Readers often e-mail us health related questions. Although we do not provide medical advice or consultation through Heart MD Institute, we do post general answers to inquiries with hopes of helping others who may have similar questions. Do you have a question about prescription drug independence that you'd like answered on our site? E-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and we'll post an answer on this page.

Q: My dad has just been prescribed Coumadin after having a pace maker implanted. I am very concerned about this drug. Does the natural nattokinase work as a blood thinner just as well or better than Coumadin? I'm totally convinced that nutrition is key to optimal health, yet the doctors are telling my dad to stay away from all the great greens, pomegranate juice and literally everything concerning Vitamin K that is typically great for your diet. Is there a more natural approach through which he could totally relieve his dependence on Coumadin?

A: These are great questions. Since others have voiced related concerns (see below), we've decided to address them all in a separate article about Coumadin.

Q: I have AF (Atrial Fibrillation) with two leaky heart valves. I want to wean myself off Warfarin (with my Dr's help) and try nattokinase. Will nattokinase help the leaky valves alone with AF?

 A: As mentioned above, we posted an entire article about Warfarin (Coumadin) in response to your question. You may also find this article about atrial fibrillation helpful.

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