Supplements to Lower Heart Rate

Your resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in one minute when you are at rest. If you have an arrhythmia, a disorder of your heart rate or rhythm, you may experience tachycardia, notes the National Center for Biotechnology Information, or a heart that beats too quickly. Dietary supplements have long been used in treating tachycardia, although you should always seek the approval of your doctor before using supplements for this health purpose.

High Heart Rate

A high heart rate may be caused by numerous factors. According to MayoClinic.com, possible causes of this health problem include heart disease, congenital abnormalities in your heart's electrical pathways, congenital abnormalities of your heart's anatomy, prolonged elevated blood pressure, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and an adverse reaction to certain medications. A high heart rate may cause several signs and symptoms, including difficulty breathing, dizziness and lightheadedness, chest pain, and fainting.

Helpful Supplements

Two of the most commonly used dietary supplements in treating arrhythmias, including tachycardia, are carnitine and potassium, states naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist Russell B. Marz, author of "Medical Nutrition From Marz." Other dietary supplements that may be helpful in lowering or stabilizing your heart rate include cordyceps, taurine, chamomile, hops, valerian, passionflower, lavender and kava kava. Further testing using contemporary scientific research methods may be necessary to determine these supplements' true health benefits.

A Powerful Supplement

Valerian is one of the most powerful dietary supplements in lowering your high heart rate. Valerian, notes naturopathic physician William A. Mitchell Jr., author of "Plant Medicine in Practice," is a potent sedative, or a substance that possesses a powerful relaxing effect on your body and mind. This dietary supplement is also an antispasmodic and mild hypotensive agent. The root of the valerian plant contains numerous active ingredients and is incorporated into dietary supplements.

Warning

A prolonged elevated resting heart rate may be indicative of a serious health problem that requires the attention and assistance of a licensed health care provider. If you experience the characteristic symptoms of tachycardia, report to your doctor's office as soon as possible for a full and thorough evaluation of your health problem. Your general practitioner can provide you with relevant treatment options to help control or correct your rapid heart rate. Not all dietary supplements may be appropriate for you or your health problem.