A cardiac arrhythmia, also called cardiac dysrhythmia or heart arrhythmia, is a disturbance in the regular rhythm of the heartbeat. Certain types of cardiac arrhythmia are life-threatening and a medical emergency while other types of arrhythmia are not of any major concern. Arrhythmia are commonly called heart palpitations by the general population. Those who have cardiac arrhythmia should review the herbs listed a few paragraphs below and eliminate those that may be causing increased heart rate.

Heart arrhythmia simply means that the heart rhythm is irregular -- such as missing a heart beat or perhaps each beat does not follow the proper rhythm -- or an arrhythmia can also mean the rhythm is too fast or too slow.

Natural or Alternative Cardiac Arrhythmia Treatment
Very little research has been done with natural herbs or nutrients in the prevention or therapy of cardiac arrhythmia. I have evaluated some of the published research over the past few years and present the nutrients and herbs that perhaps could be helpful in arrhythmia prevention or treatment. I do not claim that these supplements are a natural arrhythmia cure since more research is needed.

Fish oils -- Fish oils may reduce ventricular arrhythmia and atrial arrhythmia (most commonly presented as atrial fibrillation). Fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids have been studied for heart arrhythmia more than any other natural supplements. Fish oils stabilize cardiac cell membranes. Doctors who are planning to prescribe anti arrhythmia medicines to their patients for mild cases of arrhythmia should first consider recommending their patients eat cold water fish almost every day and perhaps add one to four fish oil capsules to their daily supplement regimen.
Flax seed oil has not been studied much, but has omega 3 fatty acids.
Magnesium has been used for arrhythmia
Carnitine in small doses is worth a try.
CoQ10 also in small doses, such as 30 to 50 mg.
Resveratrol is an extract found in wine and grapes.
Potassium is a mineral that can be deficient in some cardiac patients
Berberine and berbamine are potential natural agents that deserve further evaluation

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Twice a month we Email you a brief abstract of several new studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D. We will mention research updates on natural ways to prevent or treat Arrhythmia.

 

Herbs that could cause Cardiac Arrhythmia
Certain herbs stimulate cardiac rhythm. Herbs in high doses that may cause heart palpitations include ephedra, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, guarana, horny goat weed, rhodiola, yohimbe, and other tonic herbs. Usually high doses of these herbs cause the cardiac arrhythmia.

A Simple Way to Stop Some Forms of Arrhythmia
In some cases, when an arrhythmia comes on without chest pain, particularly if it is a fast, regular rhythm, lying down on the floor and elevating the legs and feet, hips close to the wall, resting the feet on the wall can rush blood down to the heart and make the heart rhythm come back to normal. Please discuss with your doctor. Also consider drinking one to three glasses of water for fluid replacement.

Potential Causes of Heart Arrhythmia
History of heart disease -- coronary artery disease, stents, heart valve disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and pericarditis.
Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid gland can cause arrhythmia, particularly atrial fibrillation
Prescription medications
Over the counter medicines including cold medicines that have pseudoephedrine or related compounds.
Caffeine found in coffee, tea, cocoa
Alcohol, when used in excess, increases the risk for atrial fibrillation
Stress, whether emotional or physical
Lack of good sleep
Marijuana overuse
H. Pylori infection of the stomach - may increase risk of atrial fibrillation.
Natural herbs, supplements, and hormones. See below.

Nutrients that can cause Cardiac Arrhythmia
Nutrients that can cause an arrhythmia include tyrosine, phenylalanine, high doses of SAM-e. Some herbs that have a stimulating nature, such an ginseng or horny goat weed, may also cause hearth rhythm problems.

Hormones that could cause Cardiac Arrhythmia
Hormones than can cause arrhythmia include high doses of DHEA and pregnenolone, and probably high doses of progesterone or other hormones, including thyroid hormones.

