Definition

Sometimes called a "coronary" or a "heart attack", myocardial infarction is a condition caused by occlusion of one or more of the coronary arteries. The symptoms include prolonged heavy pressure or squeezing pain in the center of the chest behind the sternum (breast bone). Typically, the patient will describe this by clenching a fist and holding it over the heart to demonstrate the character of the pain. The pain may spread to the shoulder, neck, arm, and fourth and fifth fingers of the left hand; to the back, to the teeth, or to the jaw. These symptoms may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, sweating, and shortness of breath. The may come and go.

It is important that medical care be obtained without delay. About half of myocardial infarction patients die prior to reaching the hospital. Delaying specific therapy may cause loss of life.

When the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen thicken, harden, and narrow, the heart is deprived of needed oxygen. This deprivation often results in chest pain, called angina pectoris. When damage to the heart muscle is incurred, the individual suffers a heart attack or myocardial infarction. In addition to insufficient blood flow to the heart can cause abnormal heartbeat rhythms called arrhythmias.

A coronary may be triggered by a partial or complete blockage of the coronary arteries, an emotional crisis, a heavy meal, or overexertion from exercise or heavy lifting.

Cardiac failure is a condition resulting fro inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood to meet the needs of the body. Following a coronary, the heart muscles may be damaged or scarred, resulting in the inability of the heart to perform normally. Cardiac insufficiency is the inadequate cardiac output due to failure of the heart to function properly, as in valvular deficiency.
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Symptoms

Nervous agitation, rapid tiring, and "running out of breath" while exerting oneself by climbing stairs or performing physical labor are early signs of heart disease. Palpitations, angina pectoris, difficulty of breathing (shortness of breath), hypertension, edema, dropsy, decline in performance, are all symptoms of the older patient.

Recovery from illness, especially infectious illnesses, or operations, is slow in some people. They can't quite seem to "get back on their feet", they feel lethargic and tired, even though they have recovered from the illness. This indicates something wrong with the circulatory system, blood pressure is often low. See the doctor, this may be a sign of heart problems later on in life.
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Nutrients

Choline and inositol and lecithin, taken as directed on the label (these substances aid in the removal of fat from the liver and bloodstream). Coenzyme Q10, 100 mg. per day, improves heart muscle oxygenation. Selenium, 300 mg. per day (a deficiency of selenium has been implicated in heart disease). Vitamin E capsules or liquid or emulsion, 200 IU per day, increase slowly to 800 IU per day for capsules or liquid, take as directed on the label for emulsion. Calcium, 1,500 mg. per day in divided doses, is important for maintaining proper heart rhythm and blood pressure. Magnesium chelate, 1,000 mg. per day in divided doses, is important for maintaining proper heart rhythm and blood pressure. Copper, 3 mg. per day. Garlic capsules, 2 capsules 3 times per day, helps promote circulation. L-Carnitine and L-cysteine and L-methionine, 500 mg. each per day, prevents heart disease by reducing blood fat. Multidigestive enzymes, 2 tablets between meals, is an anti-inflammatory agent. Unsaturated fatty acids (primrose or salmon oil), taken as directed on the label, protects the heart muscle cells. Vitamin A emulsion, taken as directed on the label, is an important antioxidant. Zinc chelate, 50 mg. per day, is necessary for proper balance with copper and for thiamin utilization. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids, 3,000-5,000 mg. per day, aids in thinning the blood; helps prevent blood clots.
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Herbs

