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Homeopathy and heart problems
About a year ago, I had a heart attack. I am taking a number of prescription medicines and natural supplements including cod liver oil, acidophilus, vitamin E, and flaxseed oil. I have been thinking about homeopathy but am worried this might prove harmful? What do you think?
A homeopathic pill is made up of the active ingredient, diluted down many, many times and a 'carrier' substance, usually sucrose. If you sent one of these pills to a lab for testing, you would be told that aside from the sucrose, there was nothing in it. What homeopaths believe is that nevertheless, the pill contains the healing 'essence' of the active ingredient and it is this that will trigger your body to repair itself.
Scientists taking a closer interest in these ultra-dilutions have now confirmed that the body really does respond to dosages that previously would have been considered by conventional doctors to be far too low to make any material difference. At present, there is no evidence that homeopathy will interfere with any existing medication you are taking.
Did you know that homocysteine, an amino acid that is a natural by-product of the metabolism of protein is a much better indicator of the risk of heart problems than cholesterol levels? Around 80% of all fatal heart attacks, for example, occur in men who do not have higher cholesterol levels. Although homocysteine has been shown to be 40 times more accurate as a indicator of risk, your doctor is unlikely to offer you a test.
Raised homocysteine levels have been found in the blood of 40% of patients suffering from heart disease. One possible explanation is that homocysteine in some way promotes atherosclerosis - the life-threatening hardening of the arteries with plaque deposits made up of cholesterol and calcium - which can trigger a heart attack by restricting blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Both cigarette smoking and high coffee consumption are known to be linked with an increased risk of heart disease. What is less well known is that they have also been associated with high levels of homocysteine too.
In good health, the body detoxifies homocysteine by converting it back to methionine, from which it was produced in the first place, or by breaking it down even further to form a more harmless susbtance called cystathionine. Factors that can interfere with this process include either a genetic fault in one of the enzymes responsible for this chemical breakdown or a deficiency in any one of the nutrients needed to activate these enzymes in the first place.
*You can ask your GP to test your homocysteine levels - and if they are too high, you need to supplement your diet with vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid. Solgar vitamins sells Homocysteine Modulators to lower blood levels of homocysteine. To find a local stockist call 01442-890355.