Ischaemic Heart Disease

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Vitamin E [1, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief.  This vitamin can have harmful effects if taken in doses higher than 100% of the recommended daily allowance.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is no evidence to support claims that vitamin E supplements can help prevent the risk of developing heart disease.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Strychnos Nux-Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) [1, 34, 35, 36]:

WARNING! This substance is HIGHLY POISONOUS. The seeds contain Strychnine, which may cause convulsions, breathing difficulties and death, even if as little as 5 milligrams is ingested

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is no evidence in the form of clinical trials which reports the effectiveness of Strychnos Nux-Vomica, because it is highly poisonous to humans, and is not recommended.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Selenium Supplement [1, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. IMPORTANT: Selenium is toxic in high doses. Massive overdoses can cause kidney failure, breathing difficulty and death. Selenium should only be taken at healthy levels which the body is able to tolerate.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidene does not support claims that selenium helps to prevent or treat ischaemic heart disease)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Pine Bark Extract [1, 22, 23, 24]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor  (Early studies indicate potential for Pine bark extract in the treatment of heart disease, but more clinical studies need to be done)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Phytochemicals (Antioxidants) [1, 19, 20, 21]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that phytochemical supplements can prevent or treat ischaemic heart disease. More studies are needed. A balanced diet with fruit, vegetables, and grain is recommended to prevent illness until further research into supplements is done.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Pau D'Arco (Lapachol, Tabebuia Impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla) [1, 18]:

Please note, this treatment has potentially serious side effects. Some of the chemicals in the plant are known to be toxic. High doses are known to cause liver and kidney. Even at low doses, chemicals in the plant may interfere with blood clotting, causing excess bleeding and anaemia. Pau D'Arco should be avoided, especially by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Pau D'arco helps to treat ischaemic heart disease. This, combined with its potentially harmful side effects if taken without supervision from a doctor or pharmacist gives enough reason to avoid this treatment.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Megavitamin Therapy (Multivitamin, Vitamin Supplements) [1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]:

Please Note that while supplements are effective in correcting deficiencies in the body, their long-term usage is not helpful in preventing diseases like cancer and heart disease. To prevent these illnesses one should eat the natural foods which these vitamins and minerals come from. Replacing natural sources with artificial supplements actually increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Supplements should be taken only as a balanced multivitamin supplement that contains no more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance. It would be most helpful in people with restricted food intakes, pregnant women and women of childbearing age.

Recommendation: Weakly against. (There is no evidence that Megavitamin therapy can prevent or treat ischaemic heart disease. In fact, long term therapy can lead to increased risk)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Oleander Leaf (Nerium Oleander) [1, 8, 9, 10, 11]:

WARNING: This plant is toxic! Not to be ingested. Causes nausea, appetite loss, vomiting, drowsiness, bloody diarrhoea, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, respiratory depression and death. The plant and any of its extracts should be strictly avoided, especially by children and pregnant women.

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is insufficient evidence to prove the effectiveness of Oleander in ischaemic heart disease. Please note, this plant and its extracts are poisonous, even when ingested in dry form. Many people have died of heart or respiratory failure after eating parts of the plant or its extracts.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Folic Acid [1, 5, 6, 7]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that folic acid helps to treat or prevent heart disease)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Copper [1, 3, 4]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation  (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that copper helps to treat ischaemic heart disease in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Cats Claw (Uncaria Tomentosa) [1, 2]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recomendation (insufficient evidence to support claims that Cats Claw can help to treat ischaemic heart disease)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Neural Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (there is insufficient evidence to show that Neural Therapy can help treat Angina in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Yoga:

Recommendation: strongly in favor (There is some evidence that yoga, when used with conventional medicine, can help relieve symptoms related to heart disease)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Qigong:

Recommendation: no recommendation (there is insufficient evidence to show that Qigong can help treat Angina in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.nutrasanus.com/cats-claw.html

3. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/copper

4. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002419.htm

5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002092.htm

6. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/folicacid.html

7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/folic-acid

8. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/oleander-leaf

9. http://www.nerium.com/index-2.html

10. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/WarningLettersandNoticeofViolationLetterstoPharmaceuticalCompanies/UCM165406.pdf

11. http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/pim366.htm

12. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/orthomolecular-medicine

13. http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/163/2/192.pdf

14. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ortho.html

15. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/72/5/707

16. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/about-ama/13638.shtml

17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17327526

18. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pau-d-arco

19. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/phytochemicals

20. http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/LabelClaims/QualifiedHealthClaims/ucm073992.htm

21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20216418

22. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00214032

23. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pine-bark-extract

24. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-pycnogenol.html

25. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/selenium?sitearea=ETO

26. http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/doc.aspx?viewid=ED8AD8E8-6AE5-458D-8091-393F4CB73F0D

27. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-selenium.html

28. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9290116

29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9829869

30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10335455

31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2136228

32. http://www.springerlink.com/content/v0r644v4ju5153k2/

33. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/101/5/283

34. David Michael Wood et al. Case report: Survival after deliberate strychnine self-poisoning, with toxicokinetic data. Critical Care October 2002 Vol 6 No 5

35. Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.. p. 20. ISBN 0804804745.

36. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/strychnos-nux-vomica

37. http://nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/vitamine/vitamine.htm

38. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/070106.htm

39. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamine.html

40. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/76/4/703

41. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2586922/?tool=pmcentrez

42. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine.asp#h3

43. Mitchell, Richard Sheppard; Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson (2007). Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. pp. 345.

44. Hare JM. The dilated, restrictive, and infiltrative cardiomyopathies. In: Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa; Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 64.

45. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/myocardial-ischemia/DS01179/METHOD=print

46. http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/heart-disease.html

47. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000160.htm

48. http://www.ischemicheartdisease.co.uk/

49. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ischemic-heart-disease.htm

50. http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b1.illness/b1.1.illnesses/Ischaemic Heart disease.html

51. http://www.ischaemicheartdisease.org/

52. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/ischaemic-heart-disease/

53. http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/heart-disease-ischemic.html

54. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4720

55. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/i/ischemic_heart_disease/intro.htm



















 

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