Positive Health Online

Abstract

BRENYO and AKTAS, (1)Department of Medicine, Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina. Electronic address: Andrew_Brenyo@urmc.rochester.edu. (2)Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York review complementary and alternative medical treatments including 9 CAM therapies: 7 individual herbal therapies along with acupuncture and yoga for their antiarrhythmic effects.

Background

Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies are commonly used by patients for the treatment of medical conditions spanning the full spectrum of severity and chronicity. The use of alternative remedies, both herbal and others, for conditions lacking effective medical treatment, is on the increase.

Methodology

Included within this categorization, arrhythmic disease-absent effective catheter-based therapy or with medical therapy limited by the toxicities of contemporary antiarrhythmic agents is frequently managed by patients with CAM therapies without their practitioner's knowledge and in the face of potential herb-drug toxicities.

Results

This study reviews 9 CAM therapies: 7 individual herbal therapies along with acupuncture and yoga that have been studied and reported as having an antiarrhythmic effect. The primary focuses are the proposed antiarrhythmic mechanism of each CAM agent along with interactions between the CAM therapies and commonly prescribed medical therapy for arrhythmia patients.

Conclusion

The authors stress persistent vigilance on the part of the provider in discussing the use of herbal or other CAM agents within the arrhythmia population.

References

Brenyo A(1), Aktas MK(2). Review of complementary and alternative medical treatment of arrhythmias. Am J Cardiol. 113(5):897-903. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.11.044. Mar 1 2014. Epub. Dec 12 2013.