doctors often advise salt restriction and may prescribe medications such as:

1. Valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which relaxes blood vessels

2. Thiazide diuretics, which help remove excess salt and water

Sometimes both are combined, such as in Co-Diovan, for patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled by one medicine alone.

Since I do not know what medication, your mother is currently taking, I cannot advise specifically on her drug treatment. However, I can certainly suggest non-pharmacological measures that are often highly beneficial.

1. Control Diet: Food as Medicine

We are, quite literally, what we eat.

One of the most effective approaches is adopting a diet rich in:

1.              Fruits

2.              Vegetables

3.              Whole grains

4.              Legumes

5.              Nuts

6.              Low-fat dairy products

This type of eating pattern can lower blood pressure by as much as 11 mmHg due to their low sodium and high potassium content which is comparable to some medications.

Salt Restriction

Salt intake should ideally be reduced to:

1,500–2,300 mg sodium per day

Even a small reduction of salt can lower blood pressure by 5–6 mmHg.

Avoid:

1.              Processed foods

2.              Canned foods

3.              Fast food

4.              Preserved meats

5.              Instant noodles

6.              Salty snacks

7.              Excessive soy sauce and table salt

These are often hidden sources of excessive sodium.

2. Increase Potassium Naturally

Potassium helps the body eliminate sodium and relaxes blood vessel walls.

Foods rich in potassium include:

1.              Bananas

2.              Avocados

3.              Potatoes

4.              Spinach

5.              Leafy greens

6.              Oranges

7.              Beans

A daily intake of about 3,500–5,000 mg from natural food sources is beneficial.

Sometimes potassium supplements such as Slow-K are prescribed, but food sources are generally safer and better tolerated.

3. Reduce Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates

Many people focus only on salt and forget sugar.

Excess refined sugar contributes significantly to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Professor John Yudkin, the late Professor and Chair of Nutrition at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, demonstrated as early as the 1960s that refined white sugar was strongly associated with coronary heart disease.

Reducing:

1.              White sugar

2.              Sweet drinks

3.              Cakes

4.              Biscuits

5.              White bread

6.              Refined carbohydrates

can improve both blood pressure and overall metabolic health.

4. Physical Activity—But Gently

Regular physical activity improves circulation, strengthens the heart, and lowers blood pressure by 5–8 mmHg.

General recommendations are:

1. 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly
(such as brisk walking, swimming, cycling)

or

2.   75 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly

However, for a 76-year-old lady, caution is essential.

She should not overexert herself. Sudden strenuous exercise may trigger cardiac events in elderly individuals.

Read my article and explanation here:

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=risks+of+exercise

Simple daily walking is often sufficient and far safer.

Suitable gentle activities include:

1.              Walking

2.              Light stretching

3.              Mild resistance exercises

4.              Gardening

5.              Household movement

Consistency matters more than intensity.

5. Weight Management

Even a small amount of weight loss can significantly reduce blood pressure.

Losing just:

2.3–4.6 kg (5–10 pounds)

can produce meaningful improvement.

For older adults, a desirable Body Mass Index (BMI) is often slightly higher than in younger adults, generally around:

23–30 kg/m²

Waist circumference also matters.

Excess abdominal fat increases cardiovascular risk.

Approximate recommended waist circumference:

1.   Men: below 100–106 cm

2.   Women: below 99 cm

especially after age 70.

6. Lifestyle Habits Matter

Smoking

If your mother smokes which is less common but still possible, stopping is crucial.

Tobacco damages blood vessels and accelerates hardening of the arteries.

Alcohol

If she drinks alcohol:

Limit to:

One drink per day for women

Excess alcohol raises blood pressure significantly.

Sleep: 

Poor sleep, especially less than 7 hours regularly, can worsen hypertension.

Good sleep hygiene includes:

1.    Consistent sleeping hours

2.     Quiet environment

3.      Reduced late-night screen exposure

4.      Avoiding heavy meals before bedtime

Stress Management:

Chronic emotional stress contributes silently to hypertension.

