Herbs and svt

[nikgirl28]

An acupunturist gave me a mixture of herbs...he said something for energy, circulation and for my back pain...i can't remember the herbs that he said...but about 4 hrs after taking them my heart went into an abnormal rhythm for 7-8 minutes and i also got really bad pvcs afterward...i do have SVT...but my svt doesn't last too long...but today it did...and i was dizzy and short of breath...do you think the herbs can affect your heart rhythm in that way?

[nikgirl28]

yeah it was so weird...because i haven't had an episode in awhile...and when i do...i can always pinpoint the causes...well i was palp free until i took that stupid mixture..yesterday morning...it was like a mixture of powdered herbs...like something for circulation and energy...and i know wouldn't be heart friendly....but maybe my heart is really sensitive cause i can't drink caffeine either...so i avoid pop and coffee...even tea...
but it was scary because it lasted sooo long...my mom was there feeling my chest...and she said it felt like a bird trapped in a small cage... :(
Thanks for the replies :)

[ireneo]

I'm with you - caffeine isn't worth it. I also avoid alcohol - whether in medications or in a glass. I know many people can have a few beers or a Marguerita but my heart rebels against such things. We all have to discover our triggers and then avoid them. Or in my case, I love my chocolate and am willing to risk some heart hiccups occasionally.

[lagoya]

if i drink anything with strong caffine in it i will defo get plaps they might not go into a svt attack but they have in the past .
i just avoid all caffine now altough i was never a big caffine taker anyway.
but i dont like the palpitations it can bring.

[BLM_56]

Paraphrasing/expanding upon what ireneo said, not everything natural is neutral.  Belladona is natural.  Google it.  So is digitalis.  Neither are especially good for you to ingest.  Hemlock is 100% natural.  Wonder what Socrates would say about how "neutral" it is.

Perhaps your acupuncturist gave you something with ephedra in it.  The primary compounds in ephedra are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine - first cousins to speed!  Ephedrine can cause tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, Angina pectoris and vasoconstriction with hypertension.  Any of that sound (feel) familiar?  You said he gave you "something for energy, circulation and for [your] back pain".  Drugs that give us "energy" and "help with circulation" are not likely to be heart friendly.

Lots of things are 100% natural and 100% not good for us.  Let me reiterate "natural is not necessarily neutral".  Also, if drinking a "tea" made my heart go into an abnormal rhythm for 7-8 minutes and also gave me really bad pvcs afterward I would probably dump the remainder and NEVER drink it again.  But I am the cautious type.

Bionic Bill
Cyborg at Large

[Barbmag]

Just had to say that I can not drink anything with caffeine b/c it triggers an irregular heart beat. I have heard that there are herbs that can cause palps as well. Some can be calming tho. I am just v careful when it comes to drinking ice tea or coffee or sodas, etc. My husband could drink 5 cups of coffee and not have it bother him at all. Me? I can drink a half a cup and 10 min later get 'skips' all over the place.

[ireneo]

Anything that is a stimulant (like caffeine or energy drinks with ginseng) can excite the heart. I avoid them all. Even a little too much chocolate will cause my heart to race. Herbs sound safe because they're "natural" but they do have an effect on the body. That's why some doctors use them. They're natural but not neutral.

[nikgirl28]

Thanks for the reply...does your heart go into svt after u consume caffine?

[lagoya]

i could have a cup of tea and it will effect my heart because of the caffine etc
herbs or certain herbs can be good for u but some can cause reactions and if u suffer from svt and the heart is more sensitive u could have had a reaction.if i persume there was something in the herbs for giving energy maybe this triggered your svt like caffine would .it would all depend on what the herbs were.
certain herbs can effect the body in all different ways and most of the cures for illness in this world will be found in nature and is found found in nature --so i guess herbs can an effect.
i suppose u could stop or go to your doc to see if these are ok to take with/having svt

i hope that helps a little

[nikgirl28]

sorry i posted this twice!