An irregular or abnormal heartbeat leads to palpitations. Another name for heart palpitations is cardiac arrhythmia. It feels like the heart is beating too slow or too fast and can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
Palpitations are a common occurrence in many people, although they can be unpleasant to experience. They may be a sign of heart disease or be caused by a number of other factors, such as low blood sugar and hormonal problems. You can control your palpitations with some home remedies. Continue with us:
Home remedies for heart palpitations
The following natural remedies can help control and relieve palpitations.
1. Include garlic in your diet
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant that has been used in many traditional medicine systems such as Indian and Iranian medicine. It contains allicin, a compound that has cardioprotective effects. Animal studies have shown that garlic extract has a calming effect on the heart by stabilizing the electrical activity of the heart and thus reducing heart palpitations.
You can include garlic as an addition to soups, sauces and spices in your regular cooking. You can also use garlic capsules after consulting your doctor.
2. Consume saffron
Saffron (Crocus sativus) has long been used as a flavoring agent in oriental cuisine. In traditional medicine, it is used as a heart protector and to treat heart palpitations. Studies on mice have shown that the consumption of saffron at a dose of 100 mg/kg per day has a protective effect against heart palpitations.
The protective effect of saffron can be attributed to its inhibitory effect on calcium channels.
You can add saffron to your sweets and desserts. You can also drink it as a tea by soaking 5 to 7 strands of saffron in hot water for 10 minutes and drinking the saffron-enriched water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
3. Try using ginger
Traditional Chinese medicine has used ginger (Zingiber officinale) for its cardioprotective effects as an ingredient in Zhingancao formulations. A 2018 study reported the protective effect of ginger extract on pig coronary arteries by inhibiting chemicals that cause heart palpitations.
You can add ginger to your soups, curries and sauces. You can also drink ginger in tea form by adding some chopped ginger to water, boiling it and straining the liquid to make ginger tea. Add some honey to the tea and drink it twice a day.
4. Try the Arjuna herb
Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) is a plant that has been used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. Arjuna contains many bioactive compounds and the organic extract of the plant has a cardioprotective effect and is recommended in the treatment of heart palpitations.
5. Consume the goduchi plant
Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), also known as Giloya, which means elixir, protects against aging. Due to its many medicinal properties, this plant has been widely used in the traditional Indian medicine system, Ayurveda.
Studies on mice have shown that the alcoholic extract of T. cordifolia has cardioprotective effects. The cardioprotective effects of this plant can be attributed to its antioxidant properties and its ability to act as a calcium channel blocker.
6. Add cinnamon to your meals
Cinnamon is a spice that is extracted from the bark of the cinnamon plant, which is native to China, India and Southeast Asia. It is widely used as a spice in typical Indian cuisine. Cinnamon has also been used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases such as bronchitis, diabetes and loss of appetite.
In recent times, the cardioprotective effects of cinnamon have been recognized, and animal studies have shown its ability to control heart palpitations. In a review article published in 2022, its cardioprotective ability was attributed to its antioxidant properties and its ability to modulate ion channels and electrical activity of the heart.
By boiling half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder in water, straining the liquid and adding honey to it, you can consume cinnamon as a tea. Drink this infusion twice a day. Alternatively, you can add some cinnamon powder to your cup of tea that you drink in the morning and evening. You can also add cinnamon to your regular cooking to add flavor to soups, curries, and sauces.
7. Use hawthorn
Hawthorn is a medicinal plant. Almost all parts of this plant are rich in bioactive compounds that make it a popular herb. Protecting the heart is one of its health benefits. In a study, he reported the protective effect of the alcoholic extract of this plant against digoxin-induced heart palpitations in Wistar rats.
8. Try using valerian
Valerian is a plant with prominent leaves and native to Europe and West Asia. A total of 150 bioactive compounds have been identified in valerian, making it a popular medicinal plant. Valerian has the ability to modulate the activity of ion channels and the electrical activity of the heart, cardioprotective and anti-arrhythmic activities.
