Like any other medication, herbs and herbal teas can have side effects ranging from mild to severe. While most herbal teas that you can buy in the grocery store should not cause heart palpitations, teas made from dried herbs have the potential to cause heart irregularities. SIde effects may be more pronounced if you drink herbal teas while you are taking other herbs or medications. Do not take any herbal remedies without the supervision of your doctor.
Caffeine
Many herbal teas do not contain caffeine, but some do. Caffeine can cause a racing heart or heart palpitations, irritability, dizziness, vomiting and insomnia. Switching to a caffeine-free herbal tea and also reducing other sources of caffeine in your diet should eliminate heart palpitations caused by the caffeine in the tea. If your heart palpitations persist after the switch, see your doctor to rule out serious health concerns.
Specific Herbs
Several herbs have the potential to cause heart palpitations in susceptible individuals. Hawthorn, for example, which is sometimes used to reduce blood pressure and angina, may cause heart palpitations or a worsening of symptoms. If you are drinking hawthorn tea and your symptoms get worse, stop taking it immediately and seek emergency medical care. Valerian root tea may help with anxiety and insomnia, but if you use it for longer than four to six weeks, it may cause heart palpitations.
Identifying the Cause
To find out whether an herbal tea is causing your heart palpitations, FamilyDoctor.org recommends keeping a written record of when the palpitations occur. Write down what you had to eat or drink before the palpitations began, and what you were doing. If you suspect that an herbal tea is responsible for troubling symptoms, stop drinking it and make note of whether your palpitations have stopped. Give this information to your doctor so he can help pinpoint to which ingredients, if any, you may be sensitive.
Warnings
Do not assume that heart palpitations are being caused by herbal teas or supplements. In some cases, an irregular or fast heartbeat may be caused by health issues such as anemia, thyroid, anxiety or medications taken for asthma, nasal congestion or other conditions. They could also indicate problems with your heart, such as a valve malfunction. While many times heart palpitations are harmless, if they increase in frequency or are bothering you, make an appointment with your doctor.
