heart Pressure

[Lia ch]

Hi, my name is Lia, I'm 35 years old, I have spider veins in my legs. I took a medicin through the internet for treating the spider veins its inactive ingredients: Dicalcium phosphate, horse
chestnut fruit, lactose USP, Witch Hazel Bark. After taking the medicin for 7 months I start feeling pressur and pain in my heart (not in my breast) and follows with difficulty in breathing. it comes from time to time like once every week it lasts for few hours. I'm a healthy woman I don't have any kind of disease I play tennis and do daily exercise (walking, swimming). Please I'd like to know if this medicin effect the heart and is what happing to me is a sign for any heart disease.

Thank you
Lia

[Jack54]

You are most welcome :)  I have been studying herbs and supplements for over a year now. I cured my wife who had lung surgery in January of this year. Her doctors are preparing to put her back into her state of sickness again.....Long story...

Most times I always come up with a little knowledge when I research something for folks on the board, that helps myself and this time I did.

I have read much about horse chesnut fruit. Some say it is poisonous, but there are over 15 varieties. Anyway I found out that it has an ingriedient that is good for venous insufficiecy, which I may have. I haven't looked at the herb/vitamin sites yet to find a product with Aescin in it but may :)

Here is some ifo I found from the NIH:

Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy. cesare.***@****

Aescin, the major active principle from Aesculus hippocastanum (Hippocastanaceae) the horse chestnut tree, has shown satisfactory evidence for a clinically significant activity in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), haemorrhoids and post-operative oedema. In one controlled trial aescin was shown to be as effective as compression therapy as an alternative to medical treatment for CVI. The therapeutic benefit is well supported by a number of experimental investigations in different animal models, indicative of clearcut anti-oedematous, anti-inflammatory and venotonic properties, mainly related to the molecular mechanism of the agent, allowing improved entry of ions into channels, thus raising venous tension in both in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Other mechanisms, i.e. release of PGF(2) from veins, antagonism to 5-HT and histamine, reduced catabolism of tissue mucopolysaccharides, further underline the wide ranging mechanisms of the therapeutic activity of aescin. The excellent tolerability of aescin in the clinic indicates this treatment is of definite clinical benefit in patients with clinical conditions resulting in CVI, haemorrhoids or peripheral oedema formation. Copyright 2001 Academic Press

[Lia ch]

Thank you for the important information. I stopped taking the pills for 1 month now, but still I feel the pain, once every week, it may lasts for 3 hours, when I take panadol it becomes less. During my daily exercise (Tennis, swimming, walking) I don't feel any pain or tired. Do u think I have any real problem in my heart or artereis or veins, or this pain problem will go and becomes less week after week, when my body becomes clean from witch hazel!!

Thank you
Lia

[Jack54]

Witch Hazel may be vasoconstrictive and is not recommended to be taken internally, per the info below. If it "constricts" your arteries, it could cause chest pain, due to constricting coronary arteries that supply blood to your heart muscles.
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Witch hazel leaves, bark, and its extracts have been reported to have astringent and hemostatic properties. These effects have been ascribed to the presence of a relatively high concentration of tannins in the leaf, bark, and extract. Tannins are protein precipitants in appropriate concentrations.  

Witch hazel water is absent of tannins but still retains its astringency. This suggests other constituents may possess astringent-like qualities. 2

The mechanism of witch hazel astringency involves the tightening of skin proteins, which come together to form a protective covering that promotes skin healing. 2 This quality is desirable in treatment of hemorrhoids (including preventive measures for recurring hemorrhoids). 10 A preparation of tea has been used in cases of diarrhea, dysentery, and colitis. 1 , 2 , 3 , 6

Skin problems also are treated with witch hazel. Its drying and astringent effects help treat skin inflammations such as eczema. Witch hazel's action on skin lesions also protects against infection. 2 Skin lotions also may contain witch hazel for these purposes. 1 Inflammation of mucous membranes including mouth, throat, and gums also may be treated with witch hazel in the form of a gargle. 1

Witch hazel also is used to treat damaged veins. Its ability to tighten distended veins and restore vessel tone is employed in varicose vein treatment and is also valuable for bruises and sprains. 1 , 2 This hemostatic property of witch hazel is said to stop bleeding instantly and, if used as an enema, offers a rapid cure for “inwardly bleeding piles.” 3 In Europe, an alcoholic fluid extract is taken internally to treat varicose veins. 11

Animal data

Fluid extracts administered parenterally to rabbits have been found to be vasoconstrictive. 11

Clinical data

Research reveals no clinical data regarding the use of witch hazel for any condition.

Dosage
Witch hazel leaves or bark have been used traditionally at daily oral doses of 2 to 3 g. Suppositories containing witch hazel contain from 0.1 to 1 g/dose. 12 , 13

Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions
None well documented.

Adverse Reactions
Although tannins are not usually absorbed following oral administration, doses of 1 g of witch hazel will cause nausea, vomiting, or constipation, possibly leading to impactions; hepatic damage may occur if the tannins are absorbed to an appreciable extent. 1 , 14 Witch hazel water is not intended for internal use. Teas can be brewed from leaves and twigs available commercially in some health-food stores, but their safety is undefined.

At least one report is available discussing contact allergy to witch hazel. 15

Toxicology
Although the volatile oil contains the carcinogen safrole, this is found in much smaller quantities than in plants such as sassafras. 3 Although extracts of witch hazel are available commercially, it is not recommended that these extracts be taken internally because the toxicity of the tannins has not been well defined.
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I will check on some of the other ingredients,

Jack

P.S. I think this is the first post that I have not lost in the last 4 tries. I have a new keyboard that is filled with functions that I do not need.

[viennaustria]

Hi Lia again ,
  
Your chest discomfort might have nothing to do with that medicin you took, I Goggled it and don’t see any bad information on it. It seems a good nonprescription natural pill, still for me the two words ‘new’ and very ‘effective’ rings the wrong bell, ergo not well known just yet. I might be wrong of course. It is only my opinion.
But you took them and can’t change that now. I hope it was helping for the original problem you were taking it for. But now I definitely won’t take more if I were you.
    Again what you feel might have nothing to do with these pills, that only a speculation.
You should go to the doc. and ask for an ECG.
  Also near not all chest discomfort means that it would be a sign for  heart disease.
So do not worry.
But better to be safe .

Good luck and let us know.  

[Lia ch]

The medicin I took can easily access it through the internet, I'll be thankful if u could help me in this matter. the medicin name is :   VEINOCAL  .(OTC Varicose Vein Solution)  It belongs to Selmedica Healthcare. Please let me know if there is any side effect for this pills , for its ingredients as mentioned are : Dicalcium phosphat, horse chestnut fruit, lactose USP, witch hazel Bark

Also I'd like to know if the symtoms of a heart disease is a pain in the whole chest or only on the leftside.

Thank you

[viennaustria]

You need to see your Dr Lia. I don't think anybody but him /her and some test could give you an answer. I don't know what kind of pills those are you were taking, but I think no one should take any pills through the internet before talking to a Dr about it.Hope you did, if not....
Hope that medicine didn't do you more damage then good.