Atrial fibrillation

[StellaEast76]

I have atrial fibrillation. Anyone recommend diet and natural treatment?

[BobD Volunteer]

You have AF so you will have AF. There are some signs that a plant based diet can reduce events as well as a reduction of stress, no alcohol, no caffeine, gentle exercise etc all good life style changes but no guaranteed cure.

AF is an electrical malfunction within your heart which normally requires either drug treatment to control or intervention such as ablation to correct. Read all you can from AF Association main website.

You may already be aware that your biggest risk now is from stroke so make sure that you do the risk assessment chart to determine if you need anticoagulants. There is no natural way to adequately protect you should your score indicate that you need anticoagulation. Again read all in AF Association web pages.

Ask lots of questions here.

Bob

[StellaEast76 in reply to BobD]

Thank you very much!

[CDreamer]

Making lifestyle changes such as reducing alcohol consumption, weight loss if suggested, 80% plant based diet, addressing any underlying conditions - sleep apnea, diebetes, thyroid etc, daily exercise, improving Vagal tone if vagal triggers are present.

Some people find Magnesium supplements very helpful, personally I can't use them but I take COQ10 which I think helps. But there is no 'natural' cure. AF often runs in families, my father had it and can be progressive.

Don't leave it untreated until it is persistent or permenant would be my main piece of advice.

I tried all of above as I was avoiding drugs, slightly ironic as I now can't function without them - but that is not AF related in anyway. No difference and AF just progressed and got worse.

Ablation worked! That was my 'natural' cure.

[StellaEast76 in reply to CDreamer]

Many thanks!

[StellaEast76 in reply to StellaEast76]

Many thanks!

[rosyG]

I have found a potassium rich diet very helpful- salmon jacket potato fruit and veg coconut water- also a Magnesium supplement from GP

[StellaEast76 in reply to rosyG]

Thanks a lot!

[StellaEast76 in reply to StellaEast76]

Thanks a lot!

[Elaine1951]

Hawthorn. Magnesium taurate. Co enzyme plus watching alcohol carefully and reducing caffeine. If you need medication take it too. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Elaine1951]

Hi Elaine, may I ask what form of Hawthorn you take, how much and for how long and how much confidence have you in it helping? Did you take professional advice from an experienced Alternative Practitioner?

[Elaine1951 in reply to Hidden]

No prof assistance. Read about it and take 150 mg once a day. My af under control at the moment. Pleased to say.

[Hidden in reply to Elaine1951]

Wow that's brave, could you let me know a supplier. Hope you stay well.

[Plantwords]

I have tried a number of dietary and plant based medicines to manage my AF. I found Chinese herbs like Dan Shen to be as effective as metoprolol in reducing racing heart and palpitations but opted for metoprolol because the ER doctors know about beta blockers than herbals if I had an emergency. Herbs like hawthorn, motherwort, linden, passion flower, etc., have been helpful to me in supporting my heart function - all under the care/supervision of an experienced naturopath. Other herbs such as cayenne, prickly ash, garlic, etc., have also been helpful in anticoagulation, as well as quality fish oil and a diet that includes salmon and sardines as others in this forum have discussed. In my experience, there are natural approaches to supporting people with AF; however, I was not able to 'cure' my AF using same; others, depending on severity of AF, may be better served using natural approaches. I have always treated herbals as 'drugs' and applied the same rigorous skepticism about using them as I have pharmaceuticals. That said, the pharma industry and its sycophants in the media have done a great job of dismissing all herbal approaches as quackery. Use your own analysis in making any decision about your health; gather the facts as best you can and make your own choices about all health issues.

[StellaEast76]

Thanks a lot! Acupuncture has helped me a lot!

[Elaine1951]

Completely agree. Important to take it into your own hands with wisdom from medics plus alternatives.

[Hidden]

Very difficult to be able to identify one or even two or three diet or natural treatments and to be able to say yes they stopped my AF.

Having started Flecainide 3 yearsago, I then progressively improved my diet, lifestyle and supplement intake doing all the things which seemed sensible and had no side effects. The result is I emerged from feeling rotten, anxious and not fit for purpose to have never felt better, but of course we all know I could still relapse with AF tomorrow.

With the benefit of hindsight and learning more everyday here and with 6 monthly cardiologist & Naturopath check-ups, would I have changed my decisions....No. So I would say if you have the energy go for it, persevere and let us know how you get on.

All the diet etc recommendations can be found here from past posts. Good luck.

[Elaine1951]

I'm in uk and use Holland and Barrett. Convinced that magnesium had helped a lot. Also the Hawthorne

[Elaine1951]

Holland Barrett in uk.