Heart Palpitations
Viv Asks:
Hi Michelle, what advice could you give me regarding heart palpitations – I often feel my heart is racing at uneven intervals and this can make it quite hard to sleep. I also get ulcers in my mouth which reoccur frequently – about once a month. I am a tired Mummy but my blood test results say there isnt anything to worry about.
Michelle Says:
Thank you for your interesting questions. I would very much like to see your blood tests to get the full picture as the information you have provided leads me to want to ask a whole host of questions: what is your blood pressure; when do the palpitations occur and how long have you had them for; what other medications are you on; what are your stress levels like; what is happening in your life on an emotional level at the moment; what does your diet consist of and how is your body reacting to certain foods, what food do you crave etc.
Generally, heart palpitations, besides being associated with an actual heart problem which I assume your doctor has ruled out, may be attributed to such things as: overexertion, adrenaline production, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, as a side effect of drugs and medications such as antidepressants, as a result of anaemia and even hyperthyroidism. My concern is to find out what is actually causing these palpitations, which are a mere symptom of dis-ease elsewhere in the body, genetic, lifestyle or emotional issues. Once the actual cause of the palpitation symptom has been identified, there would be a host of wonderful herbs and minerals that could be used to address putting the correct nutrition in to get your body to heal itself.
Mouth ulcers may occur in response to stimulation by a host of oral antigens such as bacteria, fungi or chemicals such as mercury amalgams and fluoride toothpaste. Your body produces an inappropriate immune response, determined by your genetics, nutrition, emotions and hormones. Wheat sensitivity, deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12 and folate may also be associated with ulcer symptoms. Possible lines of treatment would include checking for food sensitivities – coffee, nuts, chocolate, citrus, wheat and dairy are common ones. You could also check gluten sensitivity and increase iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12 as well as increasing garlic and onions in the diet, both of which are good, together with Vitamin C, for immunity. I would also be considering improving liver detoxification and being diligent in taking even half an hour after the children have gone to bed to relax on your own and mediate, read – do nothing!
The aim of naturopathy is to find the root cause of a complaint and not merely put a patch on the symptoms, so I would highly recommend a naturopathic consultation in which we would aim to get to the root of the issues as they are just the body giving you a sign that all is not in harmony.
Michelle