Managing Cholesterol with Traditional East Asian Medicine

Millions of Americans have high cholesterol, which can lead to detrimental conditions if not managed. These are often driven by lifestyle factors like unhealthy diet, stress, and inactivity.

What is cholesterol

Cholesterol is not inherently bad. By definition, cholesterol is a waxy substance that is significant in building cells and producing specific hormones. There are three types of cholesterol:

High-density lipoproteins

This is known as the "good cholesterol." HDL transports the "bad cholesterol" from the bloodstream by bringing it to the liver where it is broken down and passed from the body. Take note that this does not completely eliminate the bad cholesterol from the arteries.

Low-density lipoproteins

LDL is the one known as "bad cholesterol." High LDL can build up in the walls of the arteries, forming plaques that could narrow the bloodstream and could later cause high blood pressure if not treated.

Triglycerides

This is the most common type of fat in the body that stores excess energy from your diet. High triglyceride combined with high LDL can cause fatty buildup in the arteries.

Long-term effects of having high LDL, high triglycerides, and low HDL

Unmanaged cholesterol can cause a lot of health risks. It causes long-term damage to the cardiovascular system which can result in different coronary artery diseases like atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction (heart attack), peripheral artery disease, and stroke. Having high blood pressure from plaque buildup can also lead to kidney disease.

The East Asian Medicine Perspective

In the practice of traditional East Asian medicine, high cholesterol manifests an underlying imbalance in the body. The traditional East Asian medicine has its own system of diagnosis and treatments for conditions like high cholesterol.

Spleen deficiency

The spleen is concerned with the digestion and transformation of food into Qi and blood. A weak spleen could result in the formation of dampness and phlegm that contribute to high cholesterol levels. This is said to be due to poor diet and overworked spleen.

Phlegm and dampness Qi stagnation

Accumulation of phlegm and dampness are seen as byproducts that come from poor digestion, sluggish metabolism, and inadequate elimination of waste. This is caused by today's sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet choices.

Blood stasis

Poor blood circulation is also considered a contributing factor. When blood is not circulating correctly, Qi blockages may occur.

Western medicine has its way of mitigating high cholesterol levels. Pharmaceutical treatments are available as well as dietary recommendations. In East Asian medicine, different modalities are used to address the imbalances and manage cholesterol levels.

Acupuncture

With acupuncture, needles are inserted into the skin to stimulate specific points to balance the body's energies. There are several acupuncture points for high cholesterol management, particularly those linked to the spleen, liver, and stomach organ systems.

Acupuncture for weight loss could also aid in managing cholesterol levels. Note that acupuncture treatments cannot directly make you lose weight. Rather, there are acupuncture points that could reduce your feeling of hunger, lessen stress, and help you get better sleep. All of these basic body functions influence how the body processes the foods that we eat which contribute to the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

Herbal medicine

Statins are one of the most prescribed drugs to address high cholesterol. These are effective drugs that are used by millions of people worldwide. Like any other drug, side effects are expected. Long-term use of statin could weaken the muscles, contribute to cognitive impairment, and damage the liver.

Herbal medicine is a strong part of the East Asian medicine practice. Those with high cholesterol could greatly benefit from specific herbs that have positive effects on the organ systems involved.

Turmeric: Turmeric has a lot of nutrients that could help various conditions. A 2017 research studied the effect of turmeric in lowering blood lipid levels. They stated that turmeric and curcumin have natural cardioprotective effects that could lower LDL-C.

Hawthorn fruit: This fruit contains pectin that helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Red yeast rice: This kind of rice is fermented using the yeast called Monascus purpureus. Monacolin K is a natural statin found in red yeast rice and can reduce cholesterol specifically LDL.

The combination and dosage of herbs highly differ for each person. It is important to have a consultation with an herbalist for assessment and diagnosis before consuming any of the following herbs. Note that herbal therapy should not be a replacement for modern pharmacologic interventions for high cholesterol. Rather, herbal medicines could be a safe adjunct to modern pharmacotherapy with proper guidance from the right experts.

Dietary Therapy

Dietary therapy is one of the treatments that shouldn't be taken for granted. Opt for cholesterol-lowering foods like the following:

Apples, grapes, and citrus are fruits rich in pectin that can help in lowering cholesterol in the blood.
Fatty fish are rich in omega-3 which can reduce triglycerides in the blood. Consuming fatty fish also reduces your consumption of meat which has a higher cholesterol content.
Eggplant and okra are low-calorie vegetables and are good sources of soluble fiber.

The focus of traditional East Asian medicine treatments is on treating the root causes of high cholesterol by restoring harmony within the body, rather than just addressing the symptom itself. An overall lifestyle change is also a vital part of this treatment. NYC Acupuncture + Wellness offers acupuncture, herbal, and dietary therapy as part of the treatment plan. Book an appointment with us to actively start your wellness goal.