Cholesterol

About Cholesterol

High cholesterol is not a disease in itself, but it is linked to serious conditions, such as cardiovascular conditions (disease of the heart and blood vessels), angina, stroke, and mini-stroke, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Together with a high level of triglycerides, it can increase your risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Western Medical View

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, the first method of treatment will usually involve making some changes to your diet (adopting a low-fat diet), and ensuring that you take plenty of regular exercises.

After a few months, if there is no decrease, you will usually be advised to take cholesterol-lowering medication. Commonly prescribed medication includes Statins, Aspirin, and Niacin. Sometimes other medications, such as cholesterol absorption inhibitors (ezetimibe), and bile-acid sequestrants are used.

Chinese Medical View

In Chinese Medicine theory over-consumption of fatty foods, sweet foods, dairy products, and alcohol generate Damp-Heat inside the body which leads to the failure of the spleen and stomach to digest food and transport its nutrients to the rest of the body.

High cholesterol is often marked by a deficiency of the Yin energy in the Liver and Kidney, as well as lassitude in the loins and knees, dizziness and tinnitus, insomnia, amnesia, diabetes, hypertension, and heart attack.

If the level is high during the mental depression, Fire will be generated in the Liver and the pathogenic Fire-Heat will attack the Liver channel in the body.

According to Chinese Medicine theory acupuncture and certain Chinese herbs can be prescribed to lower cholesterol by achieving natural, healthy weight loss, treating indigestion, relieving stress, and treating the deficiency of vital energy in the Kidney and Liver.

Lifestyle Advice