Fish oil supplements make their way to heart tissue
Effects of fish-oil supplementation on myocardial fatty acids in humans.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 May;85(5):1222-8. Rheumatology Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
The study examined the kinetics of incorporation of n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)  into human myocardial membrane phospholipids during supplementation with fish oil and alpha-linolenic acid-rich flaxseed oil. Patients with low self-reported fish intake (<1 fish meal/wk and no oil supplements) accepted for elective cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly allocated to 1 of 6 groups: no supplement; fish oil (6 g EPA+DHA/d) for either 7, 14, or 21 d before surgery; flaxseed oil; or olive oil (both 10 mL/d for 21 d before surgery). Right atrial appendage tissue removed during surgery and blood collected at enrollment and before surgery were analyzed for phospholipid fatty acids. Surgery rescheduling resulted in a range of treatment times from 7 to 118 d. In the fish-oil-treated subjects, accumulation of EPA and DHA in the right atrium was curvilinear with time and reached a maximum at approximately 30 d of treatment and displaced mainly arachidonic acid. Flaxseed oil supplementation yielded a small increase in atrial EPA but not DHA, whereas olive oil did not significantly change atrial n-3 fatty acids. The results of the present study show that dietary n-3 fatty acids are rapidly incorporated into human myocardial phospholipids at the expense of arachidonic acid during high-dose fish-oil supplementation.

Tachycardia and Bradycardia
An arrhythmia can also occur when the heart beats either too fast or too slow. When your heart beats too fast -- more than 100 beats per minute -- the condition is known as tachycardia arrhythmia. When it beats too slow -- fewer than 60 beats per minute -- you have bradycardia arrhythmia. These two arrhythmias are not serious unless they occur in a extreme fashion for prolonged periods.

Types of Ventricular Arrhythmias
     Premature Ventricular Contraction -- an occasional skipped heart beat, occurs in everyone at some time in their life. This is not serious.
     Ventricular Tachycardia -- A rhythm of the heart at a rate of more than 100 beats per minute is considered a tachycardia. If the ventricles of the heart experience tachycardia for a sustained period of time, there can be deleterious effects. Individuals may sense a tachycardia as a pounding sensation of the heart; this is known as "palpitations". However, strictly speaking, palpitations are any sensation of an individual's own heart beat, and can occur at rates less than 100 beats/minute.
     Ventricular fibrillation -- If fibrillation occurs in the ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart, it is always a medical emergency. If left untreated, ventricular fibrillation can lead to death within minutes. When a heart goes into ventricular fibrillation, effective pumping of the blood stops. The individual goes into cardiac arrest, and will not survive unless cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation are provided immediately.

Atrial Fibrillation - Atrial Arrhythmia - Supraventricular Arrhythmia
Fibrillation occurs when the heart muscle begins a quivering motion instead of a normal, healthy pumping rhythm.
     Atrial fibrillation is the quivering, chaotic motion in the upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria. Atrial fibrillation is often due to serious underlying medical conditions, and should be evaluated by a physician. It is not typically a medical emergency. Some people can live many years or decades with atrial fibrillation.
     Supraventricular Arrhythmia simply means that the arrhythmia is being instigated above the ventricles, which most often means that it is coming from the atria.
     The gastric microbe, Helicobacter pylori, that's the cause of most stomach ulcers also takes it out on the heart. People with rapid beating of the upper chamber of the heart, atrial fibrillation, are nearly 20 times more likely to be infected with Helicobacter than are healthy "controls," according to a report in the medical journal Heart. While the exact mechanism is unknown, the theory is that it may relate to autoantibodies that develop in some H. pylori-infected patients. These antibodies, which normally attack an acid pump found on gastric cells, may instead attack a similar pump on cardiac cells, ultimately triggering atrial fibrillation. The new findings are based on a study of H. pylori tests in 59 patients with atrial fibrillation and 45 healthy controls. In the overall analysis, 97.2 percent of atrial fibrillation patients were positive for H. pylori compared with just 5.3 percent of controls.

Diagnosis of Heart Arrhythmia
Ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring usually is indicated if the etiology of arrhythmias cannot be determined from the patient's history, physical examination, and resting ECG. When an arrhythmia occurs unpredictably or does not occur daily, an initial two-week course of continuous closed-loop event recording is indicated. Holter monitoring for 24 to 48 hours may be appropriate in patients with daily arrhythmia. Trans-telephonic event monitors are more effective and cost-effective than Holter monitors for most patients.

Sinus Arrhythmia
Sinus arrhythmia means the arrhythmia is being generated from the sinus node.

