Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Supplements

Call 911 for chest pain, fainting, a racing or very irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, or signs of stroke. Several products below have been linked to heart rhythm problems or blood pressure rises in the sources we read, but a symptom like these needs emergency care first and questions later.

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra, root)

Traditional use. NCCIH says licorice root has a long history of use in several cultures and was used in traditional medicine for coughing, asthma and wound healing. [2]

Research and safety. NCCIH says licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which can cause serious effects such as irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest, especially in large amounts or over a long time. [2] Even small amounts have been linked to severe effects in people who consume a lot of salt, in people with hypertension, and in people with heart or kidney conditions. [2] A 2023 review that covered 104 case reports describes continuous intake of large amounts as a widely known cause of pseudo-hyperaldosteronism, a condition that leads to high blood pressure and low potassium. [3] The review says this is usually mild but in some cases can bring life-threatening problems such as arrhythmias. [3] NCCIH also reports interactions with corticosteroid medicines. [2]

Two practical points from NCCIH: many US "licorice" products do not contain actual licorice, and oral deglycyrrhizinated licorice (glycyrrhizin removed) "might be safe for up to 4 months." [2] Read the label and ask a pharmacist. See the licorice root profile and licorice root tea.

Stimulant products

More on stimulant herbs is in bitter orange, yohimbe and other stimulant herbs. NCCIH reports that FDA researchers analyzed 59 bitter orange supplements and, of 23 that stated a synephrine amount, only 5 were close to the label. [6] Quality problems like this are covered under product quality and contamination.

Cholesterol and heart products

• Red yeast rice. NCCIH says products with significant monacolin K can have the same side effects and drug interactions as statin drugs, including muscle, kidney and liver damage. [8] Taking it with a statin is a question for a pharmacist.
• Hawthorn (Crataegus). NCCIH describes one study in which a specific hawthorn preparation may have caused early heart failure progression, possibly through interaction with patients' drugs. [9] It also reports that in January 2024 FDA published a list of products, including supplements labeled "tejocote root," that actually contain yellow oleander, a toxic plant known to harm the nervous system, heart, stomach and intestines. [9] See the hawthorn profile.
• St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). NCCIH says it can weaken some heart medicines, including digoxin and ivabradine, and warfarin. [10][7] See St. John's wort interactions.
• Ginkgo and bleeding. NCCIH says ginkgo may increase bleeding risk in people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin. [11]

Proper evidence not found

We did not find, in the NCCIH, MedlinePlus or NHS pages we read, a supplement proven to lower blood pressure or prevent heart attacks that those pages recommend over standard care. We make no claim about products we did not read.

Before you add anything

Bring the product and your medicine list. Narrow-range heart medicines such as digoxin need an explicit "ask before adding anything" step with the prescriber or pharmacist. See narrow-range medicines and supplements. Return to Existing Health Conditions.