• Angelica
• Apple
• Artichoke
• Ash, prickly
• Bayberry
• Betony, wood
• Bitter root
• Bittersweet
• Blackberry
• Borage
• Broom
• Butcher's broom
• Butterbur
• Cayenne
• Celandine
• Chamomile
• Chicory
• Cheoanthus
• Cherry, wild
• Clover, red
• Cohosh, black
• Coriander
• Cramp bark
• Dandelion
• Fennel
• Fig
• Five finger grass
• Fo-ti
• Fringe tree
• Garlic
• Gentian
• Ginger, wild
• Ginkgo biloba
• Ginseng
• Goldenseal
• Gum plant
• Hawthorn, berries
• Hibiscus flowers
• Hops
• Horsetail
• Ivy, ground
• Lambkill
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Lemon balm
• Hawthorn
• Heart leaf root
• Heartsease
• Honeysuckle
• Indigo, wild
• Lily-of-the-valley
• Linden
• Lobelia
• Mistletoe
• Motherwort
• Moss, Irish
• Mullein
• Oat
• Olive
• Onion
• Orange
• Parsley
• Peppermint
• Plantain
• Pleurisy root
• Pokeroot
• Primrose, evening
• Psyllium
• Radish, black
• Red root
• Rose hips
• Rosemary
• Sage
• St. John's wort
• Skullcap
• Stoneroot
• Starwberry, wild
• Sunflower
• Valerian
• Vervain
• Willow, black, American
• Yarrow
• Yellow dock

Recommendations

Diet should be high in fiber. Oat bran is a good source; also add the following to the diet: almonds, brewer's yeast, grains, raw goat's milk, and goat's milk products, and sesame seeds.

Minimize vitamin D intake; do not obtain vitamin D from dairy products (they are high in fat). Avoid homogenized products, they currently contain the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which damages the arteries and leads to arteriosclerosis.

Refrain from alcohol use. Avoid cod liver oil. Coffee, colas, tobacco, and other stimulants should be avoided.

Barley water is helpful. Boil 1 cup of barley in 6 pints of water for 3 hrs. Sip barley water all day long.

Do not eat red meat, highly spiced foods, sugars, or white flour. Sensible, moderate exercise and a proper diet with nutritional supplements can prevent arteriosclerosis of the coronary arteries and myocardial infarction.
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Suggestions

Drink steam-distilled water only. Consult the doctor.
Hawthorn flower tea:
Pour 1 cup of hot water over 1 heaping tsp. of hawthorn flowers, let steep for 15 minutes, then strain.
In the morning or after breakfast, drink 1 cup of tea in sips, and drink a like amount before going to bed. The evening cup of tea also helps you to go to sleep and promotes nighttime regeneration. Sweeten the evening tea with 1 tsp. of honey (no sweetening for diabetics).
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Bibliography

• Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; pgs., 255, 357-359, 468, 474, 478, 479, 614.
• The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, pgs., 148-151.
• Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke, pgs., 12, 30, 34, 52, 62, 70, 72, 86, 88, 100, 104, 106, 138, 144, 148, 150, 154, 160, 162, 172, 174, 182, 186, 190, 196, 198, 208, 230, 232, 236, 238, 242, 266, 276, 284, 286, 288, 298.
• The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, pgs., 90-91, 164.
• Earl Mindell's Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, pgs., 96, 115, 139, 150, 246-248.
• Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, pgs., 6, 19, 29, 41, 44, 50, 59, 66, 68, 69, 89, 92, 94, 102, 123, 129, 130, 132, 133, 135, 137, 141, 147, 149, 150, 157, 158, 164, 186, 200, 203, 221, 223, 224, 236, 251, 255, 263, 295, 304, 316.
• The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, pgs., 89, 91, 112-113, 113-114, 115, 135-136, 136-137, 148.
• The Nature Doctor, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; pgs., 27, 56, 116, 142, 143, 144, 145-148, 150, 151, 152, 153-154, 156, 177, 214, 365, 367, 383, 384, 385, 391, 400, 452, 491, 526, 645.
• Healing Plants, by Mannfried Pahlow, pgs., 128, 129.
• Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., pgs., 124, 134, 135, 178, 196, 257, 259, 275, 284, 351, 357, 358, 359, 360, 368.
• The Herb Book, by John Lust, pgs., 51-52, 70, 477.
• The Yoga of Herbs, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, pgs., 29, 34, 39, 62, 64, 89, 103, 109, 110, 112, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 143, 147, 158, 162, 177, 178, 185.
• Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., pgs., 249-250.

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