I know everyone’s story and situation is different, but this is my journey and how I effectively cured my afib. I use the term effectively because I’m pretty sure I would have an episode if I stopped taking my supplements, but I am 100% pharmaceutical free – but I didn’t stop taking metoprolol until my new doctor told me I could – very important point for me to make here.
AS ALWAYS DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING OR START ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR!
Background: I have always led a very healthy lifestyle. I work out, don’t smoke, don’t drink, eat healthy, but in December 2019 I was working out and I paused to chug a cold protein drink(which I never ever do), and my heart went kookoo. I thought I was going to die. I went to the hospital and they said I was having an afib attack – I didn’t even know what the heck that was. I was in the hospital for 2 days but I never came out of afib so they decided to stop my heart and restart it. Then I was put on metoprolol 25 mg (as well as Xarelto but only for 30 days).
I thought ok, well that’s past me now and as long as I am on this stuff called metoprolol, I will be fine. Then a year and a half later I was doing deep squats and went into another attack. I was given 300 mg of flecainide and in 12 hours my heart went back to normal.
Then a year and half after that I laid on my back too long and triggered afib yet again. I took the flecainide again and went back to normal.
I should point out that during all this time I had tons of near missed on episodes by just leaning a certain way or slightly bending over but if I straightened up really fast it would go away in about 10 or so seconds, but I was always walking on egg shells as they say.
They only thing I had added as a supplement during the past 2 years of this was 300 mg of magnesium.
So, after my 3rd episode, my cardiologist said I need to do an ablation as well as add flecainide daily, and change from metoprolol to a more risky and harsher drug. THAT WAS WHEN I SAID THAT’S IT – I’M TAKING CONTROL OF THIS!
Finally I decided enough was enough because my cardiologist at this point was just guessing – he hadn’t done a single test to find out what was causing this or asked me any questions like might help figure out what could be a factor. How can you up the drugs and start doing procedures when you don’t even know what is causing the issue.
Time for research: So, I started researching like crazy. I learned that metoprolol and similar drugs weaken the heart over time, which in turn leads to pacemakers, then more drugs and you are just going downhill – ok, sorry, not something I want to do.
So, I found a cardiology practice that first tries a natural approach, and to do that – I know this part is crazy – they actually try to find out what is causing the afib in the first place! I know – radical idea, right?
The cardiologist there ran a ton of blood tests on me and found I had a high amount of mold in my system, so I did a mold inspection on my house and my air ducts were filled with mold. I got that removed and I noticed my overall health got better within weeks after that. She also found I needed to take even more magnesium and I needed a D3 supplement.
So, I kept doing research and figured out I need to keep building the strength in my heart which led me to Taurine and B6 (I discovered that B6 is huge especially in athletes. Even bicycle associations advise their members to take B6 because without it they can develop heart issues)
Now I don’t take any meds not even metoprolol and below is my list of supplements: (most are just standard amounts)
Multivitamin
D3 2000 IU
K2 200 mcg
Beta Carotene
Lutein
Probiotics
Taurine 1000 mg
Arginine 1000 mg
Magnesium Biglycinate 700 mg (300 mg in the morning, then the rest throughout the day until bedtime)
D-ribose 5 g
Beet root powder
Myo-inositol 2 g but I may up this because I’m not taking the standard amount
1200 mg potassium supplement
Sunflower lecithin
B12 100 mcg
B6
R-alpha Lipoic acid
CellCore biotoxin binder
Clorella
B1
Melissa for anxiety – actually this really really helps calm my heart to a smoother beat
Chamomile for anxiety calms my heart as well
Ceylon Cinamon for blood pressure and blood sugar control
Flax seed oil
Garlic supplement
Ginger supplement
Bamboo extract
V8 – 2 small cans a day
AND NOW FOR MY GAME CHANGER:
I had made great progress and after about a year and a half after getting rid of the mold and taking these supplements. I didn’t have to walk on egg shells any more and my near misses were getting less and less, so I knew things were getting better, however, if I leaned over my desk a little too much I would still get a bumpy rhythm sometimes and have to straighten up really quick to get out of it, so I felt like I wasn’t 99.99% there yet.
My breakthrough came when I started thinking about how ablations basically deaden the nerves by causing damage to your tissues – well I certainly didn’t want to do that. But what if you could deaden the nerves in another way? The first thing that popped into my mind was Kava. I had used Kava a long time ago when I had tooth pain and it would numb my entire mouth. So, I thought it might kind of numb my nerves overall so I got some and took about 4 drops of the liquid extract at work. My heart immediately got so smooth I wasn’t even aware of it. I am someone that feels every heartbeat and I know my heart rate without having to measure it at any given moment. Then I realized at some point I was slouched over my desk and nothing happened – no little palpitations or near misses - nothing. Then I read that Kava inhibits sodium channels like flecainide does – only this is natural. And it inhibits neuronal firing – no wonder my heart became so nice a smooth after taking Kava – and I only took 4 drops as less is more with me. So now I take 4 drops about once every 2 hours all day and right before bed.
