Natural Heart Health: Remedies for CHF

HI U OLE PATOOTS, ORH here, and my situation is going down fast. My latest injection fraction was 30-35, which is CHF. Switching to my integrative doctor to get better advice and direction. Oxygen is 95 until I bend over to tie my shoes or lay down to sleep and then it goes to below 92. Now use 3 or 4 pillows to keep my head and lungs raised while sleeping.

Used lots of complicated breathing techniques over the years, but found a simple one that is fail proof. Forget all the timing and holding of breathe..... I just quickly inhale through my nose and slowly release out my mouth. I keep a finger oximeter and watch the oxygen go up within minutes. Had my Tractor Driver do this and her start was 99 and then 100 within a few breathes. Naturally, that is the reason she drives my tractor. She is a tough hyde. Also reading that if I can massage my vagus nerve, it will help with my heart electrical problem. I have a CHF program on my PEMF device that I also use. It may just be time to go home, but ya'll would miss my stories.... so I'll drag this out .

===ORH===

HI U OLE PATOOTS, ORH here, and time is neigh. Went to my Anti-aging doctor today and went over my blood work and talked about my ails. Told her that I think I am in congestive heart failure and she agreed. I think I know what to do to drag this thing out another 5 years. My goal has been 92 and 5 years will get me to 89.

Tomorrow we start our UBI [Ultraviolet blood irradiation] every month until spring.

We will also start weekly EDTA chelations and Vit C IV's. We will do those until spring and re-access. Found a retired veteran to help us at the farm so maybe we can keep that going. Life get interesting when you get frail and have little strength. You know what to do, you just can't do it. Hey, don't rule me out. My mind is still good and I can start some stuff, if D allows me to.

====ORH====

I can second that. I started my dog, who was diagnosed with CHF, on Standard Process Cardio-Plus, which also has bovine cardiac pmg in it. I chose that over the CardioTrophin because it had so many other ingredients.

PMG is a special Standard Process ingredient (for different organs) in which the organ DNA is extracted from organs of cows and used to misdirect or distract the patient's immune cells from attacking the cells of their own diseased organ. The theory is that, in chronic organ failure, the body attacks the necrotic tissue of the failing organ, also harming the healthy tissue and causing the disease to progress, faster. The DNA of the type of organ in question in the digestive tract (having been taken as the pmg supplement) attracts the immune cells so that they miss the endogenous organ tissue.

Within a couple of days, I noticed Aphrodite's wet cough becoming less wet and less frequent (She had already been taking Lasix for 2 weeks before we started the Cardio-Plus, which also helps). Over the past few weeks, maybe month, her cough has become overall less frequent and much less wet, for the most part.

Pauline, I just learned about arjuna yesterday, and I'm going to try it myself. Thanks for mentioning it. I think your post is one of about only 4 on Earth Clinic that mention arjuna bark supplements.

What's the name of the other product?

Congestive heart failure: Is there any kind of salt that can be used that wil not interfere with the health of a heart condition such as this? If not, can someone recommend some seasoning alternatives?

I think that CHF can be accompanied by high/low cholesterol, high/low blood pressure.

In my case, everything was low. I found a supplement that really seems to work: cardiotrophin by standard process. I also used taurine, etc. Cardiotrophin was like a miracle. I took 5 a day. Hope this helps!

If you have high cholesterol and blood pressure, standard process has a different supplement for that.

I thought I should add a few things to my comment. Your heart is a muscle, and if you are deficient in protein, it's becomes weak. My EF was 21, and came back to normal. I found out there are 3 big deficiencies associated with CHF: carnitine, selenium and thiamine.

I'm sure the other things mentioned here are important too. I had to pressure my doctor to test my blood for these deficiencies. Most doctors do not test for these deficiencies because they feel that Americans have good nutrition (!!! ). The important thing is to keep looking, research and READ your own blood work. You'll be shocked at what you find out. I certainly was. It's easy to look up things you don't understand. I thought I was a very healthy eater......but really I needed more protein and carnitine (red meat) which I never ate. Good luck to everyone dealing with CHF. It is very scary, but your body is telling you something very big. In my case, it was one thing......but for you it might be different.

Bruce Wests protocol was helpful too.....the standard process natural diuretic part was great when I needed it. I really couldn't stand the LASIK, etc.

Alongside CoQ10, the nutrient Carnitine is very much needed for energy in the heart. Carnitine is commonly deficient in vegetarians. Red Meat is the highest source of Carnitine. I take 1 500mg supplement daily.

