Supplements
Randall, my husband was diagnosed with the exact same thing as you, mitral valve prolapse. He was experiencing the same symptoms as you. It was hard for him, as he is a handsome, tall, athletic man who was not used to being held back by physical ailment. Dr. wanted to put him on beta blockers. NEVER go on beta blockers.
I began corresponding with a Dr. via email who wrote a few books. He put my husband on this protocol: morning - 300 mg. Magnesium, 500 to 1000 mg. Sodium ascorbate (vit. C), 500 mg. L-carnitine, 200 mcg. Selenium, 500 mg. IP-6, 100 mg. Co-q-10, 800 mcg (or mg. , however they measure it) of d-3, 100 mg. K-2, 100 mg. Quercetin. We get all capsules or powder, except for the d-3 and co-q-10, which are tiny enough for him to swallow, and I put it in a small cup, mix with about an oz of orange juice, and he drinks it up. With the exception of the selenium, repeat in evening, right before bed. Sounds like a lot, but do it. His heart palps stopped in their tracks. If he gets careless and adds a lot of sugar and a beer or two to his diet, it will recur. Palps stopped within a 2 week period or so. Keep up the regimen daily, if you want your life back.
If you feel one coming on during the day, take some magnesium powder in o.j. , maybe 500 mg. or so. It calms them right down. Also, fill pot or bucket with ice water, dunk your face into it, and rub it on your arms and wrists. This will stop palps in their tracks. As far as the motherwort and hawthorn, I ordered both thru vitacost. com, and they are coming in the mail any day, to keep on hand for emergencies. You can get your life back, it just takes diligence. Oh, yeah, above all; prayer is the ultimate healer. Ask God for his help. He has guided us through this. God is so good!
(Hartbeespoort, South Africa)
01/05/2014
I have been having "panic attacks" for awhile now, but have never thought to call it heart pulpertations. They have been very bad the last few days. Being holidays, I decided to have a break from all supplements aswell. I have gone back onto Selenium 500mg, Flaxseed oil 1000mg and CalciMag. What a difference. I also do the ice water to drop my core temperature. I would like to know if HP could be associated with menopause, as I actually take the above for the hot flushes. Works better than any chemical. Thanks for a brilliant forum.
(Pocatello, Idaho)
01/07/2014
Sandy, your problem is most likely MSG poisoning. I had the same symptoms as you.your heart is beating irregularly, skipping beats, heart pounding, getting little sleep. Waking up with a panic attack. Things going completely out of control. Check the website msgtruth.org and many others, do a Google search, msg poisoning. It?s in almost every processed food. And hidden under ingredients on the label you will spices, natural foods, soy, enzymes and anything hydrolized. Keep a food log of everything, time you eat and record when you are having an episode. Keep in mind that all the food additives have at least 20 to 80% msg. The FDA lets the food processors hide this poison in the ingredients I have listed. You eliminate all processed foods and within 2 days your symptoms will disappear. If you accidentally get poisoned by msg dilute 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tater in 8 oz of water. Also drink 4 to 6 16oz of water to flush this poison out. Restaurants are to be avoid until you know what foods are most natural. Lot and lots of home cooking.
My name is Bob I am 59, married and my wife is a great cook. I've had these symptoms for 30 years and have wasted thousands of dollars on BS treatments from doctors. Holtergrams, cat scans, heart specialists. Now I am living symptoms free.
(Hartbeespoort, South Africa)
01/07/2014
Rjsvan, thanks for that bit of info. As a rule I stay away from non fresh foods, but am a sucker for anything cheese or olive. Will definitely take more care in reading labels. I was able to obtain BSM today. Start taking it tomorrow with ACV. Will share my experience as time goes by.
(Hartbeespoort, South Africa)
01/15/2014
Hi all, I am much better. I feel I cannot say cured as the time laps is to short. Flaxseed and selenium to start then BMS with ACV. I have not had an elevated heart rate in 10 days. Will keep on keeping. Up date to follow.
