Tachycardia

IBIS:

Definition:
characterized by a sinus rhythm of >100 beats/min. Sinus tachycardia begins and ends gradually, vs. paroxysmal tachycardia, which has a sudden onset and sudden cessation. Increasing the vagal tone, through carotid sinus massage, for example, can temporarily decrease the heartbeat. The prognosis depends solely on the cause for the tachycardia; anemia-induced tachycardia is benign and will regress once the anemia is corrected. However, tachycardia from CHF is itself clinically important. If treatment is needed, conventional physicians generally use beta blockers.her effects on the heart.

Etiology:
hypotension, emotions, hypoxia, fever, anemia, hemorrhage, systemic or cardiac infections, exercise, nicotine, marijuana, caffeine, thyrotoxicosis

Nutrition:
eating principles: • low sugar, low fat diet • diet high in whole complex carbohydrates • protein 12-15% diet • low cholesterol/cholesterol foods • low sodium/sodium-restricted diet • vegetarian cleansing diet or short fasts • Fasting, General Sample Diet, General Guidelines for Eating, Sample Vegetarian Diet

therapeutic foods: • foods that tonify the Heart, nourish the Xue (Blood) and Yin (tachycardia), Yang (bradycardia), calm the Shen (Spirit) • flax seed oil, okra, hawthorn berries, millet, buckwheat, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, bananas, potatoes, asparagus, apples, honey in small amounts (Airola, p. 101)

avoid: • meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods, sugar

Botanicals
• Aconitum napellus (toxic): tachycardia, small, hard, quick, sharp, pulse (Ellingwood, p. 80) • Adonis vernalis: nervous tachycardia, extra systoles (Weiss, p. 148) • Cimicifuga racemosa: small doses: decreases heartbeat, increases power, elevates arterial tension (Felter and Lloyd, p. 530) • Crataegus oxyacantha: tachycardia (Ellingwood, p. 218) • Cytisus scoparius: tachycardia (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 192) • Digitalis purpurea (toxic): tachycardia, weak, rapid, irregular, contraindicated in strong vigorous action (Felter, p. 333; Felter and Lloyd, p. 656) • Gelsemium sempervirens (toxic): tachycardia, excessive heart action in hysterical patients (Felter and Lloyd, p. 923) • Kalmia latifolia (toxic): tachycardia, cardiac excitation (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1094) • Lycopus virginicus: tachycardia and tremor; due to excess tobacco smoking (Harper-Shove, p. 137; British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 136; Felter and Lloyd, p. 1214) • Passiflora incarnata: tachycardia, as a nervine • Selenicereus grandiflorus (toxic): tachycardia, bradycardia, promotes normal rhythm, functional irregularity of heart; be sure to see contraindications (Felter and Lloyd, p. 375; Ellingwood, p. 213) • Veratrum viride (toxic): according to indications; with caution in tachycardia with exophthalmic goiter (Ellingwood, p. 88) • Viscum album (toxic): cardiac depressant, nervous tachycardia (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 236)

Chinese Formulae
• Baked Licorice Combination (Zhi Gan Cao Tang): 6 gm. daily, 1-3 years: tachycardia from hyperthyroid goiter (Hsu, 1980, p. 529; Yeung, p. 291; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 247; Bensky and Barolet, p. 257) • Bupleurum and Dragon Bone C. (Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang): Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia: palpitations with anxiety ("cardiac neurosis") (Hsu, 1980, p. 340; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 154; Bensky and Barolet, p. 387) • Suan Zhao Ren Tang; Zizyphus 18 (patent); Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (Tien Wang Pu Hsin Tan) (patent): Kidney Yin Xu (Deficiency) and Heart Yin Xu (Deficiency) (Fratkin, p. 229; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 29)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Heart Xue Yu (Blood Stasis); Heart Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency); Heart Yin Xu (Deficiency); Kidney Yin Xu (Deficiency); dysfunction of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel); Obstruction of the Xu Li channel

