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PALPITATION OF THE HEART

Categories: Circulatory System

Irregular or forcible heart beat action usually
perceived by the person troubled.



Causes. Hysteria, nervous exhaustion, violent emotions or sexual

excesses; overdose of tea and coffee: alcohol or tobacco.



Symptoms. There may be only a sensation of fluttering with that of

distention or emptiness of the heart. There may be flushing of the skin,

violent beating of the superficial arteries, with rapid
ulse, difficult

breathing and nervousness. Attack lasts from a few minutes to several

hours.






MOTHERS' REMEDIES.-l. Palpitation of the Heart, Tea of Geranium Root

for. "Make an infusion of geranium root, half an ounce in pint of boiling

water, strain, cool, and give wine glass full three or four times a day."

The geranium root will be found to be an excellent remedy where female

weakness has caused the palpitation of the heart.



2. Palpitation of the Heart, Hot Foot Bath and Camphor for. "Place the

feet in hot mustard water and give two grains camphor every two or three

hours, or two drops aconite every hour. This remedy is very good and is

sure to give relief."



3. Palpitation of the Heart, Valuable Herb Tea for. "All excitement must

be avoided. Where there is organic disease, all that can be done is to

mitigate the severity of the symptoms. For this take the following herb

tea: One ounce each of marigold flowers, mugwort, motherworth, century

dandelion root, put in, two quarts of water and boil down to three pints;

pour boiling hot upon one-half ounce of valerian, and one-half ounce of

skullcap. Take a wineglassful three times a day. Let the bowels be kept

moderately open and live principally upon vegetable diet, with plenty of

outdoor exercise."



MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Heartburn, Home Remedy for. "A few grains of table

salt allowed to dissolve in the mouth and frequently repeated will

sometimes give relief." People who have too little acid in the stomach

will be much benefited by this remedy.



2. Heartburn, Soda a Popular Remedy for. "One-half teaspoonful soda in

glass of water. Everybody uses this in the neighborhood."



3. Heartburn, Excellent Remedy for.



"Powdered Rhubarb 1/2 ounce

Spirits of Peppermint. 2 drams

Water 4 ounces

Bicarbonate of Soda 1/2 ounce



Dose--One Tablespoonful after meals."



The bicarbonate of soda relieves the gas and swelling of the stomach,

while the rhubarb has a tonic action and relieves the bowels. The spirits

of peppermint stimulates the mucous membrane.



4. Poor Circulation, Remedy for Stout Person. "Ten cents worth of salts,

five cents worth of cream of tartar; mix and keep in a closed jar. Take

one teaspoonful for three nights, then skip three nights." This is an

old-time remedy known to be especially good, as the salts move the bowels

and the cream of tartar acts on the kidneys, carrying off the impurities

that should be thrown off from these organs.



PHYSICIAN'S TREATMENT FOR PALPITATION. When caused by valvular trouble,

digitalis can be given as above directed under heart failure.



When Caused by the Stomach. From gas or too much food, take salts to move

the bowels. Hot whisky is good when caused by gas; or soda, one

teaspoonful in hot water is also good when gas causes palpitation.






Difficult Breathing. If caused by gas, soda, hot whisky or brandy will

relieve. If caused by too fast beating of the heart, give digitalis as

above directed. If caused by dropsy, the regular remedies for dropsy. If

the dropsy is due to scanty urine you can use infusion of digitalis, dose

one to four drams; or cream of tartar and epsom salts, equal parts, to

keep the bowels open freely.



PHYSICIAN'S CAUTIONS:--Quiet the patient's mind and assure him there is no

actual danger; moderate exercise should be taken as a rule with advantage.

Regular hours should be kept and at least ten hours out of twenty-four

should be spent in lying down. A tepid bath may be taken in the morning,

or if the patient is weakly and nervous, in the evening, followed by a

thorough rubbing. No hot baths or Turkish bath. Tea, coffee and alcohol

are prohibited. Diet should be light, and the patient should avoid

overeating at any meals. Foods that cause gas should not be used. If a

smoker the patient must give up tobacco. Sexual excitement is very

pernicious, and the patient should be warned especially on this point.

Absolute rest for the distressing attacks of palpitation which occur with

nervous exhaustion. In these cases we find the most distressing throbbing

in the abdomen, which is apt to come after meals, and is very much

aggravated by the accumulation of gas.



Diet. A person with heart disease should not bring on palpitation from

over-eating or eating the wrong kind of food. Such a person dare not be a

glutton. The diet must be simple, nutritious, but food that is easily

digested. Any food that causes trouble must be avoided; starchy foods,

spiced foods, rich greasy foods, are not healthy for such a person. The

stomach must be carefully treated by such a patient. The bowels should

move daily. The kidneys should always do good work and pass enough urine

and of the right color and consistency. Stimulants like alcohol, tea and

coffee are not to be used. Weak cocoa is all right in most cases. Hot

water, if any drink must be taken, at meals. Such a patient in order to

live and live comfortably, must take life easy. He cannot afford to run,

to over lift, or over exert, to walk fast upstairs, hurry or to "catch the

car." He must not get angry or excited. Games of all kinds that have a

tendency to make him nervous must be avoided. The same caution applies to

exciting literature. In short, a patient with organic heart disease must

be a drone in the hum of this busy, fast-rushing life, if he would hope to

keep the spark of life for many years. Sleep, rest and quiet is a better

motto for you than the strenuous life.



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