Anti-Cholesterol Herbs

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Anti-Cholesterol Herbs

 

There are over 50 million Americans with high cholesterol. High

cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke and

Alzheimer's disease. Cholesterol is a fatty substance necessary for

hormone production and insulating nerve fibers. When there is too

much cholesterol, it builds up on the arterial wall, causing

narrowing of the arteries and impeded blood flow. " Bad, " or LDL,

cholesterol represents cholesterol moving through the body. Elevated

levels of LDL increase the risk of heart disease. " Good, " or HDL,

cholesterol protects against heart disease as it measures cholesterol

being cleared from the body. Triglycerides are also associated with a

risk of heart disease and diabetes. It is ideal to keep triglyceride

levels below 150 mg/dL; total cholesterol below 200; LDL below 130;

and HDL above 40.

 

Although drugs can be used to lower cholesterol, side-effects are

common and include digestive complaints; dizziness; headaches;

rashes; and muscle and liver damage. Exercise and diet

recommendations are extremely important in treating high cholesterol.

We also recommend that patients with high cholesterol have a daily

stress reduction and exercise program. This is believed to be

protective against heart disease, and has many other health benefits,

such as lowering high blood pressure and diabetes risk.

 

Dietary Recommendations

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These contain fiber and

antioxidants. Soluble fiber has been shown to reduce LDL and total

cholesterol if you consume five grams to 10 grams daily. Good sources

of soluble fiber include beans; lentils; oats; barley; apples; citrus

fruits; pears; brussels sprouts; carrots; and flaxseed. If you are

not allergic to soy products, they also reduce cholesterol levels. It

is also important to avoid trans fats, which are found in many

margarine and processed foods, such as vegetable shortening,

hydrogenated fats or partially hydrogenated fats. Similarly, refined

carbohydrates, such as those found in cookies; cakes; crackers;

chips; and sodas should be avoided, as they can increase

triglycerides and may lower HDL cholesterol. Dairy products are not

advised, as they contain saturated fat. All meat and poultry consumed

should be lean.

 

Must You Avoid All Fat?

Olive oil has been found to lower LDL cholesterol. Extra virgin olive

oil is rich in antioxidants that protect LDL cholesterol from

oxidation, an early step in plaque formation. Fish oil and flax oil

also appear to protect the heart, and may support normal cholesterol

levels. Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna,

mackerel and sardines, can be eaten as much as desired. The dosage of

flax is one to three tablespoons per day in the form of freshly

ground seeds or oil, which can be used as a salad dressing or cooked

vegetable garnish. Finally, moderate intake of nuts may also protect

against heart disease, high triglycerides and cholesterol levels. A

handful of almonds, walnuts or cashews are recommended.

Gugulipid

Gugulipid is derived from a species of myrrh called commiphora

mukul . This plant is traditionally used to treat obesity and fat

obstruction. This has led scientists to study gum guggul and its

extracts in order to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and to aid

in weight loss. In scientific studies, gugulipid has been shown to

lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and raise beneficial HDL

cholesterol.

 

Policosanol

Policosanol is a plant product derived from rice bran or sugar cane

that has been demonstrated in multiple clinical studies to safely

reduce LDL ( " bad " ) cholesterol while significantly raising HDL

( " good " ) cholesterol. In addition, it can be used to improve pain-

free walking distance for people with intermittent claudication

(hardening of the arteries). Policosanol is comprised of the long

chain fatty acids octacosanol; hexacosanol; tricontanol;

tetracosanol; and dotricontanol.

 

Herbal Formulas

One very successful formula incorporates garlic ( da suan );

astragalus ( huang qi ); polygonum ( he shou wu ); red ganoderma (

ling zhi ); cratageus ( shan zha ); angelica ( dang gui ); salvia (

dan shen ) and white atractylodes ( bai zhu ). It is used primarily

to treat and prevent hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and degenerative

disorders of the cardiovascular system. In China , much research has

been conducted on the circulatory system.