» illustrative combinations: • UB-14, Ht-8 and Ht-5 for tachycardia (Shanghai, p. 200) • Ht-5, GV-11 and GV-14; GB-20 and UB-10; Lv-2; UB-38/43, UB-39/44 and UB-13 for tachycardia (Mann, p. 118) • Ht-8, Ht-5, PC-6 and PC-7 for cardiac arrhythmia (Shanghai, p. 254) • UB-15, Ht-7, PC-6, GB-34 joined to Sp-9 for cardiac arrhythmia (Shanghai, p. 253) • Ht-7, Ht-3 and UB-15; PC-6; Kd-24 and Kd-25; CV-12 and Lv-13; UB-10 and GB-20 for palpitations (Mann, p. 118) • PC-6, Ht-7 and Sp-6 for palpitations due to Xue (Blood) and Qi Xu (Deficiency) (Jirui and Wang, p. 73) • UB-14, UB-20, PC-6 and St-36 for palpitations due to Heart Xue (Blood) and Qi Xu (Deficiency); add Ht-7 and Sp-6 if insomnia is present; add CV-6 and CV-17 if with breathlessness (Qiu and Su, p. 28) • CV-4, PC-7, UB-15, Ht-5 and St-36 for palpitations due to Xu (Deficiency) of Yin and Xue (Blood); consider Ht-7, PC-6 and/or CV-7 (McWilliams, et al, Lesson 31, p. 171) • UB-17, CV-17, PC-6, UB-14 and Sp-6 for palpitations due to Stagnant Heart Qi and Xue (Blood) (Qiu and Su, p. 31) • Ht-7, Kd-3, UB-15 and UB-23 for palpitations due to Yin Xu (Deficiency) causing Heat (Qiu and Su, p. 30) • Ht-7, PC-6, Ht-5, UB-15 and UB-23 for palpitations due to Kidney Yin Xu (Deficiency) with Heart Fire Blazing; consider PC-7, St-36, GB-35 and/or St-41 (McWilliams, et al, Lesson 31, p. 171) • UB-15, UB-23, GV-4, CV-4 and St-36 for palpitations due to Heart Yang Xu (Deficiency) (Qiu and Su, p. 32) • St-41 and GB-35 for a strong treatment for "fright palpitations and racing of the heart" (Ellis, et al, 1988, p. 133) • Xu Li ashi (tender) points on left chest, including St-18, upper Kd points, PC-1, togther with CV-12, CV-17, PC-6, Ht-7, St-40, St-43; esp. with an overworked person who is flushed above the diaphragm and has a reddened face (Seem, p. 52) • CV-14 and CV-15 (+): pacify the Shen, esp. with anxiety and restlessness • PC-4 with Ht-7 (-): tranquilizes source of Heart Yang to reduce palpitations • PC-5 and/or PC-6: clear Heart Fire and Heat; regulate and tonify Heart; calm Shen; relax and expand chest; dispel Wind