And that’s it. For me all this is my effective cure. By the way, I work out on free weights with zero issues.
Thank you and I hope some of this might help someone out there, but as always, don’t change anything or start anything without consulting your doctor, and if your doctor is closed minded like mine was, find a doctor that is open to a natural approach like I did.
AS ALWAYS DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING OR START ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR!
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Celticboy2
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That's really good news Celtic boy and thank you for sharing what has helped you. I've never heard of Kava, just what is it? My goodness you're taking a lot of supplements. Are they all free from artificial additives. How long have you been AF free? I look forward to your reply.
Being in NZ our islanders offer kava at ceremonies in Fiji, Samoa, Vanawatu etc. I see the royals taking it as it is passed around. Apart from the spreading of ills I would never partake.
It is described as sandy drink. But celticboy is taking drops!
He will hav fun lining up all his supplements.
I only take B12 Solgar Sublingual Solgar 1000ug nuggets, 3 x days taking 1. My level is now 800-1000.
Congratulations on being afib free for almost two years, but I don't see anything that suggests the supplements had anything to do with it.
Consider the timeline.
After your first afib episode, you then had two additional episodes a year and a half apart. During this time you were not taking supplements.
Now you've been afib free for just under two years, while taking the supplements.
But since you were a fib free for a year and a half without supplements, twice, don't you think it's a little early to be declaring victory? Not to mention giving the supplements the credit?
Really not that big of difference between a year and a half (no supplements) and two years (on supplements). It just could be a predictable variance in your afib pattern independent of any specific intervention.
Anyway the best of luck in your drug-free quest to stay out of afib and glad you got off the beta blockers.
I had an a fib pattern for 30 years of one episode every 10 years and I never took beta blockers. They certainly have their place, but I think they're grossly overprescribed to the afib community and I dare say many of us would do just as well, if not better without them.
Jim Metoprolol is NOT a good BB to take when you have AF.
Bisoprolol has proved better and it is not one banned if you have asthma.
Unfortunately when I complained that I said No to Metoprolol but still prescribed it. read that ALL those patients suffered stroke received Metoprolol at Whangarei Hospital and all hospitals across NZ.
Metoprolol made me so breathless I couldn't exert myself on anything.
But I tried to get Bisoprlol lower but it controls my BP. My Systolic was high - could it be with a soft heart murmr but it is functioning normally?
Thank you for sharing your story—it was an interesting read. Future research might support some of your findings, especially about the mold. There are studies on taurine, CoQ10, vitamin D, and magnesium for heart health, and many people with AF have benefited from these supplements including myself. Lifestyle changes are also crucial for AF management.
However, some arrhythmias are self-limiting and may not require aggressive treatment. Periods of remission can occur naturally without significant intervention, so the absence of symptoms might not be directly related to the supplements. It's important to remember that correlation doesn't imply causation. Other factors like diet, lifestyle, genetics, or even coincidence could play a role.
Keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing your journey—it may definitely help others. Just remember to stay cautious and critical in interpreting your results.
"I learned that metoprolol and similar drugs weaken the heart over time"
I take Metoprolol and am interested in knowing the basis for this statement. I know there are risks for almost any drug in the long term but your statement is definitive i.e. will weaken the heart over time rather than there being risks.
I've done a search for metoprolol and permanent bradycardia but didn't really find anything. Can you provide some references for this? I had bradycardia before I started Metoprolol but it never affected me. Five years on and Metoprolol hasn't really caused me any problems and wondering whether that's likely to change
Hi there. I would but I'm not allowed to post links without authorisation and I don't really have time. I just done a quick google search on "metoprolol permanent bradycardia" and instant results were returned. Apparently its not that common but it's a real possibility. I did say "could" not "would".
Yes, I got instant results from my search but skimming through those didn't really shed much light on the subject. Hence my response to your first comment. A few were about people asking the question rather than medical/scientific reporting or upon reading, weren't really related to Metoprolol.
If you respond with article title or the like then I can search for that (overcomes not having link). Thanks
A search of that site for metoprolol produces over 400 references. I was hoping you would provide reference for your statement. The following from Healthline.com sums up my understanding in the absence of reputable information to contrary."Does metoprolol cause any long-term side effects?