Supplements
Two weeks ago I started taking a regular multivitamin, vit B6 100mg, B3 250 timed released vit. , and turmeric caps. 400mg plus boron 3mg. Once a day. The last two nights I have awakened around 4am with a rapid heartbeat that lasts about 3 hours, I think I am taking too much, any help would be appreciated, I am not taking anything today, or until someone gets back to me. Thanks Pam
(Regina, Sk)
10/25/2010
Pam: It seems you are "topping out" on the Vitamin B3 (niacin) and experiencing one of the harmless side-effects of it, either due to that 250mg being just too high for you and your body size, or having a digestive system that forces fast breakdown and release of the vitamin in far less than the nominal 24 hours! People have wide variance in almost everything, so you might be metabolizing that 250mg in those 3 hours of rapid heartbeat.
This page mentions the rapid heartbeat side effect of niacin: www.buzzle.com/articles/niacin-flush.html
The effect of niacin doses is different for every person and so is the symptom of niacin flush. Thus, some people may show severe symptoms of niacin flush, while some may not. Read more on niacin overdose. Niacin is not a drug, but a useful vitamin. Niacin flush benefits the circulatory system and hence, one should not worry about this symptom. Though niacin flush can be irritating, one can take proper measures to avoid this discomfort and enjoy the health benefits of niacin. So, if you are taking niacin medications for cholesterol or lipid treatment, and are experiencing niacin flush; then do not stop taking niacin. Instead, consult your physician and get the proper amount of niacin dose and learn the methods to avoid the niacin flush. So, either go to a much lower dose B3, perhaps 50mg or 100 mg NOT time release and see what happens, or don't throw out the time release, but just use a knife or pill-cutter to take 1/4 or 1/2 a 250mg pill at a time, especially before nighttime. Then once your symptoms are gone with a lower B3 dose, just reintroduce the other supplements one at a time over many days. There is a small outside possibility that the multivitamin you also take has one of those thick RED food color coatings, which you may have a sensitivity to. That red, if it is, despite FDA approval generations ago, is notorious for causing reactions. It will be derived from either coal-tar aniline, or an African beetle! Check the box or bottle label.
www.panicattack.net/treat.htm
FDA approved food coloring are to be avoided as much as possible. Practically all food coloring are derived from Coal Tar (Aniline Dyes) and can cause learning difficulties, anxiety, restlessness, and most are potential carcinogens. Children with ADD should not have food or sweets or drinks containing Red, Blues, Green, Yellow dyes.
younglivingcircleblog.com/category/nutrition-diet/page/3/
A red coloring frequently used in yogurt, candy, fruit drinks, and other sweets, labeled as "carmine" is made from the dried, dead ground-up husks of female red beetles to make a paste. The beetles are usually raised in the Canary Islands and shipped to the USA and other countries to use as a coloring in processed foods to give them a rosy-strawberry coloring.
(Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France)
10/26/2010
(Marlborough, Ct, Usa)
10/26/2010
Thanks Tom, I have started taking the vitamin supplement again, and the vitamin B3 timed released yesterday and today. Haven't had any bad rapid heart problems like before, but last night I noticed a slight increase in the night. The supplement has a yellow coating, but also since I have been having trouble with my hands, I started taking a 8hr timed release acetaminophen pill mostly at night so if my hands bother me I don't have to keep getting up and these pills do have a red coating, which all I can find is FD&C red food color. If I notice that I am starting to get that rapid heartbeat again, I will definitly cut down again. But I feel that the B vitamins have really helped my hands, even though they are not better yet, but I can start seeing knuckles again. I will also stay away from the coloring if you think that could be it. Also I usually take the vitamins in the morning after eating something, is it better to take them at night after dinner. Thanks again Pam
(Ca, US)
10/29/2014
Be mindful when taking of supplements, my friend was taking vitamin D and was sick with dizziness, nausea and heart palpitations. She saw several doctors and they were all dumbfounded. About 8 months later, she figured out it was the vitamin D. It is unclear if it was a certain product or all vitamin D doess this. She apparently can not breakdown vitamin D. I would suggest elimination diet to anyone have allergic reactions or unfounded heart issue.
(Pa., US)
02/24/2015
Supplements
For Palps
This is a great site and I tried many of your suggestions. I started to get Palps after some stents were put in and I understand that often happens. Perhaps it was from a temporary med like Toprol, as some suggest..... However, here is what I recently added that seems to have worked... Palps seem gone 98% and that is with having a martini every other night.......
