Heart Arrythmia on Sutherlandia OPC?

July 27, 2009

Greetings All,

I just joined the group several days ago. I had one bottle of Sutherlandia OPC

and started by taking a low dose and working my way up over time as recommended.

Yesterday, I got the dry heaves after the breakfast dose so decided not to do

the lunch dose. Later that night, before bed, my heart started thudding in my

chest. I put my finger on my neck pulse and was feeling bang then nothing then

bang then nothing then another bang, then I would feel a thumpity, thumpity,

thump like a regular heart beat, then it would repeat. I was so exhausted that

I fell asleep. This morning I was still very tired but my heart did not feel

like it was thudding in my chest but I was still able to feel a lot of missed

heart beats on my neck pulse. I decided not to do Sutherlandia OPC today. This

evening, I feel better and I am only feeling a missed beat now and again. I

read that oleander has a cardiac glycoside in it and I wonder if that could have

triggered this event. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Or heard

of anything like this?

Thank you.

Cheryl (who loves to garden, in Maryland)

July 27, 2009

Yes, oleander does contain cardiac glycosides; however, each capsule of OPC has only about 1/40th the amount of cardiac glycosides as does a normal dose of digoxin/digitalis. For that reason, anyone who is on heart medications or blood thinners should proceed with caution and perhaps reduce their doses of such other medications slightly if they decide to try the Sutherlandia OPC or any other form of oleander extract.

What medications are you taking, if any?

It would seem unlikely that such a small amount of glycosides would trigger the irregular heartbeat, but I suppose it is possible - and sometimes there can be a bit of raciness at the higher dose levels. One thing you might try is getting some Dr. Christopher's Hawthorne Berry Syrup - it is wonderful for regulating uneven heartbeats. So is Cayenne Pepper, which is a recommended part of the protocol to begin with.

If it were me, I would proceed with caution if I continued - perhaps reducing the dose and working my way back up slowly as the body adjusts to the oleander.

All the best,

oleander soup , "gardenerinmd" <cherylann1 wrote:>> Greetings All,> I just joined the group several days ago. I had one bottle of Sutherlandia OPC and started by taking a low dose and working my way up over time as recommended. Yesterday, I got the dry heaves after the breakfast dose so decided not to do the lunch dose. Later that night, before bed, my heart started thudding in my chest. I put my finger on my neck pulse and was feeling bang then nothing then bang then nothing then another bang, then I would feel a thumpity, thumpity, thump like a regular heart beat, then it would repeat. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep. This morning I was still very tired but my heart did not feel like it was thudding in my chest but I was still able to feel a lot of missed heart beats on my neck pulse. I decided not to do Sutherlandia OPC today. This evening, I feel better and I am only feeling a missed beat now and again. I read that oleander has a cardiac glycoside in it and I wonder if that could have triggered this event. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Or heard of anything like this?> Thank you.> Cheryl (who loves to garden, in Maryland)>

July 27, 2009

Hi Cheryl,Welcome to the group! And.... bless your heart, I hope you are feeling better by now.This seems to be a bit of a severe reaction. When I first began taking Sutherlandia OPC, I experienced a bit of a rapid heart beat for a couple of days but absolutely no dry heaving. By chance are you on any heart medicine or blood thinners? And.... also, by chance, do you have a history of "anxiety? Wait until you feel better to start taking it again and then maybe you should increase the dose more gradually. Please let us know how you do.My Best,oleander soup , "gardenerinmd" <cherylann1 wrote:>> Greetings All,> I just joined the group several days ago. I had one bottle of Sutherlandia OPC and started by taking a low dose and working my way up over time as recommended. Yesterday, I got the dry heaves after the breakfast dose so decided not to do the lunch dose. Later that night, before bed, my heart started thudding in my chest. I put my finger on my neck pulse and was feeling bang then nothing then bang then nothing then another bang, then I would feel a thumpity, thumpity, thump like a regular heart beat, then it would repeat. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep. This morning I was still very tired but my heart did not feel like it was thudding in my chest but I was still able to feel a lot of missed heart beats on my neck pulse. I decided not to do Sutherlandia OPC today. This evening, I feel better and I am only feeling a missed beat now and again. I read that oleander has a cardiac glycoside in it and I wonder if that could have triggered this event. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Or heard of anything like this?> Thank you.> Cheryl (who loves to garden, in Maryland)>

August 2, 2009

Hello ,

I stopped the Sutherlandia OPC for a day and heart beat went back to normal in

about 24 hours. No, I am not taking any heart medicine or blood thinners. For

the last several days, have only been doing 2 capsules per day and no problems.

Maybe tomorrow, I will try to nudge up to 3 capsules per day. If no problems

after several days, will nudge up to 4 capsules per day and see how it goes.

Cheryl

PS Tried tweaking my membership but still not getting the Daily Digest. Will

try again.

oleander soup , " May " <luellamay129 wrote:

>

> Hi Cheryl,

>

> Welcome to the group! And.... bless your heart, I hope you are feeling

> better by now.

>

> This seems to be a bit of a severe reaction. When I first began taking

> Sutherlandia OPC, I experienced a bit of a rapid heart beat for a couple

> of days but absolutely no dry heaving. By chance are you on any heart

> medicine or blood thinners? And.... also, by chance, do you have a

> history of " anxiety? Wait until you feel better to start taking it

> again and then maybe you should increase the dose more gradually.

>

> Please let us know how you do.

>

> My Best,

>

> oleander soup , " gardenerinmd " <cherylann1@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Greetings All,

> > I just joined the group several days ago. I had one bottle of

> Sutherlandia OPC and started by taking a low dose and working my way up

> over time as recommended. Yesterday, I got the dry heaves after the

> breakfast dose so decided not to do the lunch dose. Later that night,

> before bed, my heart started thudding in my chest. I put my finger on

> my neck pulse and was feeling bang then nothing then bang then nothing

> then another bang, then I would feel a thumpity, thumpity, thump like a

> regular heart beat, then it would repeat. I was so exhausted that I

> fell asleep. This morning I was still very tired but my heart did not

> feel like it was thudding in my chest but I was still able to feel a lot

> of missed heart beats on my neck pulse. I decided not to do

> Sutherlandia OPC today. This evening, I feel better and I am only

> feeling a missed beat now and again. I read that oleander has a cardiac

> glycoside in it and I wonder if that could have triggered this event.

> Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Or heard of anything

> like this?

> > Thank you.

> > Cheryl (who loves to garden, in Maryland)

> >

>

August 2, 2009

Hi Cheryl,You are increasing the dosage correctly, little by little. If you should notice a rapid heartbeat again, just go down to the prior dosage, wait a couple of days, and try it again.I also experienced a rapid heartbeat upon first taking Oleander, but it wasn't pronounced enough to cause worry. Once your body becomes accustomed to the Oleander, it will be okay. Just increase the dosage gradually.