No, it’s not likely. Metoprolol isn’t known to cause any long-term side effects. And most mild side effects tend to improve with continued treatment asyour body gets used to the medication.
If you do have bothersome side effects that don’t improve, they’ll likely go away if your doctor reduces your dose, or after you stop treatment.
Also, taking metoprolol for long periods of time isn’t known to increase your risk of having side effects."
Sorry I can't be of more help right now. I may have read something ages ago but didn't note the article/website. If I come across it I will be sure to post it. Best wishes.
I’m glad this is worked for you but be prepared. AF has a mind of its own and can surprise you when you released. Expect it. You think you’ve got control of it and then all of a sudden you find you haven’t so be warned Isaac can be very moralising especially when you built up your own optimistic view of being in control only to find out you’re not your heart will do what your heart will do. It is not always what you wanted to do or when you wanted either.
From my experience of having boats of PAF no matter how you think you have come to control it by making countless changes the PAF will always get the better of you. You can go for months thinking I’ve mastered it and then out of the blue, it’ll hit you again like a freight train , just because there’s been a bit of a longer break than before doesn’t mean it’s cured. It means that this is a more unusual episode than the previous one mould present or not.
I agree totally, but some of us would like to find 1 or more things that could be triggering us. I have had and PAF most of my adult life I am 75 now. I have several other annoying issues that I can only manage like Low blood sugar not associated with diabetes. I can't get any medical help with this. I suffered migraines horrible, no medical help with that either. Through my own studies and digging I learned I don't digest grains and it was causing a huge inflammation issue. Got off all grains not just wheat, all my inflammation went away. Still dealing with Low blood sugar but it too has leveled out without the grains in my diet which cause huge sugar swings. Yet what are we told? East more whole grains. that is the worst advise for some of us. I also have an issue where I can't stand any kind of chemicals in or around me like glade plug ins or fabric softener to name a few. That would trigger all kinds of issues for me mainly allergic reactions. Off gassing from newly painted walls. Off gassing from new carpet. I think you get the picture. Our world is loaded with chemicals that are extremely harmful. I have done my best to eliminate them from my home. Did I cure myself no, but I am managing the issue. To me it is the same with AF, no one mentioned cure they mentioned what was good and right for them. Some of us can't tolerate the medications they want us on and put us on without understanding the other issues. My doctor put me on something that masked my knowing when my blood sugar was dropping. Again I had to figure out what was going on and why. I don't think doctors have all the answers they are given a protocol to follow that is one size fits all. That doesn't work for a lot of us. So I applaud anyone that is their own advocate and does their research to learn what works for them. So figuring out some of the issues is great and I will enjoy a stretch of not being in AF for now. All the best!
I lived in Vanuatu for 8 years and of all the Pacific Islands it had the strongest Kava.
Here is a bit of history for anyone interested.
Kava is from the Pepper family.
The way Kava is usually ingested is by grinding the roots and then mixing it in water.
In Vanuatu, they sell Kava are at a Nakamal, a small iron clad open building near the roadside. At night they have a red light on to indicate it is open. They serve it in half a cocunut shell for about 100 Vatu wich is about $1.20 AUD.
It looks like muddy dam water and tastes about the same, to me it is quite disgusting to drink. Capsules are a much better method of ingesting Kava.
It is a mild anesthetic, active ingredient are Kavalactones.
Had never considered it in order to treat AF, be interested in further studies that is for sure.
It helps to cut the stress in ones life so I would think it could be helpful but again we are all different. However, it is something to explore further.
That is an awful lot of supplements that you are taking. That in itself can’t be good for you. All tablets contain fillers which can be a problem to some.
AF has a mind of its own. It will progress over time. I once thought that I had fixed mine by stopping all of the triggers. Trouble is that list got longer and longer.
Early days yet as you weren’t getting frequent episodes anyway. I wish you luck.
Hi Celticboy. I was really interested in your story. How would I find a specialist who could help me find a natural remedy? I hate taking beta blockers because I only feel like three quarters the person I used to be. I have changed my lifestyle and no longer drink alcohol and I eat really well. I've also lost 3 stone but every time I ask to stop or reduce them I am told no. I understand the need foe apixiban but not flecanide or beta blockers. I live in north West England. Thanks for your story
You cannot be forced to take the betablockers. If you want to reduce the dose to see how you get on then you can do so - very gradually. You might find it makes no difference to your afib, you might find it becomes worse or even improves. But until you try you will never know. If your afib comes and goes then you might need a higher dose when having an attack to keep heart rate under control. The doctor is not God . Your body belongs to you not them. I don't take the dose of Nebivolol prescribed. I can't see the point when I'm in NSR of feeling sub par every day when my heart rate is fine.
