This common form of irregular heart rhythm arises when the atrioventric-ular (AV) node conducts impulses telling heart muscle to contract only intermittently and randomly. It may, in some patients, be permanent. If the usual surgery fails, then pacemakers may be inserted to control cardiac rhythm after deactivation of the AV node. However, a variety of effective procedures can be found in natural medicine (see also WDDTY vol 22 no 6, pages 25-8).
Nutritional supplementation
- Magnesium, 1 g intravenously initially, followed by 500 mg twice daily orally, corrected AF within two hours in one case, and was still working two years later (Townsend Lett Docs, 1991; July: 519).
- Vitamin D. After years of AF that neither digoxin nor quinidine could prevent, and following a bout of neuralgia, a 77-year-old woman began taking vitamin D drops (for osteoporosis). Her neuralgia was gradually relieved, but her normal heart rhythm reappeared immediately. Vitamin D may play a role in AV node function by facilitating calcium transport (Geriatrics, 1990; 45: 83-5).
- Combined folic acid/niacin. Three patients, aged 70-76 years, with AF were cured of their arrhythmia so long as they supplemented with 15-40 mg of folic acid (vitamin B9) and 1.5-4.5 g/day of niacin (vitamin B3) in divided doses (J Orthomol Psychiatry, 1994; 9: 205-21).
Homeopathy
- Hoitzia coccinea. Pathogenetic experi-ments with the extract of this ‘colibri flower’ on 10 probands revealed symp-toms of uneasiness, nervous excitability, dizziness with a pulse felt in the temples, irregular and rapid pulse, sputum resembling egg white, tightness in the thorax and frequent deep inhalations that occasionally provoked a slight cough [Leeser O. Lehrbuch der Hom”oopathie, vol 2 (Textbook of Homeopathy). Heidelberg: Karl F. Haug Verlag, 1971: 562]. Suggested potency: 3DH.
- Hydrophis cyanocinctus. Double-blind pathogenetic experiments with the venom of this sea snake on 10 probands revealed lethargy, depression, pain in the heart region of the chest (worse when lying flat), extrasystoles (premature ventricular contractions), hoarseness and tickling cough (Allgem Hom”oopath Zeit, 1961; 206: 114-5). Suggested potency: 4CH.
- Spartium scoparium (Cytisus scoparius) “increases the strength of the heart, slows the pulse and reduces both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as shown on sphygmograms, by weakening the cardiac contractions” (Boericke W. Homoeopathic Materia Medica. Philadelphia, PA: Boericke & Runyon, 1927: 599-600). Sug-gested potency: first trituration.
Phytotherapy
- Sarothamnus scoparius (Scottish broom), a non-toxic herbal medicine, is my own particular favourite. As R.F. Weiss says, “[I]t works on the conductive mech-anism of the heart. Atrial and ventricular fibrillation disappear. Extrasystoles also respond to long-term treatment” (Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum, 1988: 149-51). Its medicinal efficacy in cardiac and circulatory therapeutics has long been established (Chem Abstr, 1957; 51: 7651). The seeds and its flowers can be used to make an infusion: take 1 tbsp three or four times a da A licensed version is also available as the standardized hydroethanolic extract Spartiol(R) (Dr. Gustav Klein GmbH & Co. KG, Zell am Harmersbach, Germany), and has been approved by Germany’s Commission D (which monitors medi-cinal herbal preparations) [Schilcher H, Kammerer S. Leitfaden Phytotherapie (Phytotherapy Guide). Munich: Urban & Fischer Verlag, 2000: 349]. Suggested dosage: 25 drops in a little water, three times daily. It can be taken long-term, but self-prescribing is contraindicated, as there are a number of specific circumstances where its use may be inappropriate (Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 3rd edn. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 2001: 174-5).
Acupuncture
- I have found that AF can be stopped immediately by needling three points: H-5 (Tongli); H-7 (Shenmen); and H-8 (Shaofu) (Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine. Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text, translated by J. O’Connor and D. Bensky. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 1981: 252-4).
Harald Gaier
WDDTY 22 no 7, October 2011
