Herbal Treatment for Cardiac Arrhythmia

Cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Arrhythmias differ from palpitations because palpitations are generally mild and are often self-correcting. Arrhythmia’s rarely self-correct but can be treated. It is a condition that causes the heart muscle to beat too slow or too fast.  A fast heartbeat is called tachycardia and a slow heartbeat is called bradycardia.  

Arrhythmias are also categorized by the portion of the heart they affect. Atrial arrhythmia’s are in the upper chambers and cause the blood to ‘pool’ in the chambers.  Ventricular arrhythmia’s occur in the lower chambers of the heart and cause them to quiver instead of executing a complete contraction.  Both can be extremely serious and ventricular arrhythmias are an underlying cause of numerous heart attacks.

It should be noted before using an herbal remedy you should get the advice of your physician. Many physicians today are beginning to see the benefits of herbal treatments and many are returning to school to acquire their N.D. license or becoming a Naturopath Doctor.  You should not stop taking any medications prescribed to you by your doctor. At some point in the future, after a regimen of herbal treatments, your doctor may decide that you no longer need medication.

Many herbs work as calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blockers are one of the main prescription drugs that doctors prescribe for heart conditions so be sure to check with your doctor before you consume massive amounts of these natural foods to make sure you aren’t getting too much.

Angelica, celery and garlic contain calcium channel blockers and anti-arrhythmia agents as well. You can make a tasty juice using these ingredients along with carrots, fennel, and parsnips.  Celery also contains magnesium and potassium that help with arrhythmias and also with blood pressure and cholesterol.

Cinchona is the plant compound for quinine, an age-old treatment for malaria. It has also been shown to help with atrial fibrillation.