15 Home Remedies for Heart Palpitations

An irregular heartbeat is a pretty spooky thing and whenever it hits, it is best to be prepared with a quick treatment that you can use in your home or wherever you might be until you can get medical attention. Knowing 15 home remedies for heart palpitations, which are simple and really work, can relieve the symptoms and overcome the associated anxiety. Of course, heart palpitations can be an indicator of something much more serious, which require the advice and treatment of a health care professional, and these remedies should not be seen as all-inclusive cures.

1. Cold Water

When it comes to heart palpitations home remedies there is none simpler than cold water. Dehydration itself can cause anxiety and an irregular heartbeat in individuals who are prone to such. In addition, cold water can help shock your nervous system and reset your heart’s regular rhythm as well.

What to do:

• Be sure to keep yourself well hydrated on a daily basis by drinking 12 oz. of water every 2 hours.
• Splashing cold water on your face or taking a cold shower can be quick ways to get your heart back in proper rhythm.

2. Blackstrap Molasses

Keeping your heart in proper rhythm can also be done by consuming blackstrap molasses on a regular basis. Blackstrap molasses works because it is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, all of which are essential minerals for maintaining proper heart rhythm and blood pressure. Blackstrap molasses also helps to treat anemia, which is a major cause of heart palpitations.

What to do:

• Dissolve 1 Tbsp of blackstrap molasses in a glass of warm water.
• An alternative is to mix 2 tsp of blackstrap molasses and apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water.
• Drink either of these remedies first thing every morning.

3. Magnesium

Because it is such an important mineral for heart health, magnesium is among the top heart palpitations home remedies. Magnesium promotes better blood circulation as well as nervous system function and its deficiency is often linked to irregular heart rhythms.

What to do:

• You can take 350 mg daily of a magnesium supplement with your health care provider’s consent.
• A simpler method for getting plenty of magnesium into your bloodstream is to consume magnesium-rich foods such as kale, Swiss chard, spinach and other leafy green vegetables on a daily basis. Almonds, cashews, sesame seeds, quinoa, and oatmeal also are high in magnesium, as are cold-water fish, avocados, bananas and dark chocolate.

4. Hawthorn

An herb which is quite effective as a home remedy for heart palpitations is hawthorn. Hawthorn contributes to maintaining heart rhythm in two ways: it helps to increase blood flow and it promotes improved cardiac muscle contractions.

What to do:

• Hawthorn is typically taken in supplement form in dosages from 160 mg to 900 mg daily for a period of 3 to 24 weeks.
• Obviously, with that broad range, you will need the assistance of a healthcare professional in order to help you get the proper dosage to fit your needs.

5. Lemon Balm

Often called Melissa, this is another herb which is well known for helping to soothe anxiety and calm heart palpitations. Lemon balm contains mild, sedative-like properties that affect the circulatory and nervous systems in order to overcome anxiety.

What to do:

• Add 1 tsp of lemon balm to a cup of hot water, cover it and allow it to steep for 7 to 10 minutes.
• Drink this tea as often as necessary to keep anxiety and heart rhythm under control.

6. Valsalva Maneuver

Quite common among swimmers to get water out of their ears, the Valsalva maneuver actually works on heart palpitations as well. The Valsalva maneuver stimulates the vagus nerve, or 10th cranial nerve, which leads to slowing or resetting your heart rhythm to its proper rate.

What to do:

• Draw in a deep breath and pinch your nose.
• Keep your mouth closed and try to breathe out forcefully.
• Repeat this several times for a few minutes until you gain relief.
• You can use this remedy anytime you need relief from heart palpitations.

7. Coughing

Believe it or not, coughing can actually be a helpful heart palpitations home remedy. Coughing causes pressure to build up in your chest, which results in resetting your normal heart rhythm.

What to do:

• Cough vigorously for a few minutes until you feel your heart rate return to normal.
• Repeat this remedy any time you need instant relief from heart palpitations.

8. Deep Breathing

A relaxation technique, which works on anxiety as well as heart palpitations, is deep breathing. Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to the brain and helps your body to relax. In addition, the concentration factor has a tendency to help to induce calm and relaxation.