Thank you so much. I have asked everyone if I can stop taking them but I'm always told no. I'm literally sat in the carpark at the hospital, ready for an out patient appointment. I will use different language today and say I want to stop taking beta blockers. I had a successful cardioversion in June, having been in permanent AF since February, when I first got it. Fingers crossed! Thanks again
If you are taking Flecainide to help keep you in NSR then you usually need to take a betablocker or other rate lowering drug so as to prevent another arrythmia such as flutter developing - though there are people on this forum who don't. What you should do is ask the reasoning why you are still being prescribed betablockers, explain that you cannot tolerate the side effects and ask if there is another medication like a calcium channel blocker that you could take instead. Many people here take a CCB because betablockers make them feel bad. Not all betablockers are the same. Nebivolol can be much better than Bisoproplol for some. You do not say which betablocker you are taking or the dose.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. The beta blockers (carvidolol) don’t make me feel terrible, just not quite human anymore. Something is missing in me and I’d love the old me back. Also, when I exercise my heart rate rarely rises which is making my attempt at losing weight much harder. I’ve lost 3 stone so far but have lots more to lose. I know it’s not the end of the world but I struggle that my life has changed.
The Beta blockers are probably to help the cardioversion you had to hold. You could ask to be allowed to lower the amount, as it is affecting you so much, or to change to another one eg change bisoprolol which has a bad efffect on the quality of life for a lot of people to Nebivolol which can be much better.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. To be honest the beta blockers aren’t affecting me so hugely. I would just love to feel normal again and have a bit of get up and go. I was a teacher for 40 years and enjoyed being busy but now I find I get tired before very long. I’m also worried about what the medication is doing to my body as, until I got AF, hadn’t taken medication apart from the odd paracetamol every 6 months or so. I had been very lucky.
'I would just love to feel normal again and have a bit of get up and go' This describes just how I felt on Bisoprolol, and I took less than you are! Even a slight decrease might help a little, and then you would have reason to ask for a change. My impression is that after the cardioversion has held for about 6 months say, they may be more willing to introduce a change.
Have you read this website? drjohnday.com I found it tremendously helpful.
Thanks for posting, a breath of fresh air regarding a 'self - responsible' approach. I admire your determination and courage to try different things. I am still sitting on the fence as I take Flecainide daily and very few supplements but still believe there is a more natural cure. In my individual case, I believe my brain has a significant part in AF via the Vagus Nerve and I strive to moderate stress and improve lifestyle choices further.
Hi Celtic boy, I have PAF for 30 plus years and have taken a ton of supplements to no avail , except Hawthorn, which for 10 days felt as if a miracle had happened, but lo and behold it did not last, ive had gaps for years, in the early years where afib kept quiet and thought i would hear no more ,but lo and behold as the years progressed so has the afib , my point here is that it is early days for you to claim you have effectively cured your afib, there are many variables to this, i do hope you have cured afib but only a much longer period of time would tell, do you have any room left to eat after all those supplements, wow , and do you have any money left over LOL, I will keep watching this space to see if you report any more, good luck have a nice day.
I like some of the others was first diagnosed 31 years ago on average one episode every 5 years until 2022. I took no supplements or medication until 2022. I was always fit and had a healthy Mediterranean diet my whole life. I stay fit as I believe I strong heart can help. I’m on very low dose Flecainide and metoprolol. I too would like to know how metoprolol weakens the heart if you have any evidence I’d like to show my cardiologist as I would prefer not to take drugs especially if they damage the heart. I too am taking magnesium vitd3 and coq10 but I was low in all three when we did bloods a year ago. I assume your levels maybe low, did you do blood tests. You have to be careful as excessive magnesium can also cause heart palpitations and heart issues.
Hope you continue with your success in keeping AF away
Hi there, I counted nearly 30 supplements. That's simply ridiculous. Also your understanding of how ablation works is just plain wrong. That your afib is triggered by change in position may suggest it has something to do with the vagus nerve or the autonomic nervous system. I doubt taking all those supplements is really necessary. Could be doing you more harm than the beta blockers. Best wishes anyway.
I read you had to be careful using kava and its banned in USA and some European countries... I read an Australian cardiologist put his a fib patients on diets as there was a years wait on ablation... 47 percent of people who lost 10 percent or more weight achieved a fib free and some could even give up their meds. Anybody heard about this?
Kava is not banned in the USA but in some European countries it is because of unscrupulous sellers of this plant. Even Ginsing which seems to be universally known as good for some people has part of the plant that are not so good even poison. One has to know the source of the product.