Helpful techniques include:

1.    Deep breathing

2.    Mindfulness

3.    Prayer

4.    Meditation

5.    Yoga

6.     Quiet reflection

7.      Peaceful hobbies

A calm mind often protects the heart better than medicine alone.

7. Natural Remedies and Supplements:

Some natural remedies show scientific promise, though they should always be discussed with her doctor to avoid unwanted interactions.

Examples include:

1.   Aged Garlic Extract
Shown in several studies to help reduce blood pressure.

2.    Magnesium and Calcium
These minerals help relax blood vessels and improve vascular tone.

3.     Hibiscus Tea
Traditionally used and increasingly studied for its blood pressure-lowering effects.

These are supportive measures, not magical cures, and should be used wisely.

8. Never Stop Prescribed Medication Suddenly:

Please do not stop prescribed medication suddenly. This can be dangerous.

Lifestyle and natural approaches should be introduced gradually while continuing medical treatment.

As improvement occurs, a doctor may slowly reduce medication dosage a process called titration—until sometimes only one medicine (monotherapy), or in some cases none, may be needed.

This must be done safely.

9. Petrol Fire vs Charcoal Fire

I often explain treatment this way:

Modern drugs are like petrol.

They ignite quickly and act fast, but the effect is short-lived. Once the petrol is gone, the fire stops. That is why medicine often needs to be taken daily.

Lifestyle change and traditional healing are like charcoal.

They take longer to ignite, but once burning, they continue giving heat for a very long time.

The ideal approach is to use petrol to start the fire, and charcoal to keep it burning steadily.

That is the philosophy of true integrative medicine.

10. Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Your mother should monitor her blood pressure at home:

Three times daily

1.    Early morning after waking

2.    Around noon after routine activities

3.     At night before sleep

Record every reading in a notebook for at least three months.

This helps reveal the trend and allows proper evaluation of whether lifestyle changes are truly helping. Don't take just one reading. This is not a scientific approach. 

Medicine should be adjusted based on patterns, not isolated readings.

11. Mercury vs Electronic Blood Pressure Monitors

If possible, I still prefer the traditional mercury sphygmomanometer over electronic monitors.

Why?

Because it remains the historical “gold standard.”

It uses the auscultatory method, where one listens to the actual blood flow sounds called Korotkoff sounds heard through a stethoscope.

How it Works

Step 1: Occlusion

The cuff is inflated above systolic pressure, completely stopping blood flow through the brachial artery.

No sound is heard.

Step 2: Slow Deflation

The cuff pressure is released gradually.

Step 3: First Sound = Systolic Pressure

As blood first begins to force through the compressed artery, rhythmic tapping sounds appear.

This first sound marks the:

Systolic Blood Pressure

Step 4: Sound Changes

The sounds become softer, then louder, then muffled.

Step 5: Silence = Diastolic Pressure

When the artery fully opens and blood flow becomes smooth again, the sounds disappear.

This point marks the:

Diastolic Blood Pressure

Electronic machines usually use the oscillometric method, which estimates pressure mathematically from cuff vibrations rather than directly listening to blood flow.

They are convenient, but readings may vary depending on:

1.   Device quality

2.   Arterial stiffness

3.   Age

4.   Cuff size

5.    User technique

Modern validated electronic monitors can be very good, but traditional mercury measurement remains the reference standard.

Just my final word to you Jessie 

More than 80% of the world’s population, including many doctors themselves - some my own former colleagues (doctors)  use some form of traditional or natural medicine, as recognised by WHO.

This does not mean rejecting modern medicine.

It means understanding that healing is broader than tablets alone.

Good food, movement, sleep, peace of mind, proper monitoring, and family support are often stronger medicine than many prescriptions.

Your mother does not merely need blood pressure control.

She needs care.

She needs peace.

She needs support.

And fortunately, she has a daughter like you who is willing to seek it for her.

That itself is already powerful medicine.  Hope this is useful. Thanks for writing and for your valuable comments. Hope your mother gets well soonest possible.

With warm regards,

 JB Lim