Positives

• ME/CFS patients describe strophanthus reducing heart rate and blood pressure with a pervasive sense of calm, attributed to enhanced parasympathetic acetylcholine release Health Rising.
  
  
• Patients on strophanthus describe better sleep, less anxiety, normalized BNP, and reduced chest pain in the integrative cardiology literature Faim.
  
  

Negatives

• WebMD notes there is no good scientific evidence to support strophanthus for heart problems despite anecdotal patient enthusiasm WebMD.
  
  
• Patients have reported nausea and dosing sensitivity given strophanthus is a cardiac glycoside in the same family as digoxin WebMD.
  
  

Hurdles & Side Effects

• Strophanthus is considered unsafe for use without direct supervision of a healthcare provider because of cardiac glycoside toxicity risk WebMD.
  
  
• Patients on digoxin, diuretics, or other cardiac medications face dangerous additive cardiac effects with ouabain-containing products WebMD.