Heart Arrhythmia symptom
Most people have felt their heart beat very fast, experienced a fluttering in their chest, or noticed that their heart skipped a beat. Almost everyone has also felt dizzy, faint, or out of breath or had chest pains at one time or another. Symptoms of heart arrhythmia may include:

* palpitations (increased awareness of the heart beating faster) This is often the only symptom for most people.
* chest pain
* shortness of breath
* lightheadedness or fainting
* fatigue or weakness

You should not panic if you experience a few flutters or your heart races infrequently, this happens in many people. But if the heart arrhythmia occurs regularly, a doctor's visit is recommended.

Heart Arrhythmia Medication
If the cardiac arryhthmia is caused by a disease, treatment of the underlying disorder is necessary to prevent worsening. Antiarrhythmic drugs may be used to treat rhythm disorders but all of these drugs may cause side effects. Although some patients benefit from antiarrhythmic drugs, heart arrhythmias may worsen in 10 or more percent of patients. For that reason and the fact that the more serious heart rhythm abnormalities occur in sick patients, antiarrhythmic drugs are often first given in the hospital, so the effects on heart rhythm can be carefully monitored.

Medications Used to Treat Heart Arrhythmias
I prefer to use natural supplements and methods first for mild cases of heart arrhythmia, however, moderate to severe cases may require heart arrhythmia medication, such as:

Class 1 Anti-arrhythmic Blocks cardiac sodium channels; slows rate of impulse conduction throughout heart; some drugs also affect potassium channels, altering how long it takes the heart to "reset" after each impulse quinidine (Quinidex, others) phenytoin (Dilantin) flecainide (Tambocor)

Class 2 Anti-arrhythmic Blocks beta receptors, which are chemical docking sites for signals from nervous system; reduces impulse formation in SA node; slows conduction in AV node; reduces force of contractions propranalol (Inderal) acebutolol (Sectral)

Class 3 Anti-arrhythmic Blocks potassium, sodium and calcium channels, and beta receptors (amiodarone); or blocks potassium channels and beta receptors (sotalol); many actions, but mostly prolongs each impulse and prolongs time between impulses amiodarone (Cordarone) sotalol (Betapace)

Class 4 Anti-arrhythmic Blocks calcium channels; reduces formation of impulses in SA node; slows conduction through AV node; reduces force of contractions verapamil (Calan, others) diltiazem (Cardizem, others)

Inotropic Anti-arrhythmic (Inotropes are influencers of muscle force.) Acts via central nervous system and direct action on AV node cells to decrease conduction through AV node and decrease impulse formation in SA node; often causes arrhythmias, partly because it increases impulse formation in Purkinje fibers digoxin (Lanoxin).

Heart Arrhythmia monitoring
Diagnosis and management of cardiac arrhythmias can be accomplished by using electrocardiographic monitoring devices while you are at home or work on in your daily life. The reason heart arrhythmia monitoring is recommended by cardiologists include: palpitations, fainting, anti arrhythmia drug monitoring and arrhythmia evaluation in those with known arrhythmias. The Holter monitor is the prototype continuous electrocardiographic monitor, providing continuous recording of the electrocardiographic signal for 24 or 48 hours. Data are recorded by a microcassette and analyzed using computer software that identifies arrhythmias. Transtelephonic electrocardiographic monitors transmit recordings by telephone and convert the signal into a conventional recording. Devices that are applied during the occurrence of symptoms record and save electrocardiographic data prospectively for an average of two minutes. These devices have an extended monitoring ability. The prototype is a credit card-sized monitor applied to the chest wall at the time of the symptom.

Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Update
Omega-3 Fatty Acid prevents heart rate variability reductions associated with particulate matter.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Dec 15;172(12):1534-40.
Environmental exposure to particulate matter of 2.5 mum or less (PM(2.5)) has been associated with changes in heart rate variability (HRV). Objective: To evaluate the effect of supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the reduction of HRV associated with PM(2.5) exposure. Design: Randomized double-blind trial. Setting: Mexico City, Mexico. Participants: 50 nursing home residents older than 60 yr. Intervention: Randomization to either 2 g/d of fish oil versus 2 g/d of soy oil as the control, with 6 mo follow-up (1-mo presupplementation and 5-mo supplementation) or repeated HRV measurements. Results: Fish oil supplementation was significantly better in preventing the reduction in percentage of successive normal RR intervals differing by more than 50 ms and the root square of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent intervals than soy oil supplementation. Interpretation: Supplementation with 2 g/d of fish oil prevented HRV decline related to PM(2.5) exposure in the study population.

[Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the prevention of atrial arrhythmias]
Ital Heart J Suppl. 2005 Jan;6(1):53-9.
The effects of omega-3 fatty acids on membrane stabilization are well known. Reduction of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death has been reported; fewer data exist regarding the effects on atrial arrhythmias. The object of this report is to evaluate the reduction of atrial arrhythmia -fibrillation after treatment with omega-3, in patients with dual-chamber pacemakers. METHODS: We have examined 40 patients with paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmia recorded at the periodic pacemaker controls. At the study entry, all patients were treated with omega-3 (1 g/die). The devices were interrogated after 4 months of treatment to evaluate the number of episodes and the burden of atrial arrhythmia. At this time, the treatment was discontinued and the patients were reevaluated 4 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest a powerful effect of omega-3 fatty acids in the reduction of atrial arrhythmia - fibrillation in these patients, without significant adverse effects.

Effects of n-3 fatty acids from fish on premature ventricular complexes and heart rate in humans.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Feb;81(2):416-20.
A large body of evidence suggests that n-3 fatty acids from fish prevent fatal heart disease. They may be an effective and safe alternative to drug treatment for reducing the risk of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of n-3 fatty acids on heart rate and premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), a common form of arrhythmia that may trigger arrhythmias that are more life-threatening. DESIGN: Patients (n=84) with >or=1440 PVCs/24 h in a previous Holter recording were randomly assigned to receive 1.5 g/d of either n-3 fatty acids or placebo. Two 24-h Holter recordings were made at baseline, and 2 were made after an intervention of approximately 14 wk. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with 1.5 g n-3 fatty acids/d from fish does not substantially suppress the number of PVCs in a patient population with frequent PVCs. However, n-3 fatty acids decreased heart rate by 2.1 beats/min, a significant decrease that predicts a lower risk of sudden death.

[Comparison of the anti-arrhythmic effects of matrine and berbamine with amiodarone and RP58866]
Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2004 Sep;39(9):691-4.
AIM: To clarify mechanisms that the anti- arrhythma effects of matrine and berbamine are weaker than those of amiodarone and RP58866. METHODS: Experimental arrhythmic models were induced by aconitine, coronary artery ligation and electric stimulation in rats and rabbits. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory actions of matrine and berbamine on IK1, IKr, IKs, Ito were lower than those of amiodarone and RP58866, which might be the reason that the antiarrhythmic effects of matrine and berbamine were weaker than those of amiodarone and RP58866.

Efficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Am J Cardiol. 2003 Jul 15;92(2):173-6.
This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of berberine for chronic congestive heart failure. One hundred fifty-six patients with CHF and >90 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and/or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 24-hour Holter monitoring were randomly divided into 2 groups. All patients were given conventional therapy for congestive heart failure, consisting of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, and nitrates. Patients in the treatment group (n = 79) were also given berberine 1.2 to 2.0 g/day. The remaining 77 patients were given placebo. Symptoms, a 6-minute walk test, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), frequency and complexity of VPCs, and quality of life were assessed after 8 weeks of treatment and during a mean 24-month follow-up. After treatment with berberine, there was a significantly greater increase in LVEF, exercise capacity, improvement of the dyspnea-fatigue index, and a decrease of frequency and complexity of VPCs compared with the control group. There was a significant decrease in mortality in the berberine-treated patients during long-term follow-up (7 patients receiving treatment died vs 13 on placebo). Proarrhythmia was not observed, and there were no apparent side effects. Thus, berberine improved quality of life and decreased VPCs and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure.

Dietary flaxseed protects against ventricular fibrillation induced by ischemia-reperfusion in normal and hypercholesterolemic Rabbits.
J Nutr. 2004 Dec;134(12):3250-6.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the (n-3) PUFA found in fish oils, exert antiarrhythmic effects during ischemia. Flaxseed is the richest plant source of another (n-3) PUFA, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), yet its effects remain largely unknown. Our objective was to determine whether a flaxseed-rich diet is antiarrhythmic in normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. This study demonstrates that dietary flaxseed exerts antiarrhythmic effects during ischemia-reperfusion in rabbit hearts, possibly through shortening of the action potential.