To maximize CoQ10 and therefore energy levels, also supplement Selenium and Broad spectrum Vit-E.

To help rebuild the heart tissue aka muscle, also supplement Raw Bovine Heart Substance.

A weak, tired heart unable to pump blood efficiently is sometimes caused as a side effect of taking cholesterol lowering statin drugs. Congestive heart failure usually does not set in until your body's stores of co enzyme q 10 are very low. Statin drugs block key enzymes in the liver where cholesterol is produced. In the process, they greatly diminish production of co enzyme q 10, the very key element needed by the heart, brain, immune system and all the organs and muscle cells in the body. If all the co q 10 were to be extracted from your body, you would not live more than a few seconds, it's that important.

Your brain requires high amounts like 50% of the co q , your heart requires 25% and everything else gets the remaining 25% of your bodies production. People who have chronic low energy levels always have low co enzyme q 10 levels and people who have high energy have high levels of co q 10.

The immune system operates on co q 10 as its energy source. A poorly functioning immune system occurs in people low on this essential enzyme. On the other hand, if you boost your co q 10 levels you boost your immune system function. This translates to better health as risk of heart attack and cancer risk is dramatically reduced by high co q 10 levels.

Now as good as co enzyme q 10 is, there is another much needed molecule that assists energy production at a cellular level. It is called pqq. Consider co q 10 and pqq to be like brother and sister. Co q increases the energy output of the mitochondria while pqq does a different job, it helps create more mitochondria with which to produce energy.

A very very common thing is energy robbing virus and mycoplasma affecting the cells depleting energy reserves by harming the mitochondria inside the cells .when you are infected with these several types of virus you feel run down all the time. You play an eternal catch up game by taking co enzyme q 10 alone always trying to increase energy output. Taking pqq with your co enzyme q 10 lets you get ahead of the game.

Well here's what helped me with Congestive Heart Failure -- getting rid of my protein deficiency, indicated by very, very low LDL!!

Sorry to hear of this medical problem. My understanding of most alternative "medications" that say, "Not to be taken with other chemical medicine" is that they enhance the effect of the chemicals. Please find a medical practitioner that is open to alternative medication. Regards, Sandy

D-Ribose for heart disease/congestive heart failure:

Numerous scientific and clinical studies have shown that D-ribose can help to restore energy and function to the heart.

D-Ribose is especially helpful to those with Congestive heart failure (CHF) and Ischemic cardiovascular disease - a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle.

D-ribose supplementation:

• Helps the heart and muscles maximize energy recovery.
• Shortens the time needed by heart and muscle tissue to replace energy that is lost through stress, exercise, and overwork.
• Increases the rate of ATP and energy recovery.
• Increases stamina and endurance, and reduces fatigue.

"Congestive heart failure is one of the most common reasons people 65 and older go into the hospital."

It can take years for heart failure to develop. So even if you don't yet have it but are at risk for it, adding D-ribose to your health regimen would be an excellent start to improve your health.

D-Ribose Dosage: 7 to 10 grams daily, split into 2 half doses, morning and evening. for most patients with heart disease or peripheral vascular disease, for patients recovering from heart surgery or heart attack, and for athletes who work out frequently in high-intensity activities.

This link explains that CoQ10 can enhance the action of blood pressure medications, allowing the patient to reduce their dose.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/coenzyme-q10-000950.htm

My mom has congestive heart failure. (lifetime of smoking) I bought some Co Q 10 for her. Then I bought some for myself. (I have never smoked) I read the bottle when I bought for myself, and it says on every bottle- Do NOT take if on blood pressure medication!

Greetings, Dana, from Wales, UK.

My husband, Rob, who is 74yrs of age has congestive heart failure with an ejection fraction of just 15%. From initially barely being able to tie his own shoe laces he has increased his physical energy output to the point where some 15 months after his original diagnosis he is able to readily walk some three miles or so a day. Early on he eschewed the use of most of the prescribed drugs other than a very small dose of a beta-blocker (1.25mg)and 40 mg of the diuretic, Furosemide. His particular bete noire is statin therapy, although he happily admits that by so doing he might be ploughing a furrow to an early demise. He supplements daily with 200mg of CQ10 in it's more bio-available Ubiquinol form, 4 x 500mg of an Ayurvedic heart remedy, Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna), 1 Taurine, 500mg, capsule, and 1 Magnesium Citrate 400mg tablet. In spite of a very lean frame he has always had an impressive appetite, eating at least three hearty meals each day with lots of fresh vegetables, meat and fish. Occasionally he will add to his vegetables some fermented soya beans, manufactured in Japan and called Natto. He doesn't subscribe to a low fat diet although he consumes no dairy products and avoids all oils other than Extra Virgin olive oil. He certainly wouldn't countenance the merest sliver of margarine even in it's supposedly heart-healthy form!

