Editing Heart failure (section)

===Supplements===
Certain [[alternative medicine]]s carry a risk of exacerbating existing heart failure, and are not recommended.<ref name="PageAHA"/> This includes [[Aconitum|aconite]], [[ginseng]], [[gossypol]], [[gynura]], [[licorice]], [[lily of the valley]], [[tetrandrine]], and [[yohimbine]].<ref name="PageAHA"/> Aconite can cause abnormally slow heart rates and abnormal heart rhythms such as ventricular tachycardia.<ref name="PageAHA"/> Ginseng can cause abnormally low or high blood pressure and may interfere with the effects of diuretic medications. Gossypol can increase the effects of diuretics, leading to toxicity.

Gynura can cause low blood pressure. Licorice can worsen heart failure by increasing blood pressure and promoting fluid retention.<ref name="PageAHA"/> Lily of the Valley can cause abnormally slow heart rates with mechanisms similar to those of digoxin. Tetrandrine can lower blood pressure by inhibiting [[L-type calcium channel]]s. Yohimbine can exacerbate heart failure by increasing blood pressure through alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonism.<ref name="PageAHA"/>