Inhibitory effect of n-3 fish oil fatty acids on cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchange currents in HEK293t cells.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Aug 13;321(1):116-23. Xiao YF, Ke Q, Chen Y, Morgan JP, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Abnormal activity of the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) can affect intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and cause arrhythmias. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), however, may prevent arrhythmias. To test the effect of PUFAs on the cardiac NCX1 current (I(NCX1)), the canine NCX1 cDNA was expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293t) cells. The average density of I(NCX1) was 10.9+/-2.6 pA/pF (n=44) in NCX1-transfected cells and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) significantly inhibited I(NCX1) The suppression of I(NCX1) by EPA was concentration-dependent with an IC50 of 0.82+/-0.27 microM. EPA had a similar effect on outward or inward I(NCX1). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) also significantly inhibited I(NCX1), whereas the saturated fatty acid, stearic acid (SA, C18:0), did not. Our data demonstrate that the n-3 PUFAs significantly suppress cardiac I(NCX1), which is probably one of their protective effects against lethal arrhythmias.

Fish intake and risk of incident atrial fibrillation.
Circulation. 2004 Jul 27;110(4):368-73.
Mozaffarian D, Psaty BM, Rimm EB, Lemaitre RN, Burke GL, Lyles MF. Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and is particularly common in the elderly. Although effects of fish intake, including potential antiarrhythmic effects, may favorably influence risk of AF, relationships between fish intake and AF incidence have not been evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective, population-based cohort of 4815 adults > or =age 65 years, usual dietary intake was assessed at baseline in 1989 and 1990. Consumption of tuna and other broiled or baked fish correlated with plasma phospholipid long-chain n-3 fatty acids, whereas consumption of fried fish or fish sandwiches (fish burgers) did not. AF incidence was prospectively ascertained on the basis of hospital discharge records and annual electrocardiograms. During 12 years' follow-up, 980 cases of incident AF were diagnosed. In multivariate analyses, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish was inversely associated with incidence of AF, with 28% lower risk with intake 1 to 4 times per week, and 31% lower risk with intake > or =5 times per week, compared with <1 time per month. Results were not materially different after adjustment for preceding myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. In similar analyses, fried fish/fish sandwich consumption was not associated with lower risk of AF. CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly adults, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish or fish sandwiches, is associated with lower incidence of AF. Fish intake may influence risk of this common cardiac arrhythmia.

Immediate effects of n-3 fatty acid infusion on the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia.
Lancet. 2004 May 1;363(9419):1441-2.
Increased consumption of n-3 fatty acids reduces mortality from sudden cardiac death, indicating that such acids have anti-arrhythmic effects. We did electrophysiological testing in ten patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators who were at high risk of sudden cardiac death. To assess their immediate effects on the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia, n-3 fatty acids were infused. Such tachycardia was not induced in five of seven patients. Our findings show that infusion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids does not induce arrhythmia, but did result in a reduction of sustained ventricular tachycardia in some patients.

Effect of daidzein on antiarrhythmia
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2003 Sep;28(9):853-6.
To study the effect of daidzein on arrhythmia. The conventional arrhythmia methods were used. RESULT: Daidzein was remarkedly effective in preventing ventricular fibrillation induced by chloroform in mice and arrhythmia induced by aconitine in rats. The arrhythmia induced by adrenalin in rabbits was antagonized by Daidzein and it could obviously inhibit the action potential amplitude of isolated sciatic nerves in toads. And it could also prevent ventricular fibrillation induced by calcium chloride in rats, and obviously reduce the death rate of rats. Its anti-arrhythmic effect was dose-dependent. CONCLUSION: Daidzein has obvious protective effect on drug-induced arrhythmia, which may be related to its inhibition of Na+ or Ca2+ influx and its blocking beta-adrenergic receptor.

