Instead, he urges getting more of two essential fatty acids that help to protect your heart. Dr. Weiss recommends that people with heart arrhythmia get 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day of a mixture of these two fats. They are available as gel caps or, in the case of flaxseed or borage oil , in liquid form. When someone s heart is additionally weakened by cardiovascular disease or congestive heart failure, Dr. Weiss may add hawthorn , an herb known for its heart-strengthening effects. Hawthorn contains bioflavonoids , compounds that act as heart-protective antioxidants .
German researchers report that it gently increases the strength of the heartbeat.
Typically, it also helps the heart muscle beat at a normal rhythm and simultaneously increases blood supply to the heart. Hawthorn is used while the current problem exists, explains Dr. Weiss. If a patient s heart function is improving due to diet and lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight reduction, Dr. Weiss will wean him off hawthorn . Although Dr. Weiss says that he has monitored patients on hawthorn for many years without seeing any problems with the supplement, he still advises that you get your doctor s advice before you use it, especially if you are taking other heart drugs. You may require lower doses of other medications, such as blood pressure drugs, since hawthorn has been shown to lower blood pressure.