Magnesium Aspartate by Solaray - 400 mg one a day; Vitamin Shoppe Ubiquinol CoQ10 100 mg one a day; 3 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice in a glass of water ( Minute Maid 7.5 oz Frozen from concentrate - find it where the frozen veges are ) with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, every morning; and Pediatric Electrolyte (must be kept in the fridge after opened, so drink slowly, not to shock the heart to create a palp) unflavored from Walgreens 2-3- oz plain, every evening before going to sleep.
That's it so far, but this, for once, these seem to have worked. As we know, it might be temporary, or even a coincidence but I hope others will say if it works for them.
Good health!
Techniques to Reset the Heart Rhythm
i have tried several remedies for heart palpitations where my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest at 2 or 3 times the normal rate (like 170 beats/min)which has happened several times in my life.
the 1st time it happened, i was at rest in a coffee shop, and i just had coffee ice cream. my heart just started beating so fast and so strong, my body shook with each beat. this was the first time it happened to me, and i didn't understand what was going on, and i just let it take it's course and somehow it stopped.
the 2nd time was years later. i had gone running in the morning, had a cup of coffee (on an empty stomach) and then ran up the stairs and my heart went crazy again. i went and lay down on the couch right away and it stopped.
the 3rd time was again another several years later, i was just sitting in my house, tired after a long hard day spent in the sun, and my heart started racing again. no caffeine involved really, although i am sure i had caffine that day. i immediately went to lay down, but this time that didn't work. it was going strong, at almost 170 beats/min and this time for a full hour, and so i went to the ER.
at the ER, the connected me to the heart monitor, which was no fun by the way, everyone got to see me without a bra! they basically had to inject something in me intravenously that basically flat-lined me to reset my heart for a second and then all was back to normal. i went to see a cardiologist after that and he said, everything was normal. he said, the nerves in my heart have a path and sometimes, the signals along the path get directed wrong, like in a circular pattern, and it makes the heart beat extremely rapidly. he said since it's only happened to me a few times over the course of 10 years, i should just keep an eye on it and live a normal life. he told me a trick though... the ER also told me the same... when you're heart is racing like that, stick your head in a bucket of cold water (not a very appealing thing to do). another remedy... take a deep breath and pinch your nose shut, keep your mouth closed tight and act as if you're trying to breath out and like you're trying to push out poop at the same time. this creates a kind of pressure in your heart/lung area and can reset your heart as well. i've done it once when it happened again, the breathing trick, not the bucket of ice trick and it worked. but i did this like as soon as i felt my heart start to skip into the rapid beating. i think if i were to wait a few more seconds it wouldn't have worked.
the last time i remember having a rapid heart rate attack was while i was driving. my heart started racing away again, seemingly out of nowhere. it was early in the morning and i was on my way to do a project and i was a little nervous about it. so what am i to do? i'm driving on a highway, so i pulled over the nearest exit and parked at a restaurant. i reclined my seat all the way back and lifted my legs way above my neck, as if i were doing a yoga position where you lie down and lift your legs above your head and let them rest behind your head on the floor. once i did that, my heart rate went back to normal.
i don't know what all this really is about, and since my doctor said my heart was normal, it seems that stress, lack of sleep, overworking your body, etc, has caused me to experience this, as well as drinking caffine in certain situations.
i also have tried prayer and meditations to relax me and it has helped as well. one interesting thing to note is that my grandmother had the same symptoms, so it could be genetic. but she was in a foreign country and had limited access to medical care and unfortunately she died of heart failure in her early 40s. she had been sick for a very long time, and i am very healthy, aside from the few rapid heart rate attacks i've had. so i hope this helps some of you. it's comforting to know though i'm not the only one out there with this problem.
EC: Fantastic info, thank you!
(Drexel Hill, Pa)
02/10/2010
I have experienced very similar heart palpatations over the last 25 years. Once I was taken to the hospital and I too had my heart stopped with some injection to reset it. I was diagnosed with Super ventricular tacky cardia. I was told it has to do with the electric currents around the heart. I'm still not sure why it happens, because the doctors say otherwise might heart is strong. Doctors wanted to do some kind of surgical procedure, which I said no to. They also said I could take a beta blocker the rest of my life, which I don't do. I do find that when I feel an episode beginning, I just start to cough and it seems to throw my heart back into proper beating.
(Edison, Nj)
02/10/2010
Look into Tai Chi...During one of my classes, my heart starting racing. The instructor told me to concentrate on my big toe.. a little strange but it worked. The extra energy was brought down away from the heart and it regulated itself..I'm not an expert in this, but Tai chi is very calming.