Resveratrol protects myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through both NO-dependent and NO-independent mechanisms.
Free Radic Biol Med. 2004 Mar 15;36(6):774-81.
We previously showed that resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) stimulates NO production and is cardioprotective in rat heart subjected to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R rat heart). We now show that in I/R rat heart, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression is markedly induced, while expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nueronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is unchanged. In animals preconditioned with resveratrol (0.5 to 1 mg/kg body wt), I/R-induced iNOS induction is abrogated; however, expression of eNOS and nNOS is greatly upregulated. The protective effects of resveratrol on I/R rat heart include reduced rhythm disturbances, reduced cardiac infarct size, and decreased plasma levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). Among these, the reductions in LDH/CK levels and infarct size are NO-dependent as the coadministration of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 1 mg/kg body wt) with resveratrol abolishes the resveratrol effect. In contrast, the reductions in the severity of ventricular arrhythmia and mortality rate are not affected by L-NAME coadministration, suggesting that a NO-independent mechanism is involved.

Ginkgo biloba-induced frequent ventricular arrhythmia.
Ital Heart J. 2002 Nov;3(11):689-91.
The use of herbal medications is becoming ever more widespread, but data for them are not yet as robust as for conventional drugs. The available safety information indicates that potential side effects of such use can be due to allergic reactions and bleeding. In this report, a case of frequent ventricular arrhythmias probably due to Ginkgo biloba is presented. The patient complained of palpitations twice in a month and on both occasions symptoms and electrocardiographic evidence of ventricular arrhythmias resolved with discontinuation of Ginkgo biloba. This case underlines that continuing research is needed to elucidate the pharmacological activities of the many herbal remedies now being used.

Bergenin is the antiarrhythmic principle of Fluggea virosa.
Planta Med. 2002 Apr;68(4):372-4.
Bergenin was isolated from the aerial parts of Fluggea virosa (Euphorbiaceae). Its structure was elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral data. Anti-arrhythmic effects of bergenin were investigated. At concentrations of 0.2 mg/kg, 0.4 mg/kg, and 0.8 mg/kg, bergenin showed distinct therapeutic effects on BaCl2-induced arrhythmias in rats. At concentrations of 0.4 mg/kg and 0.8 mg/kg bergenin significantly countered arrhythmias induced by ligation and reperfusion of the coronary artery. At 0.8 mg/kg, bergenin elevated the atria fibrillation threshold in rabbits from 1.34 mV to 1.92 mV. Our results suggest that bergenin has good potential to treat cardiac arrhythmias.

Antiarrhythmic effect of magnolol and honokiol during acute phase of coronary occlusion in anesthetized rats: influence of L-NAME and aspirin.
Pharmacology. 1999 Nov;59(5):227-33.
This study was designed to evaluate the in vivo effect of magnolol and honokiol on the acute phase of coronary ligation in the presence of nitric oxide inhibitor (L-NAME) or cyclooxygenase inhibitor (aspirin). After Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with urethane, the changes of ventricular arrhythmia induced by coronary ligation for 30 min were determined with or without pretreatment with study medications. The incidence and duration of ventricular arrhythmia were significantly reduced after intravenous pretreatment (15 min before coronary ligation) with 10(-7) g/kg magnolol or 10(-7) g/kg honokiol. However, the antiarrhythmic effect of magnolol or honokiol could be abolished with the pretreatment of 1 mg/kg L-NAME, but not with pretreatment of 100 mg/kg aspirin. The abolishment of the myocardial beneficial effect of magnolol and honokiol by L-NAME, instead of aspirin, suggests an involvement of an increased nitric oxide synthesis in the protection offered by magnolol and honokiol against arrhythmia during myocardial ischemia.

Chinese Herbs for Cardiac Arrhytmia
[Clinical study on Fufang Sishen Decoction in treating arrhythmia after virus myocarditis]
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2004 Mar;2(2):97-9.
To observe the effect of Fufang Sishen Decoction on arrhythmia after virus myocarditis. One hundred and two cases of arrhythmia after virus myocarditis were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group was treated with Fufang Sishen Decoction, 6 g, b.i.d.; and the control group with propafenone, 150 mg, q 8 h. The therapeutic effects were observed in 4 weeks. RESULTS: The total anti-arrhythmia effects of Fufang Sishen Decoction and propafenone were 71.9% and 78.9% respectively (P>0.05). Fufang Sishen Decoction took effects relatively slowly with mild and lasting effect. CONCLUSION: The curative effect of Fufang Sishen Decoction in treating arrhythmia after virus myocarditis is confirmed. Fufang Sishen Decoction has no obvious side effects.

