There are two CardiaCare formulas [CCF], CardiaCare Plus (CC+) and CardiaCare (CC). Both of these products are highly effective in treating a variety of cardiac problems ranging from congestive heart failure to tachycardia. Both are also useful in the prevention and/or treatment of cardiac side effects due to the WT3 protocol. CardiaCare Plus is usually the preferred formula because it is more potent and it is in capsule form. Nevertheless, the capsules are highly concentrated and need to be used with discretion. CardiaCare, on the other hand, is a good choice for patients that are sensitive to herbs because it is a liquid formula that can be titrated to a precise dose based on patients' individual needs.

Indications: WT3 protocol, Cardiac abnormalities.

References:
Schenk B, Junior P, Wichtl M. Cannogenol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside and cannogenol-3-O-beta-D-allomethyloside, two new cardiac glycosides from Convallaria majalis. (author's transl) Planta Med 1980 Sep;40(1):1-11. [Article in German]
Meixner HK, Dobler S. Oral heart therapy using convallaria glycosides in ambulatory practice. Z Allgemeinmed 1974 Jun 10;50(16):757-68. [Article in German]
Angarskaia MA, Liubartseva LA, Sokolova VE. Comparative evaluation of the cardiotonic effect of new cardiac glycosides from the Far-Eastern Convallaria. Farmakol Toksikol 1968 Nov-Dec;31(6):680-4. [Article in Russian]
Milkowska-Leyck K, Filipek B, Strzelecka H. Pharmacological effects of lavandulifolioside from Leonurus cardiaca. J Ethnopharmacol 2002 Apr;80(1):85-90.

The CardiaCare formulas contain both fast and slow acting herbs. They appear to be very helpful in a variety of heart conditions, and are perfectly suited for patients receiving the WT3 protocol. Patients often notice beneficial effects on palpitations and 'jitters' within15-30 minutes. CCF can also cause long-term improvements in heart function that can be detected on an echocardiogram. Changes can begin to show within two months of regular treatment with CCF.

CardiaCare Plus appears to be helpful in the following conditions: arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, bundle branch block, EKG abnormalities, fast heart rate, slow heart rate, a history of heart attacks, or family histories of heart problems. It can also be helpful for patients who have heart symptoms due to hyperthyroidism.

Most people tolerate Wilson's T3 therapy quite well. There is a chance, however, of cardiovascular side effects such as increased heart rate, increased awareness of the heartbeat, and palpitations. The CardiaCare formulas have shown the ability to calm increased pulse rates and/or palpitations, which may occasionally accompany the WT3 protocol. They can also calm the nervousness and anxiety that can sometimes be associated with the WT3 protocol. If people do experience any cardiovascular side effects of the WT3 protocol there are a few measures that can be taken. They are explained more thoroughly in the Doctor's Manual for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. They include:

• adjusting the T3 dosage
• improving punctuality of T3 doses
• taking a T4-test dose (involves using a weaker thyroid medicine {T4} to reduce the effects of T3)
  

Sometimes these measures are not enough. Occasionally there are patients who still have a difficult time tolerating the WT3 protocol. Patients have reported that CardiaCare formulas have helped them tolerate the WT3 protocol extremely well when they couldn't have tolerated it well without it. Doctors have also reported that CCF makes it easier to use the protocol because patients have fewer side effects. If patients on the WT3 protocol start having palpitations they can take a dose of CardiaCare Plus right then and it will usually diminish the palpitations within a half hour (we also recommend a T4-test dose to stabilize the T3 levels). If patients start having cardiovascular complaints their doctors can advise them to try taking CardiaCare before making a trip to the office. CardiaCare formulas usually solve the problem.

In fact, we recommend that all patients on the WT3 protocol take CardiaCare Plus twice a day in an effort to avoid cardiovascular side effects in the first place. It's very comforting for patients to know that they have something in hand that they can try taking if they start having any heart symptoms.

Traditional Uses: The CardiaCare formulas contain tinctures and liquid extracts of the four primary cardiovascular tonics of western herbalism. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is indicated for use in mitral insufficiency, feeble circulation, cardiac edema, arrhythmia, and dyspnea. It is considered to provide many of the benefits of digitalis without the side effects. Hawthorne (Crataegus oxycantha) is considered to be one of the best remedies for the heart and circulatory systems. Cactus (Selenicerius grandiflorus) increases the strength of contractions and slows the rate of the heart, and is used to calm heart palpitations from nervousness. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) has been clinically found to decrease tachycardia while improving cardiac efficiency. It also reduces anxiety and nervous tension.

General Tune Up For The Heart
CardiaCare formulas are not just a treatment for cardiac symptoms. They contain a collection of herbs that appear to have restorative effects on the function of the heart itself. This is fundamentally different from the effects of most heart medicines. This helps explain how CCF can be helpful to patients with low heart rates as well as patients with high heart rates. It also explains how CCF can help with a variety of heart conditions. Most people who benefit from CardiaCare formulas won't need to take them for life. Most will be able to remain improved even after stopping it completely, or they may only need it very infrequently.

How To Use CardiaCare Formulas
Please Note: Most patients will benefit from CardiaCare, and it is the preferred formula for patients who are sensitive to herbal medicine. It is also important to note that patients who exceed recommended dosages with CardiaCare Plus have a much higher risk of developing potentially serious side effects than patients taking CardiaCare. If you have a patient who you feel might not follow directions carefully it is recommended that they be given the less potent liquid formula of CardiaCare.

