Herbal Recommendations For Me

[scarfgirl]

So a friend of mine tracked down some homeopaths and got a couple of different treatment regimes for me to try. One suggestion he got from a naturopathic doctor and the other came from a lady that owns a health store. Both people insisted they were very familiar with POTS (that made me suspicious). I'm nervous to try any of the recommendations, mainly because I've had only negative experience with this kind of advice in the past. It seems like homeopathic people always insist they know exactly what I need and then charge me way more than I could ever afford for a bunch of pills, most of which do nothing and a few of which actually make me feel worse. This guy went to a lot of trouble for me though, and he seems to really trust the people he got the advice from, so the least I can do is look into it some more. If anyone has experience/knowledge with any of these supplements, I'd love to hear about it.

First suggestion:

Nattokinase

Hawthorne Extract

Second suggestion:

Capsicum/garlic/parsley tablets

CoQ10

Nervous Fatigue Formula (no clue what's in that, but I know it has to do with adrenal support and imagine they all follow a fairly similar formula)

Lymphatic Drainage Formula

Cat's Claw

[erikainorlando]

Just had to laugh...yes, I am very suspicoious of those folks who say they are very familiar with POTS! My mother keeps insisting that if I see her naturopathic doctor I will be fixed...meanwhile the best medical minds in America have not been able to nail it down..lol.

I have tried a few supplements but none have really helped (nor hurt I might add). My best remedies are still beta blockers, fluids, and pain meds when necessary...oh, and laying down.

Sorry I don't have more useful info to add but your post did make me smile.

[icesktr189]

i have tried a couple herbs for POTS in the past. basically either made me more anxious or did nothing at all. BUT it couldn't hurt for you to try.. they are not the normal meds handed out by doctors, so most of them also dont have lingering side effects.

but i saw you put garlic tablets.. my cardiologist told me to stay away from garlic because it lowers your bp (please correct me if i am wrong)

good luck!

[nforste]

Hawthorn gave me palpitations when I tried it....

[HoudiniCat]

I used natural remedies to transition from the regular meds (with both the skepticism and blessing of my POTS doc) and they seemed to have worked for me. I took a combo of supplements - the only one on your list that I used was the CoQ10. CoQ10 claims to enhance the pumping action of the heart, output of blood, speed of heart muscle contraction and general cardiac efficiency. It also may also take the edge off fatigue.

No experience with any others you listed.

[scarfgirl]

HoudiniCat, how did the CoQ10 work for you?

Sunburnt_land - thanks for that warning

dani, good point about the garlic! A lot of things that are supposed to 'improve blood circulation' are bad for POTS people, mainly because they dilate blood vessels or lower BP. Another reason to be nervous when people say they know just what I need.

Anybody else wanna weigh in?

[scarfgirl]

I should add the one I'm most interested in trying is the Nervous Fatigue stuff. I always feel like I'm having adrenalin burn out (that wired but tired feeling) and wonder if there's something out there that would help my system chill the **** out. I'm taking Klonopin and the occasional Ativan, as well as a beta blocker, but it only helps a little.

[ddschool]

It is funny you mention this stuff, because I tried a couple things this week - I am back at square 1 again w/ no answers from the doc, and I felt like if he is telling me there are no more meds I can try, then what else is there - Plus, my mom was bugging me to see her homeopathic "doc" too - I figured I've tried everything else, might as well rule these things out too .... So, I went to the homeopathic "doc" and also got a cranial-sacral massage/adjustment - So far, not telling a difference, but we'll see .... They also gave me the Capicum capsules, but I haven't taken them yet ....

[pat57]

st johns wort, unless you are on an anti depressent already, serotonin is good for the circulatory system

[erickamcc0523]

I've been trying magnesium the past few days, as I get alot of the restless leg syndrome all over my whole body (like my muscles are on the verge of tensing up... and occasionally, I'll have a myoclonic jerk). I've heard that extra magnesium is good for period cramps, and other muscle cramps. I've been on it for too few days to tell a difference, but I'll keep trying it for another week before I say it doesn't work.

[lauralulu]

I am personally at the moment trialling Avena Sativa for myself. First experience of it, it lowered my heart rate considerably. It has also lowered my BP but I don't feel bad with that; this mornings reading was 83/54 and HR 72 (sitting), then standing it was 103/78 with a HR of 114 (bearing in mind I took it last night at 9pm and it's now 9.28am). My morning HR would usually be 120-130.

It also got rid of my 'tired but wired' feeling and my 'twitchyness' (sort of like having restless legs- feeling like I constantly need to move/stretch/fidget my legs, and if I don't, I get the twitchyness in my torso too).

So, I'm quite liking it so far.

I tried it because it's supposed to be good for the nervous system and cardiac output.

[erickamcc0523]

I've had to back off of the magnesium, because like with Milk of Magnesia... I've been having some, actually not so unplesant side effects (as I've been stopped up for awhile, if you know what I mean ), but it's been so much that I'm worried about being dehydrated. It happens after only one dose, so I'll try a half dose, or even a quarter dose.

It's a shame, too, because I could tell a difference at night when I was having alot of the jerky movements and the muscle cramps (or whatever it is what make me feel like ants are crawling under my skin). Oh well... maybe I could work my way up to a full dose soon enough again.

[scarfgirl]

I've done magnesium foot soaks before, and I have a bit of magnesium in my calcium tablets. Maybe something like that would work for you Ericka?

@pat57 - I've tried St. John's Wort in the past and it did help cheer me up (this was pre-POTS). Don't know if it would help much with depression as severe as mine. Is depression what you were recommending it for, or do you take it for something else?

@lauralulu - /a. sativa is oats, right? Are you eating a lot of oatmeal, or are is this some type of concentrated form or oil or something? I'd like to know more if you have a link or something I could look at. The only thing I know about oats is that it's supposed to lower cholesterol.

[lauralulu]

Yeah, that's right, it is oats. I am taking it in tincture form. I bought it from my local herbalist, who make up blends and things. Here's the info that sold it to me: http://www.health4youonline.com/health_sup...ena_bf30308.htm

Since taking it, I certainly feel as though my sleep has been much more restful, so it's so far so good! Just be careful if you get low BP as I've noticed mine has been lower since taking it. Plus I've only been taking it before bed as I find it does make me feel VERY sleepy- but this is good for me as I wasn't sleeping well prior to getting it.

[scarfgirl]

I might hold off on the oats for a while then, my bp is about is low as it can get right now. I'll write it down to keep in mind for later.

Anyone taking CoQ10? I mentioned it on the mito thread, but was wondering if any non-mito people took it.

[handmadebyemy]

i've tried the cats claw and felt no difference.