(Fort Madison, Ia)
02/11/2010
(Mexico)
07/28/2010
I just wanted to share, that sometimes Heart Palpitations are not related to a problem with the heart at all. Many times it's because a Nerve in your back is being pressed, and this will be corrected by a good Chiropractor. Amazing but true. I hope this helps.
(Ny)
09/14/2011
(Raymond, Washington, United States)
07/14/2013
I would like to hear more from the gentleman from Mexico.
I have always believed that a problem with my back caused my a-fib but, the Doctors just laugh at me and pat me on the head and say we are trained, its our job. The a-fib started after I believe I ruptured a disk in the upper middle of my back. Now when I use my arms to scrub or do heavy work with my back and arms I have an attack. I do the magnesium, potassium, fish oil, and calcium. Because it makes me feel better but, I believe it is a nerve that is affecting the vagus nerve and that is creating the a-fib. I would like to hear more from Fred from Mexico or anyone who suspects this may be a cause. What would you tell a chiropractor about the problem?
Thank You.
Thyroid
For heart irregularities, check your thyroid! Had this for years.. Now I take two drops of potassium iodide (which is clear) plus a tiny bit of pig thyroid from nutri meds and adrenals. I am cured.
Vagus Nerve Theory
Hi, just wanted to share a theory! The theory is that most people who have heart palpitations actually have colitis and don't know it! The palpitations are the result of an irritated vagus nerve!
So in that case you would take 2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil daily to heal your intestines. And maybe some inner leaf only aloe. Just wanted to share this idea.
(In)
12/11/2018
Interesting video regarding Heart Palpitations and the vagus nerve.
Vitamins B1, B6 and B12
Lugol's iodine caused my heart to palpitate (and not in a good way; the bad way). So I thought no more Lugol's. I felt bad because I read the health benefits on this site and others and I could not take even one drop. Then while researching fatty acid metabolism I found that you use a lot of vitamin B-1, B-6 and B-12. All the of these B's have heart palpitations as a sign of their deficiencies. So I took all three. Now I can take Lugol's. Yeah!
Also selenium and zinc deficiencies can cause heart palpitations. So if you can't take iodine because of the heart quivers you might have a deficiency you need to correct first.
(Lansing, Michigan Usa)
04/21/2011
I would like to add that I am completely unimpressed with kelp supplements. After talking with the nurse from my doctor's office about a week and a half ago, I found that I will begin treatment for an underactive thyroid at my follow up appointment at the end of the month.
After trying to educate myself about hypothyroidism, I decided that I'd help things along and get some iodine supplements. Not impressed with the fact that iodine can worsen thyroid problems, I bought a low dose supplement and decided I'd only take it twice a week.
Tonight was the third time, following a supper with more salt that I usually have in three days. Apparently the combination was too much and I experienced the palpitations James, from Seattle, mentioned. And they lasted for several hours. Definitely NOT the good kind.
B vitamins or not, I don't think I'll be taking anymore kelp. The experience scared me so much that my blood pressure shot way up and I'm still trying to relax enough to get it back down to it's normal 'slightly high' range.
Believe the warnings, people. Check with your doctor before trying kelp. Even the manager of the health food store suggested I talk with mine before trying it, but I sometimes think I know more than anyone else.
Believe me, you don't want to experience this. In between considering a trip to the emergency room, I really worried about the possibility of dying. That's how scary it was. Check with your doctor first... or you might have an 'exciting' night, too.
(San Fernando, San Fernando, Philippines)
04/22/2011
Hi Kristy... I am confused as to why you suggest that iodine would cause racing heart and high blood pressure. You posted that you had these symptoms directly after eating a high salt meal. Was this salt refined salt? Because if it was, and it doesn't matter if it was iodized salt, then that would be enough to give racing heart as well as high blood on its own. The worst diet combination for racing heart and high blood is refined salt and glucose. Just check the reasons for high blood pressure and racing heart on EC.
Your reaction might also have been due to the fact that iodine was removing fluorine/bromine from your body. This can give some strange detox reactions.