 

The main ingredient in this formula is garlic, which has been found

to have vasodilatation effects on peripheral blood vessels, as well

as anti-atherosclerosis and anti-hypertensive effects. In a study in

which 800 mg per day of garlic in pill form were administered, 261

patients showed a 12 percent reduction in cholesterol, compared with

a 3 percent reduction in a control group taking a placebo. It should

be mentioned that the garlic has been concentrated and prepared so

that it does not cause breath odor.

 

Astragalus is known to tonify qi and stabilize the exterior. Animal

experiments have shown a decoction of astragalus injected

intravenously to have a strong blood-pressure-lowering effect through

vasodilatation, and an increase in cardiac output.

 

Research on he shou wu has found this herb to possess properties that

lower blood cholesterol levels. In vitro studies of filtered

decoctions of he shou wu have shown sedimentation to occur when

cholesterol was added to the decoction. Experimental animals fed high

cholesterol diets, then given preparations of he shou wu, showed

decreased levels of fibrous plaque formations as opposed to control

group animals. In a clinical trial composed of 86 patients whose

overall serum cholesterol level was 295, a he shou wu preparation was

administered for two months, resulting in an average drop of 38.2 mg.

There were no side-effects.

 

Ganoderma is known to have immune enhancing effects. Research has

found it to also posses certain effects on the circulatory system,

primarily in treating angina and other accompanying symptoms of

coronary heart disease. Its anti-cholesterol activity is still being

investigated.

 

Crataegus is known in Chinese medicine for removing food stagnation.

It has also been shown to have anti-cholesterol properties. In a

clinical trial of 20 patients whose average cholesterol level was

252.2 mg, crataegus was administered daily for six weeks. All

patients showed a decline in cholesterol levels, with the average

decrease for the entire group being 46.2 mg. Other research has found

crataegus leaves and flowers to possess anti-hypertensive properties.

 

Angelica is a strong tonifier of blood. It also reduces blood

pressure effectively. In animal studies angelica preparations,

including decoctions and tinctures, reduced blood pressure. Other

animal studies have found that angelica may protect blood vessel

walls against plaque adhesion.

 

Salvia activates blood and removes blood stasis. In a clinical trial,

34 patients were treated for thromboangitis obliterans using powdered

salvia soaked in wine, for 15 days. Fifteen patients experienced

complete relief from their symptoms; nine showed marked improvement;

three showed some improvement; and seven patients experienced no

changes in symptoms. Most patients remarked that after taking the

salvia wine, their pain was alleviated and they had sensations of

heat spreading (or even rushing) into their extremities. Most

individuals did not experience side-effects, although a few suffered

itching of the skin. In another clinical trial of 323 patients who

had coronary heart disease, salvia tablets (20 mg of herb each) were

administered orally for 10 months. About 80 percent of these patients

experienced complete relief from their angina.

 

The final herb in the formula is white atractylodes. In Chinese

medicine, it is known to tonify the Spleen/Stomach and dry dampness.

Research has shown white atractylodes to possess anticoagulative

properties. Healthy volunteers who took one tablespoon of a 1:20

solution of atractylodes decoction, three times daily for four days,

showed an increase in prothrombin time. This returned to normal 10

days after administration was stopped.

 

Conclusion

While the garlic formula and the gugulipid/policosanol combination

are effective at reducing cholesterol levels, it is important that

they be combined with a stress reduction and exercise program, and a

diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. The usual dosage of the

gugulipid/policosanol combination is one to two tablets a day before

meals, however, for a stronger effect, two tablets twice per day

before meals is recommended. The average dose of the garlic formula

is three tablets three times per day, before or between meals. For

relatively healthy individuals with high cholesterol, the

gugulipid/policosanol formula may be the best choice. For individuals

suffering from degeneration of the cardiovascular system, the garlic

formula or a combination of garlic formula with the

gugulipid/policosanol compound may prove to work best. Clinical

experience has revealed that these preparations, if used correctly,

are compatible with pharmaceutical drugs. However, any reduction in

medication should be supervised by the patient's physician.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

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