9. Use lemongrass
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a plant from the mint family, it has lemon-scented leaves and is native to southern central Europe, the Mediterranean area, Iran and central Asia. It has been used in traditional Iranian medicine to treat heart palpitations.
10. Consume grapes and grape products
Grapes and grape seeds are rich in resveratrol, a polyphenol that has antiarrhythmic activity. Animal studies have conclusively shown the ability of resveratrol, grapes and grape products to prevent heart palpitations.
11. Try cold stimulation techniques
New research studies show that cold stimulation of the face and neck may help reduce stress and arrhythmias. Cooling the nose and forehead can stimulate the vagus nerve (the main nerve that connects the brain to the heart) and help slow the heart rate.
You can achieve this by using an ice pack wrapped in a towel on your face.
12. Relaxation techniques can help
Relaxation therapy helps reduce pain, anxiety, stress and depression. One of the main causes of irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations is chronic stress or anxiety. Many doctors recommend meditation, yoga and deep breathing exercises to reduce stress and calm the nerves.
Causes of heart palpitations
Palpitations may be caused by any of the following conditions:
• Hormonal imbalance
• Anemia
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Stress and anxiety
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Low blood sugar
• Excessive consumption of caffeine, nicotine or alcohol
• Use of drugs such as cocaine and marijuana
• Prone to panic attacks during pregnancy
Palpitations may sometimes be accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, ringing in the ears, heaviness in the chest and throat, and blurred vision. If such symptoms persist or occur frequently, there may be another underlying pathology, in which case consult your doctor.
However, in most cases, palpitations resolve on their own and can be controlled with diet and lifestyle changes. In addition, some traditional home remedies are helpful in controlling heart palpitations, which are mentioned in the following sections.
Additional tips for dealing with palpitations
• Increase consumption of fruits and green leafy vegetables.
• Eat magnesium-rich foods such as bananas, kiwis, avocados, and kale.
• Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake.
• Stay hydrated as dehydration can increase the risk of heart palpitations.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Sleep at least 6 to 7 hours a day.
• Exercise at least 20 minutes a day.
Frequently asked questions about heart palpitations
1. What is heartbeat?
Palpitations is a fast and rapid heartbeat that can be caused by various factors such as stress, exercise, caffeine or alcohol consumption, and some medications. In some cases, palpitations can be a sign of a serious condition such as heart disease.
2. What should I do in case of heart palpitations?
To prevent heart palpitations, try meditation, exercise, yoga, tai chi, or other stress-reducing activities. Breathing exercises or deep breathing are also very helpful. With a calm mind, sit quietly and close your eyes. In addition, avoid stressful situations.
3. What are the symptoms of heart palpitations?
Symptoms of heart palpitations include:
– Rapid heartbeat
– Sensation of heartbeat in the throat or neck
– Shortness of breath
– Dizziness or fainting
4. What is the best sleeping position for heart palpitations?
In general, sleeping on your left side is best for your health.
5. What are the warning signs of heart palpitations?
Warning signs of heart palpitations include: light-headedness or feeling dizzy, chest pain, sudden onset of irregular heart rhythm, heart rate above 120 beats per minute,
History of heart disease, family history of sudden heart failure or heart disease
6. What tests are prescribed by doctors in case of heart palpitations?
The following tests are performed to investigate the cause of heart diseases:
– ECG to evaluate heart function and health
– Blood fat test
– Diabetes test
Your doctor may recommend additional tests based on your medical history and symptoms.
A final word about heart palpitations
Palpitations are a fast, rapid heartbeat that can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, exercise, caffeine or alcohol consumption, and certain medications. Palpitations are usually not considered serious unless you have an underlying heart condition. Heart palpitations can be managed or treated by adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, deep breathing exercises, yoga exercises and avoiding stressful situations.
If you have palpitations, it is important to determine the cause. If your palpitations are caused by stress or exercise, they usually don’t need treatment. However, if your heart palpitations are severe or accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or fainting, you should see your doctor.