Antihypertensive and anti-arrhythmic effects of an extract of Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae in the rat.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2004 Jan;56(1):115-22.
In this study, we determined the effects of an extract of Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae (RST) on arterial blood pressure and heart weight in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA-salt) hypertensive rats. We also determined the effects of the extract on arrhythmia and infarct induced by myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion in anaesthetized rats. We further compared the effects of the extract with those of tetrandrine, which makes up 7% of the extract and is known to act as a calcium-channel antagonist, and verapamil, a prototype calcium-channel antagonist. Treatment with RST extract returned the arterial blood pressure, cardiac compliance and coronary flow towards normal, and reduced right ventricular hypertrophy in the DOCA-salt hypertensive rat. In the anaesthetized rat, the RST extract reduced arrhythmia and infarct size induced by myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion; the effects were similar to those of tetrandrine and verapamil. The findings indicate that the RST extract acts like a calcium-channel antagonist. It may be used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, as are the calcium-channel antagonist and tetrandrine. More interestingly, the effects of the RST extract were of the same potency as tetrandrine. Since only 7% of the extract was tetrandrine, the observation indicates that tetrandrine was not the only component that was responsible for the actions of the extract.

TCM treatment of extrasystole with huanglian shengmai yin--a report of 357 cases.
J Tradit Chin Med. 2003 Mar;23(1):35-7.
The previous experimental studies have demonstrated that addition of Huang Qi ([symbol: see text] Radix Astragali) to the formulated recipe Sheng Mai Yin ([symbol: see text] Decoction for Pulse-activation) exerts the effects of strengthening the myodynamia, increasing the coronary flow, improving myocardial metabolism, and resisting the arrhythmia. The active component of Huang Lian ([symbol: see text] Rhizoma Coptidis) can prolong the myocardial action potential and antagonize the chloroform-, aconitine-, barium chloride-, epinephrine- or coronary ligation-induced arrhythmia by blocking the calcium channel. Ku Shen ([symbol: see text] Radix Sophorae Flavescentis) contains matrine and flavones, which act as quinidine to decrease the excitability of the myocardium, prolong the refractory period, and inhibit the ectopic cardiac rhythm. And Dan Shen ([symbol: see text] Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) has the action of improving the ischemic state of the myocardium by dilating the coronary vessels. In conclusion, the definite therapeutic effects of Huang Lian Sheng Mai Yin in treating ventricular, atrial and nodal arrhythmia suggests that the prescription is rational and accords with the therapeutic principle of TCM. Except discomfort in the gastric cavity and poor appetite experienced by some patients, there is no toxic or adverse reaction.

[Clinical and experimental study of effect of yangxin fumai oral liquid in treating patients with extrasystole]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Feb;21(2):111-4.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Yangxin Fumai Oral Liquid (YFOL), a Chinese herbal medicine for nourishing heart and restoring pulse, in treating patients with extrasystole. METHODS: The effect of YFOL was observed in treating 30 patients with different kinds of extrasystole and compared with that in 30 patients treated by propafenone. The effect of YFOL on experimental arrhythmia was studied in animals as well. RESULTS: Clinical observation showed that the effect of YFOL against extrasystole in the two groups was similar, but the YFOL group showed better effect in symptom improvement (P < 0.01) with no marked side-effects. Experimental study showed that YFOL could reduce the chloroform induced ventricular fibrillation occurrence in mice, delay the initiating time of ventricular extrasystole, tachycardia and fibrillation induced by aconitine, BaCl2 and coronary artery ligation in rats, or shorten the lasting time of arrhythmia, reduce the attacking rate of ventricular extrasystole. There was significant difference in comparing with the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: YFOL is a good and convenient Chinese herbal preparation for different kinds of extrasystole with low toxic and side-effects in clinical practice.

An arrhythmia is commonly called heart palpitations by the general public.

Herbs or compounds that could reduce arrhytmia
Adenosine
Bergenin

Arrhythmia Questions
Q. Could you please suggest natural supplements I could take to control an arrhythmia called supraventricular tachycardia? Also, could you inform me which supplements to avoid?
   A. I am not sure of the specifics whether one form of arrhythmia is different than another when it comes to natural supplements, but as a rule, consider discussing with your doctor the information on this arrhythmia page.