Hi all,

Just thought I would post about my findings with peppermint here. A long while ago I was in my GPs office complaining of a feeling that I needed to cough and had a strange 'feeling' in my chest that I couldn't get rid of, no matter how much I coughed or blew. I noted that sometimes I could burp it up, though, but it would never completely go.

Over the months it actually got worse and I think I may have discovered one of the main reasons for my skipped beats and maybe even the tachycardia I've been experiencing.

I have posted about this before and asked my GP but never had a definite answer. Every time I lie down (in any position) I get the strange 'trapped air' feeling in my chest (I can't explain how it feels), right in the centre; my heart rate suddenly goes up by about 10-15 bpm and every couple of beats will be a skip or an extra beat.

Anyway, my GP recommended that I suck on some peppermint and that might help with the gas. I never actually tried it, but then a few months afterwards I actually bought some because I was reading about how peppermint is good for flatulence and bloating and since these are problems that I deal with due to my Crohn's I thought I'd give it a try. It worked for me and in hindsight I also recall that I did not have this feeling in my chest when lying down either.

I didn't bother renewing my peppermint capsules and after a short while the feeling came back. Last week, I bought some more peppermint capsules, and this feeling in my chest has gone again. I have also noticed that my heart rate is a little lower some of the time (especially when lying down). In bed last night I noted that my heart rate was significantly lower than what it normally is when I lie down in bed, though I didn't bother to actually take my heart rate because I'm trying to forget about it. Needless to say, it was definitely much slower than it usually is and I felt much more comfortable with it.

I believe this may be a result of taking peppermint, but I don't know whether this could be a placebo effect or whether peppermint actually works. Based on the fact that my GP actually recommended it, I'm assuming peppermint has some known effects on the GI tract. I have been taking it for about 4 days now and this effect doesn't appear to be changing or wearing off like I would expect a placebo to, but I don't know how long a placebo effect can actually last.

Also, I realise that the users' of this forum likely do not have a bowel disease as I do and probably wouldn't benefit as much as I would in taking something to relieve trapped air, but seeing as how most peoples skipped beats are because of the vagus nerve being stimulated, surely helping with excess gas can only provide benefits?

Thanks for reading, glad I've found something that helps me for a change!


George.

N.B. for anyone interested, I am taking 2 x 50mg enteric coated oil of peppermint soft gel caps after every meal.

I found this

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/peppermint-000269.htm

george r they helping with the palps or just ur stomach problems?

I think you have just about encouraged me to go out and buy some peppermint oil tablets now George - They are one of the (few) things that I have still to try, so here's hoping.

I notice that you are taking 5mg Bisoprolol. I was prescribed 5mg daily a week ago. Do you find that it is any way beneficial as far as reducing the incidence of palpitations/skipped beats or has it not made any difference ?

Hi Edward,

I have found that Bisoprolol reduces the strength of my heart beats so I don't 'feel' them like I did before taking them. I'm not so aware of my heart because of them but they don't really slow my heart. I hope peppermint works for you!


Emma, hope peppermint works for you too! Yes I'm in the UK. I think you need to take it regularely with meals for a day or so before it starts to benefit you but it definitely has helped me. I don't want to go promoting herbs or any kind of alternative remedies here so I'm just saying: it worked for me and I'm only posting my findings with it; it's up to you whether you seek medical advice about using it.

I've not taken it with alcohol so I'm not sure if it's that which has helped the tachycardia. I don't pay much attention to my heart rate at the moment because I'm trying to "get over it", lol .

Good luck guys,


George.