CardiaCare contains grain alcohol as an extracting agent (which is used to extract natural compounds from the herbs). CardiaCare can be mixed with juice or water to make it more palatable. It can also be mixed with hot or boiling water, which will cause most of the alcohol to evaporate.

Prevention of Cardiovascular Side Effects for Patients Taking Wilson's T3 Therapy
Though many patients don't get any cardiac side effects with the WT3 protocol, it's nice to be able to reduce the number of those that do. Therefore, we recommend that every person taking the WT3 protocol be given the T3, as well as T4 for test doses, and one of the CardiaCare formulas. Unless the patient is not compliant or is very sensitive to herbal medicine, CC+ is recommened over CC because it is easier to take in capsule form and is more potent. The CCF will greatly reduce the chance of side effects and if patients have side effects they can take a T4 test dose and additional CCF if needed. CCF can be stopped anytime, as there is no need for weaning as with cardiac pharmaceutical drugs.

Treatment for Cardiovascular Side Effects in Patients Taking Wilson's T3 Therapy
If patients are experiencing heart rates of over 100 beats per minute CardiaCare formulas can help.

To Enable People With Cardiac Risk To Qualify For the WT3 protocol
Some people who want to undergo the WT3 protocol have abnormal EKG's, fast heart rates, or a family or personal history of heart problems. WT3 is not advisable for these patients unless their heart symptoms are normalized.

After taking CardiaCare Plus, many patients have found such improvements in their EKG's and/or pulse rates that they were able to take the WT3 protocol. For example, two patients wanted to start the WT3 protocol but their resting heart rates were around 103. Both patients took one capsule of CC+ per day and their pulse rates decreased to between 70 and 80 bpm within three or four days and stayed there continuously while they were on the WT3 protocol.

Below are some heart conditions that can often be improved with the use of CardiaCare Plus such that people can begin the WT3 protocol and tolerate it well. Of course, CC+ is often useful in these conditions even if the patient isn't going to take WT3 Therapy.

Congestive Heart Failure or Angina
After an episode of CHF a lot of patients can have fluid retention all over their bodies. When the CHF is really severe sometimes that swelling never totally goes away. There have been cases in which the fluid went back into the tissues within a week or so just by giving CC+.

Arrhythmias
After starting treatment with CardiaCare Plus, some patients with arrhythmias have been comfortably treated with the WT3 protocol. One patient, finishing her fourth month of the WT3 protocol, had less arrhythmia than before she started the WT3 protocol and CardiaCare. If doctors choose to treat patients with arrhythmias, it should be done very carefully. It might be wise to not go higher than about 45 to 52.5mcg of T3 per cycle. Please see the Doctor's Manual for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. CardiaCare Plus can be given for one or two weeks before the WT3 protocol is started. It is good to have patients come back to the office once a week to check on their progress.

CardiaCare formulas appear to provide nutritional substances, adaptive stimulation, and medicinal effects for the heart. Some patients may benefit from taking CC twice a day for life (for example, patients with a family history of heart disease) on a typical dose of 20 drops BID. There doesn't seem to be any harm in staying on CardiaCare in recommended doses. Taking CC liquid can be thought of as a healthy habit like swimming every day to keep one's body healthy. It may actually help people to have stronger hearts.

Dosages: Your doctor can call 800-420-5801 to make a technical support appointment to get dosing information.

Drug Interactions: Drug potentiation with other cardiac drugs especially ones that contain cardiac glycosides such as Digoxin should always be considered with both CardiaCare formulas.

What to Expect: Results can be noticed in as few as 15-30 minutes for acute symptoms, and 1-4 weeks for chronic symptoms. Response to medicines varies by condition and individual.

Lab Tests: EKG and echocardiogram can be used to diagnose and assess the impact of the CCF.

Side Effects: CardiaCare Plus is normally very well tolerated within the recommended dosages, and we have had no side effects reported. One of the main active ingredients are cardiac glycosides, which are also found in Digoxin; but the cardiac glycosides in CCF have a very short half-life compared to Digoxin and have a much lower potential for toxicity. Nevertheless, overdosing on CardiaCare or CardiaCare Plus is potentially very serious. Symptoms of overdose include arrhythmia, hypertension, restlessness, confusion, weakness, tachycardia, headache, vertigo, and cardiovascular collapse.

We have been asked at what dose might a side effects be noticed. There have not been any reported side effects from the use of CCF. However in the literature we found a case in which one patient took the equivalent of four caps of CC+ or 8 tsp/ 640 drops at once of CC liquid and experienced arrhythmia and severe dyspnea. However, we want to stress that patients should never exceed the recommended dosages and that physicians monitor dosage.

It is important not to exceed four teaspoons of CardiaCare in a day, in divided doses. Any patient who you might think may not follow directions strictly, or is very sensitive to medicines, should be given CardiaCare liquid if you choose to use the CCF. Although CCF can be quite helpful in the recommended dosages, they can be detrimental to the heart if taken in excessive doses. This is why this product is only available to physicians. CC+ is the most potent version of the CCF products and should not be given to patients who might not be fully compliant. CardiaCare Plus should not be taken in doses greater than three capsules a day in divided doses, and not to be used more than once in two hours. These products must be kept away from children.

Side Benefits: Cardiovascular health.