When I had tachycardia(racing heart) there were two supplements that stopped this problem completely. One was magnesium chloride and the other was lugols iodine. Now, every day, I take about 12.5 mgs iodine. This is 100 times more than the RDA. I even experimented and increased my lugols iodine dose for two weeks to between 50 mgs and 100 mgs a day to see what would happen. No racing heart. I was taking 400 to 800 times more iodine than the RDA. If you have healthy kidneys then you should have no problems with this dose. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi -- the Nobel Prize winner and discoverer of Vitamin C -- took 1000 mgs of potassium iodide every day. That's 8000 times the current RDA for iodine. He lived to the ripe old age of 93.
Unfortunately, regarding the benefits from iodine intake, I would completely agree with you that kelp tablets are useless in ths respect. And it's not the fault of the kelp but is because of the restrictions imposed on dosage by the RDA via the FDA. If you read the dose on the kelp bottle it will probably say that each tablet contains 125 MICROgrams of iodine. As I've said before, this just might satisfy the iodine needs of a mouse but will do very little for a human who is hypothyroid.
Taking selenium, tyrosine, magnesium and large dose vitamin C(1000 - 2000 mgs/day) as well will aid and assist the conversion of iodide to iodine for storage in the thyroid gland. Vitamin C removes any of the transport and cell absorption problems associated with iodine and selenium, amongst all its other wonderful benefits, also works to convert the T4(throxine) into the more active and useful T3(triiodothyronine) thyroid hormone. These supplements should also help your hypothyroid problem.
(Santiago, Chile)
07/07/2011
Hello from Chile.... A few comments of my own.... First time I read Earth Clinic and I thank everybody for their input. I am 71 and have had tachycardia since I was about 5, but had an ablation when I was 53 with great success. Now I have them once in awhile. Definitely, no caffeine, maybe a very diluted cup of tea. Definitely for me, the blackstrap molasses improved my digestion, very important because the food and gas push the diaphram upwards and causes palpitations. No overeating, especially in the evening. Cheese is difficult to digest. I will try all the things I think might help, especially not eating the yogurt. Try to avoid stressful situations as much as possible. Thanks for all the info
(Charlotte, Nc, Usa)
07/19/2011
I started having heart palpitations, especially at night when I was lying down, about three months ago. It started to really disturb me. I take several prescription drugs since back surgery over a year ago. I am overweight and I smoke and was eating a very poor diet as well.
I did some internet research and started taking a B-complex vitamin and the palpitations stopped the very same day! This was exciting enough that I continued my research to try to solve other chronic issues I have such as acne, difficulty losing weight, and ongoing neuropathy (from my damaged spinal nerves) with a lot of success! I plan to post my success stories in other sections on earth clinic soon.
Among the more interesting things I learned while doing research was how long-term use of prescription drugs can deplete your body of certain vitamins. This is not something my doctors ever told me. With the smoking (I'm working on that) and a poor diet (I've since made some major changes), I think I was running on fumes, so to speak.
Since starting a good B-complex vitamin, I haven't had any heart palpitations at all.
(Richardson, Tx, Usa)
12/25/2012
Also, Taurine regulates heartbeat and can smooth out tachycardia. It also helps alleviate other cardiac issues such as MVP and MI. It can also protect against cardiac side effects from drugs. This is a link to a non-selling page, with technical information on taurine's effects on cardiac functions and EKG results. Most doctors will scoff at it because they can't sell it to you.
... and Taurine also helps regulate blood pressure, brain function, and is very beneficial for the eyes/vision. I take about 1grm daily.
(Sofia, US)
10/05/2014
I have A-fibulation of the heart and my heart rate is 90-120 all the time. I refuse to take beta-blockers and statin. In his book "The amazing way to reverse heart disease", Dr Braverman has described many cases of people with very bad heart conditions. He is returning them to normal by using mega doses of Vit B6 (at 500mg daily), magnesium - up to 3 gm, primrose oil (3 gm), taurine (3 gm), and many times recomends also garlic and fish oil of 3-5 gm per day (I'm vegetarian and replacing it with the better then fish oil formula of Ovega-3).
On the other hand, Dr Hoffer has also many cases when he had returned pationts back to normal with mega doses of Niacine (vit B3) of 2-4 mg per day (regular, not a flash free) plus mega dose of Follic assid (two to 3 doses per day of 15 mg (yes, mg, not mcg). You can read about his exeriences here: http://weeksmd.com/2009/01/dr-hoffer-on-cholesterol-and-niacin/
Best, Nick