Homeopathy
• Abies nigra: sharp cutting pain in heart • Aconitum napellus: rapid, tumultuously; faster than heartbeat; pulse full, hard, tense and bounding, sometimes intermits; temporal and carotid arteries felt when sitting • Apis mellifica: pulse not steady; chest feels as if beaten or bruised • Arnica montana: pulse full and strong; heart feels as if tightly grasped in hand; chest feels sore and bruised and cannot bear clothing to touch it • Arsenicum album: typical ars. patient, except may be hot; associated respiratory condition with thick honey-like discharges; air hunger and burning in chest; more rapid in morning; palpitation, pain, dyspepsia, faintness • Arsenicum iodatum: precordial anguish; dry cough; great pain in cardiac region going through to back • Aurum metallicum: pulse rapid, feeble, irregular; palpitation; sensation as if heart stopped beating • Belladonna: threatened apoplexy, suddenness, headache and angina pain come and go suddenly; rapid but weakened pulse; throbbing all through body; palpitation from least exertion • Berberis: palpitation of heart; squeezing with shootings in heart • Bryonia: heart beats violently and rapidly when rising up or going up stairs • Collinsonia: hearts action persistently rapid but weak; in patients subject to piles, dyspepsia and constipation; < from slightest motion or excitement • Conium maculatum: rapid pulse after stool; pulse one moment full and regular, the next soft, weak and irregular • Cuprum: spasmodic pain; convulsive constriction in chest, cramping pain, ailments from suppression, fright and anger; pulse hard full and quick; palpitation, precordial, anxiety and pain • Digitalis: on rising up, inequality of pulse, it varies; sudden sensation as if heart stood still; pulse weak and quickened by slightest movement • Ferrum phosphoricum: short quick soft pulse; palpitation; first stage of cardiac disease • Gelsemium: sensation as if heart would stop beating if patient did not move, > profuse urination; nervous, dull, drowsy, dizzy; slow pulse alternating with rapid; slow when quiet, but greatly accelerated on motion; pulse soft, weak, full and flowing • Glonoinum: with hypertension; angina, throbbing all over, bursting sensation, burning between shoulders; any exertion brings on rush of blood to heart and fainting spells • Iodatum: slow pulse alternating with rapid; palpitation from least exertion; heart feels squeezed by an iron hand; followed by great weakness and faintness • Mercurius solubilis: palpitation on least exertion; aching pain in apex of heart, extending upwards toward the base • Natrum muriaticum: in daytime; vexation after; motion aggravates; intermits on lying down; fluttering, palpitating, intermittent pulse; heart and chest feel constricted • Nux vomica: chilly, hypersensitive; constipation, headache in occiput and forehead; vexation, motion aggravate; palpitation in frequent, short paroxysms, with pulsating throbs in direction of heart • Opium: Stoke Adams syndrome with unconsciousness; patient may say nothing is wrong; obstinate constipation, great drowsiness; pulse full, quick, hard, irregular and imperceptible; pulsating arteries and swollen veins on neck; pain in cardiac region, with great anxiety, trembling and sleeplessness • Phosphoricum acidum: palpitation in children who grow too fast; after grief, self abuse; pulse irregular, intermittent • Phosphorus: anxiety, fear; violent palpitation with anxiety when lying on left side; pain radiates to right arm; eating after, pulse rapid small and soft • Pyrogenium: with fever, anxiety, palpitation; rapidity out of proportion with temperature; sensation as if heart were too full; always can hear heartbeat • Rhus toxicodendron: faster than heartbeat; after eating, pulse quick, weak, irregular, intermittent; with numbness of left arm; trembling and palpitation when sitting still • Secale cornutum: precordial tenderness; palpitation with contracted and intermittent pulse • Silicea: violent palpitation; < in evening; < standing, which causes anxiety • Spigelia: faster than heartbeat, trembling pulse; frequent attacks of palpitation; especially with foul odor from mouth; pulse weak and irregular • Stannum: pulse frequent, small, indistinct, fluttering • Stramonium: pulse rapid, full strong, irregular; pressure about heart • Strophanthus: in alcoholics, left-sided heart failure; faintness, vertigo, staggering; heart's action weak, rapid, irregular; due to muscular debility and insufficiency; cardiac pain • Sulphur: vexation after rapid pulse, also from warm applications; pulse full, hard, accelerated, at times intermittent; palpitation of heart without any apparent cause; without anguish; when lying or during the siesta; palpitation worse when going up stairs or when going up a hill • Veratrum viride: hypertension with atrial fibrillation; hypertensive encephalopathy with twitching of face; dyspnea with a sensation of a heavy load on chest; threatened apoplexy; rapid pulse, low tension; beating of pulses throughout body, especially in right thigh

Subtle Support
• notes: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F#, G, G#

• chords: dominant 7th, diminished 7th, A Major, A# Major, C Major, G Major, G# Major (Gimbel, p. 116)

cardiovascular: • The Barcarole • The Blue Danube • Chopin's A minor Waltz • Tango music • Humoresque • Cui's Orientale • Song of India • Donna e Mobile • Oley Speak's Sylvia (Heline, p. 18)

Mind/Body
• Associated with anxiety and grief. (Epstein, p. 77) • Associated with severe psychological disturbances in the 24 hours preceding the arrhythmic episodes. (Gentry, p. 47) • Heart represents center of love and security. (Hay, 1984, p. 168)

Chinese psychophysiology: • Heart ~ Xin houses the Shen (Spirit) and reveals itself through the brightness in the eyes; governs Fire and Heat; rules the Xue (Blood) and its vessels and directs the circulation; and relates to the integration of the organs and the personality. » Healthy expressions are warmth, vitality, excitement, inner peace, love, and joy. » Heart Xu (Deficiency) signs include sadness; absence of laughter; depression; fear; anxiety; shortness of breath (Seem, p. 28); cold feeling in the chest and limbs; palpitations; cold sweat; inability to speak; memory failure; nocturnal emissions; and restless sleep. Chronic Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Fire, acute and chronic. Heart Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) predisposes to Heart Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). » The Heart is the Emperor of the bodily realm so that when the Heart is disturbed all the other organs will be disrupted.

• Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; governs Water to regulate body fluids; provides the "Fire of Life" through its Yang functions; provides the nourishing and stabilizing qualities of Yin and Water that balance the Yang and the Fiery qualities of the Heart; relates particularly to chronic conditions because it carries the constitutional endowment from the parents; and displays the effects of overwork, aging, chronic debilitation, and extreme stress. » Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance. » Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. As always, chronic Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Heat. » Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency). = =

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======================================= =Basic Phytotherapeutic Treatment=

Prescription (Recurring Palpitation)
Morning: Crataegus D1, 50 drops Noon: Ficus Carica D1, 50 drops Evening: Tilia Tomentosa D1, 50 drops