What to do:

• Sit comfortably in a cross-legged position.
• Breathe in through your nose in a slow motion, allowing your abdomen to expand as you inhale.
• Breathe out in a slow manner through your mouth.
• Repeat this process 10 to 15 times until you feel your anxiety disappear and your heart rate return to normal.
• Use this remedy for instant relief anytime it is necessary.

9. Cinnamon

A stellar heart palpitation home remedy found it just about every home is cinnamon. Numerous nutrients and natural chemicals in cinnamon help to improve blood flow by preventing the excess buildup of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which is what is referred to as bad cholesterol. In addition, cinnamon helps to maintain balanced blood pressure. Both of these factors contribute to heart palpitations.

What to do:

• The easiest way to take cinnamon is to mix 1 tsp of powdered cinnamon in 1 Tbsp of honey and take it like you would cough syrup.
• You can also add 1 tsp of cinnamon to a glass of warm milk. Continue stirring while you drink it.
• Repeat either of these remedies daily.
• Obviously, adding cinnamon to the foods you eat is another great way to get more blood-cleansing cinnamon in your diet.

10. Valerian

Another herb which is effective at reducing the effects of anxiety and panic attacks is valerian. Valerian contains a mild sedative which helps to bring calm and relaxation while restoring normal heart rhythm. Besides being a heart palpitations home remedy, it can also be used to help you fall asleep.

What to do:

• Add 10 drops of valerian tincture to a glass of warm water and drink it.
• You can make tea by placing 1 tsp of crushed or grated valerian root in 1 ½ cups of boiling water. Reduce heat and allow the tea to simmer for 7 to 10 minutes before straining out the tea, allowing it to cool a bit, and then drinking it.
• You can use either of these remedies to gain quick relief during an attack.

11. Limiting Caffeine Intake

One of the best ways to prevent heart palpitations is to limit or eliminate foods which contain caffeine. Depending on the severity of your condition, caffeine can be a major trigger for increased frequency of attacks as well as contributing to the severity of those attacks.

What to do:

• Limit or avoid foods with high caffeine content, such as: coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate and soft drinks.
• Be sure to read labels on foods and beverages to make certain that they do not contain caffeine before consuming them.

12. Eliminate Destructive Habits

Heart palpitations typically coincide with destructive habits such as drug, alcohol and nicotine addictions. The chemicals in drugs and alcohol have an effect on nervous system function as well as blood flow, which significantly contribute to irregular heart rhythm.

What to do:

• Limit or eliminate alcoholic beverages from your lifestyle.
• Stop chewing or smoking tobacco and using tobacco-based products.
• Avoid using illegal drugs or misusing prescription drugs.

13. Exercise

Keeping your heart muscle in shape through exercise is another great way to keep heart palpitations at bay. By strengthening your heart muscle and circulatory system through exercise, your heart will tend to have to do less work and will be more relaxed and in control as it performs its vital function.

What to do:

• Commit to and execute at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 to 4 times per week.
• Walking, running, swimming, cycling or playing sports like tennis are great ways to get this essential exercise.

14. Reduce Stress

Reducing stress is an obvious heart palpitations remedy because it tends to lead to anxiety. Managing stress is one of the best favors you can do for maintaining better heart and circulatory health as it is a major contributor to all of the health maladies associated with heart disease.

What to do:

• Deep breathing and other relaxation techniques are a great way to manage stress.
• Exercise, yoga, martial arts, meditation and other stress reduction activities are also a plus.
• Lifestyle and environmental changes might be necessary to get stress under control as well.

15. Get Enough Sleep

A major contributor to both anxiety and heart palpitations is a result of not getting enough sleep. Sleep not only helps your major organs to reset and perform better, but it helps your bodily functions, including your nervous system and circulatory system, to reprogram and get into its optimum condition.

What to do:

• Spend an hour before bedtime winding down without stimulants from caffeine, computers, cell phones, and television so that you will fall asleep more rapidly.
• Get the necessary amount of sleep indicated by the Mayo Clinic sleep chart.

Conclusion

Heart palpitations tend to go hand in hand with anxiety and stress, but they can also be related to diet and other factors. To keep your heart in perfect rhythm or to get a quick fix whenever your heartbeat becomes irregular, make use of one or several of the 15 home remedies for heart palpitations we have just discussed. Also, don’t forget to add your questions, comments or additional remedies in the comments section below.

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