I relate the above, not as a recommendation or a path that others should follow, but merely to inform of the reaction of just one, possibly misguided, person amongst the countless tens of thousands of others when confronted with the consequences of CHF.

Best wishes to you and yours,

Pauline

Another thing you might want to check out is the amino acid Taurine. I remember reading somewhere that CHF can be caused by a Taurine deficiency (sorry I cannot remember where I read it). Try putting "taurine congestive heart failure" into a search engine.

As a point of reference, I have had two very large male cats die of heart failure and I strongly suspect that there wasn't enough taurine in the cat food for cats of their size. As another point of reference, the best food source for Taurine is...heart muscle!

My heart used to labor like crazy at the least exertion, until I started taking Iodine. After I started taking Iodine, the problem went away, never to return, but it took me almost 1 year of taking 50mg of Iodine per day (divided dose) before I could tell I was replete and my deficiency was over.

One website had this to say about CHF:

http://www.doctoryourself.com/congestive.html

(snip!)

"Thiamin
Some congestive heart failure is actually caused by thiamin (vitamin B-1) deficiency. 25 to 50 mg with each meal might be worth a therapeutic trial. I think a thiamin-containing 50 mg "balanced B-complex" tablet each meal would be even better.

Selenium
Selenium deficiency can cause a congestive heart disease called Keshan disease. 100 to 300 micrograms (mcg) of selenium daily would insure against this. In addition, selenium works to help your body recharge and efficiently reuse its vitamin E.

Magnesium
The role of magnesium in normal heart function is tremendous. Profound magnesium deficiency causes muscles to underfunction, malfunction or not function at all. Several hundred of your body's most important biochemical reactions depend on this mineral....

Potassium
Potassium deficiency is associated with congestive heart failure, and is connected with magnesium deficiency, mentioned above. Low potassium can cause erratic heartbeat (heart arrhythmia)...

Co-Enzyme Q10. This is very important.
One of the best things about Co-Enzyme Q 10 is that it is harmless, having no negative side effects or contraindications of any kind." Jullian Whitaker, M.D. (Health & Healing, December 1997. http://www.drwhitaker.com )

Amino Acids
As a rule, I am in favor of getting amino acids from protein foods in ones diet. With really sick people, a case can be made for amino acid supplementation. In Werbach's Textbook of Nutritional Medicine, the case is indeed well made."

(end snip!)

Also, I was just sitting here feeling like I had so much pressure in my chest and head, and mild chest discomfort. Unusual for me, until these past few months. Probably from drinking so much coffee/tea and not balancing it with calcium and decent leafy greens. I drank a glass of milk and some Epsom salt in water and it went away almost instantly. One lady I know who does not drink milk has CHF and severe swelling in her legs. The other lady has some swelling and a cough. The daughter of the first lady also does not drink milk and has CHF as well. I never noticed symptoms of it until I quit drinking milk because of the congestion it causes. If you're in a pinch, try a glass of milk. Probably whole milk.

Dana, Try this:
* Quit caffeine/coffee/soda.
* Balance his PH.
* Put him on a high *fresh* fruit and vegetables diet. (Buy a juicer and make carrot/apple/celery juice, yum!)
* Minimize his processed/refined sugar and processed fat intake. If it needs additional sugar or salt you probably don't want to eat it anyway, it's dead. Try making a smoothie with organic bananas, raw unrefined organic coconut milk and organic non-irradiated cinnamon.
* Try vitamin C (sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid) maybe up to 10,000mg/day, 1 every hour or so for a while. If you buy the powder at a health food store it won't have mystery ingredients, but you may miss out on bioflavinoids that help assimilate it.), B vitamins, vitamin E...
* Try scrambling a couple organic raw egg yolks in a glass, add a little pure/non-tap drinking water, and drink that each morning on an empty stomach for a while. Egg yolk is rich in essential oils and B vitamins.
* Have him take a 20 minute walk or swim every day or so.

How did he acquire the heart failure? Is it genetic?

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE: You may wish to read to section on High Blood Pressure cure with apple cider vinegar remedies. One begets the other.

looking for any help with congestive heart failure.

He doesn't have high blood pressure, no blockages in his heart. He's not overweight, if anything under weight. Doesn't drink, smoke, been watching salt intake. Looking to get him off all the medicines his doctor has him on and on vitamins or something.