Congratulations on figuring it out. Mold is something that can really mess people up. I have read that it can contribute to people loosing memory.
Interesting info on Kava as well. It acts a natural stress reducer which I had forgotten about.
You sound like me in what I call playing detective to better understand what is going on. your story shows a great deal of hope that with the right support for the body we can be healthier.
I noticed in your list of supplements no mention of a fish oil supplement. that was my Kryptonite. I stopped taking fish oil for about a year and then forgot because everything I read says to take fish oil. I took one and about 6 hours later back to back episodes of AF. That actually confirmed to me it was fish oil causing me an issue. I haven't taken any now for about 6 months and so far so good.
Kava, is considered a depressant, and has some mild anti-anxiety benefits.
"Do not take kava before you plan on driving. "
"Major liver issues with kava initially led to the herb being banned in many countries. In the early 2000s, more than 100 cases of liver toxicity related to the use of kava had been identified, some leading to liver transplant and some leading to death. There are many reasons for liver damage. For one, kava depletes glutathione, a chief antioxidant, within the liver. It also inhibits enzymes involved in the metabolism of many drugs." Dr. Robert Ashley, UCLA
fabulous for you to have the courage and curiosity to think outside of the big pharma box. I am actually on a similar journey just in the midst of taking all the blood tests, etc. I met with a naturopath as a natural heart doctor center in Arizona USA, but they are extremely expensive and I am getting the cardiac panel done by a a lab that takes insurance, and I’m going to go to my functional medicine doctor to get some of the environmental toxin tests. It’s a shame that western Cardiologists are not trained in anything but drugs and procedures that could help patient so much with all different health issues . Keep thinking positively because it has such a big bearing on health. the people that believe it’s progressive and you can never get rid of a fibs will never get rid of them for sure. I think the drugs and procedures are dangerous for my health and can possibly make me end up on more drugs and I am trying every way to , avoid that first. Right now I’m on a half dose of Eliquis and I only take a beta blocker as needed. I am hoping to reduce my episodes and at least try to find a cure before I go forward with a procedure that has quite a few risks. Keep up the great work and commitment to what you think is helping, that most people couldn’t do. Wishing you continued NSR wishing all of us NSR and good health so that we can enjoy every day and finding peace around dealing with the anxiety atrial fibrillation causes us!💜💜💜
What an interesting post. I'm glad you investigated on your own and found a solution of sorts. I "fired" my first EP when I realized he never asked questions as to triggers, and then said, 'well let's try this...' By the way, I tried kava years ago and all it did was numb my tongue!☺️
interesting what you said about mold a Sept in a bedroom that had mold for a long time was diagnosed wit permant AF about ten month ago also found I had mild emphassimia have since had the bedroom fixed now mold free got me wondering if this is what caused AF I am in oermanant AF controlled with verapamil also apixban am very well no other heart issues I had blamed the vovid jab never thought about mold
Wow well done you! And thank you for sharing. I am too in the camp of personal responsibility and lots of detective work.
I’ve sadly found it more and more difficult to find information online over the last few years, such censorship and algorithms pushing only certain “solutions”.
We are also very fortunate to have found a good clinician (in the UK) to work with (not focussing on afib but overall health). Only way to get access to the in-depth test panels (blood/stool and more) etc.
Keep up the amazing work and I too would love to hear future updates and discoveries.
I believe that some of the supplements talked about in this thread could be just as, or even more toxic than the drugs that are being replaced. I am all for experimenting with supplements, but readers should look carefully at some of the possible side effects of some of these supplements. And please note that combining many supplements into one daily cocktail could have serious consequences - there is little or no research on such combinations.
Thank you for your essay. I may have more questions later, but for now I am curious as to whether you take Beta Carotene in supplement or food form? Also, perhaps I have overlooked it, but did you say that you lost weight and/or gave up gluten? Thanks.
But I've been reading supplement toxicity. It's dangerous.
As a B12 deficient person I take 3 x 1 nugget sublingual (through stomach is defeating the object) take Solgar B12 1000ug nugget x 3 times week. Mine is way up at 800-1000. Body stores it ad will excrete naturally if necessary.
Over dose through supplements whih aren't natural like food is toxicity in Vit D, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium. Have a routine blood test.
My cousin died of comfrey overdose. His mother was a health nut and yoga teacher. She ended up with MS.
Be warned of the skite about supplements.
Taurate is added to Bisoprolol.
cheri JOY. 75 (NZ)
I have never experienced symptoms of pain, palpations, flutters etc except with UTI or Covid Jab.? Only wait whilst wait for blood to crculate better.
Have a banana a day for your potassium and magnesium.
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