I have had paroxysmal AF for several years, but episodes were getting more frequent and lasting longer in the past year. I am a 53 yo female, slim build, never smoked, in good health otherwise. My mom had AF (tachycardia) for 40 yrs and my brother has V tach, so it's very much genetic. I saw the cardiologist in Jan and was put on Cardizem. Didn't tolerate because I already have normal/low BP and it was keeping it too low, also gave me severe headaches. Switched to Metoprolol tartrate but was also keeping BP too low, so switched to XR, minimum dose. Still wasn't keeping AF episodes at bay and still keeping BP low. Went to ER several weeks ago as had been in AF for over 48 hrs and HR was in the 40's which for me is unheard of! I normally have the opposite; HR runs over 100-130's. They did blood work, EKG, which said sinus Bradycardia, abnormal heart rhythm, but they didn't want to change my meds, so sent me home and said follow up with Cardiologist. I stopped taking the Metoprolol that night since I don't have high BP and was afraid to take it since my HR was already so low. I had read before about Hawthorn berry extract so decided to give it a shot before I started on any anti-arrhythmic drug. I already take L-carnitine, CoQ10. taurine, magnesium and potassium, a full aspirin and a multivitamin. I have been taking a combination of hawthorn liquid extract and capsules twice daily in between meals for a couple weeks now and my AF episodes have decreased significantly! I still have a few skips or flutters or PVC's, but nothing like I was having even while taking Metoprolol! I'm hoping in time they will get even less. I know some people cannot stop taking prescriptions, especially if you have high BP, etc. but I wanted to share my experience in hopes it might help someone else going through a similar situation! AF is so frustrating and is a very individual journey. God Bless!
Hawthorn supplement helped: I have had... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Hawthorn supplement helped
Well done 🤞
Fingers crossed... please keep us posted!
Yes from what I have read (mainly here) Hawthorn supplement has shown some promise. The main issue is finding the right dose level without over doing it. Did you get advice on dosage?
Coincidentally, I am looking at taking some digestive drops prepared by my London Naturopath, which include Hawthorn and other herbs. As I am sure you are aware the gut via the Vagus Nerve can be a contributory factor to triggering AF episodes.
Do keep us posted, its up to us to find a 'natural cure' as there are very few integrative cardiologists.
Hi! I have been taking 1000mg liquid extract in the AM and 500mg capsule in the PM, but just increased to 2000mg total. Yes, I have also read about the Vagus nerve being a contributor as well and have been using some essential oils in a carrier oil in a roller ball on the pressure point just behind the ear lobes. There are also some essential oils you can apply directly to the heart area but I have not tried that yet. Yes, it is very hard to find Doctors who are willing to think "outside the box!" Good luck to you!
All v interesting keep up the good work 👍.
l have heard that Hawthorn is for the heart, but personally l can’t take it because it interacts with Warfarin. I would always ask the pharmacist before l started taking herbal remedies as so many of them interact with other heart medications and could cause problems. I think it wise to be cautious as some herbal remedies can be toxic. There is no cure for AF.
that’s what big Pharma wants us to believe. I personally am still looking for how to improve my health and well-being and see if I can help the situation.. For instance, I’m going to have a full panel of blood and urine to see what nutrients I am absorbing because I have celiac disease and maybe something important for the heart health rhythm is missing. I am not obese, but I was about 15 pounds overweight from some medication’s. I’m on a food plan to lose that plus maybe five more pounds which seems to help atrial fibrillation. There’s always hope for Improvement. The drug companies want us to believe that it’s progressive and there’s nothing you can do about it and that’s what they taught our doctors to believe who I know mean that the best for us. I’m meeting with a Natural cardiologist on Monday. If I get any really good information, of course I will share with everybody. I’ll see if they mention Hawthorn Barry. I’m on Eliquis and there are a lot of things you can’t take with Eliquis as well. Keep the faith!💜💜💜 I’ve had a fibs since 2007. It’s challenging.
See if they mention Hawthorn Berry as well, the better known sister of Barry.😄
Yes there is always hope for improvement but if your recommendations are a cure then you would be a millionaire. There was much bad press and warnings a few years ago on the detrimental effects of herbal substances and that folks were being poisoned. It was true. I don’t think the drug companies want us to believe it’s progressive, it is progressive, fact. All one can do is strive for the best quality of life. I really hope you do that because AF can be difficult to live with, without having false hope, or having to pay for false hope. For this condition my faith is in the medical profession and needs professional medical help from trained specialists in this field. Each of us have to do what we feel is in our best interests. Take care.
Bad press and warnings as with EUtrying to regulate out of existence use of any supplements. Fortunately in France where paraphsrmacies are used regularly they stoppex the prpposed legislation. All anti natural is driven by big zpharma. Just as we were not told in the scamdemic covid that boosting our vit D level by supplementing with 4000iU not 400 daily would boost our immunity and mostly help to fight off covid. If you got ill take 10 or 20 thousand iu tablets a day for a few days according to Dr David Grimes medic and co author of authoritative vit D book. Wake up Britsin we hzve been lied to bigtime.
Thank you for your reply and opinion. There is no proof that supplements are necessary. Vitamins and minerals do boost our immunity but these are provided by the food that we eat. Over supplementation can be dangerous and toxic to the body. Recently, here in the UK a person died with over supplement of vitamin D. I think it is the opposite and it’s all financial gain from the manufacturer’s of these synthetic additives. The media is always advocating that we need these supplements to stay healthy or boost our health, This has increased greatly over the last 10 years. There are so many “Health Agencies”. competing against each other and it’s all for financial gain. My grandparents were of the generation when none of these were available and they both lived to be in their 90’s. Have you researched what over supplementing can do to the body? Unless a blood test and my GP tells me otherwise, l will never take these supplements.
Yes herbal medicines can be powerful and if you're also on allopathic medication you need to check with cardiologist and / or pharmacist. In an ideal world herbal medicine would be regulated and researched in the way allopathic medicine is. However the herbalists don't have the funding that the pharmaceutical industry has. The danger may be in doubling up of effects if you're taking both herbal and allopathic.
On whether AF is always progressive: my cardiologist told me that about 60% of AF patients will be progressive to some extent. Of course many of us on this form are likely to be in the 60% who have progressed, but we can't know for certain if someone new to the forum with PAF will progress or not ...
Yes, it’s very important to double check your meds. to see if there are any interactions. There was so much in the media a few years ago regarding the safety of allopathic medicine and you are correct in that it should be regulated. I was diagnosed with AF six years ago. I have progressed with more frequent episodes this last 6 months. Mine seemed to coincide with my last Covid booster! I am waiting for Cardiology to be assessed again. It’s always ongoing and something we all have to learn to live with. Take care.
~Have been using Hawthorn berries in my daily herbal tea for some years. I also use Hibiscus (dried) as a tea.
I can't measure the success as I have been on steroids 10+ years for auto immune issues, Sjogrens being one of these. Added to this is an inherited heart defect.
I do know that complementing with more natural alternatives where possible without the awful side effects gives me some quality of life for which I am always grateful for ~
No thank you.
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