23/02/2021
MANAGEMENT OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL WITH AYURVEDIC MEDICINE
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🤥Do you have a sedentary life style? Are you suffering from obesity? Do you have any cardiovascular disorders? Do you have family history of high cholesterol?
🌿Then definitely you have to go for screening for high cholesterol. Due to the modern life style and nature of job many of younger generation suffer from high cholesterol. High cholesterol itself becomes the risk factor for many ailments. So to prevent the associated complications like cardiovascular complications, gall stone, liver disorders etc. we have to manage high cholesterol at the beginning stage itself. This article is about the Ayurvedic management of high cholesterol.
🤔What is meant by high cholesterol?
🌿High cholesterol is also known as Hypercholesterolemia. The presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood is termed as hypercholesterolemia. An elevated level of cholesterol in the blood is associated with many of the factors including diet, obesity, inherited genetic diseases such as familial hypercholesterolemia occurs as a result of genetic mutations and other diseases such as type 2 diabetes or hypothyroidism.
🌿Cholesterol is generally essential in the body for the synthesis of steroid hormones and bile acids. Cholesterol is transmitted in the blood through HDL (high density lipoprotein), LDL (low density lipoprotein), IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein) and VDL (very low density lipoprotein). All the lipoproteins carry cholesterol. But elevated level of lipoprotein, other than HDL, especially LDL is associated with cardio vascular complications including atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
🤔What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
Hypercholesterolemia is usually asymptomatic. But long standing cases of high cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis or the hardening of arteries. It will reduce the circumference of the lumen of arteries with atheromatous plaques. As it progresses, smaller plaques will rupture and lead to the formation of blood clots and obstruction to the blood flow. The sudden blockage of the coronary arteries will lead to heart attack. The blockage of the artery supplying the brain will cause stroke.
🤔What are the physical findings of high cholesterol?
🌿Xanthelasma palpibrarum (yellowish patches under the skin around the eyelids), arcus senilis (white or gray ring around the peripheral cornea), xanthomata (deposition of yellowish cholesterol rich material in the tendons) especially of the fingers etc.
🤔What are the causes of high cholesterol?
🌿Obesity, high fat diet, weight gain, and stress will cause the occurrence of high cholesterol in the blood. Several genetic factors also contribute to the same. Family history of hypercholesterolemia is associated with this condition.
🌿In addition to this, several medical conditions including type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, cushing’s syndrome etc. are associated with the risk for developing hypercholesterolemia.
🤔What is the investigation for high cholesterol?
🌿A complete cholesterol test is called lipid profile. It is usually a blood test taken during fasting. It measures the total amount of cholesterol in the blood. It will help to determine the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
🌿Ayurvedic management for high cholesterol
Ayurvedic treatment for high cholesterol includes dietary modification, management with medicines, external treatments including udwarthana (powder massage), lekhana vasthi (e***a with medohara property), yoga, sodhana chikitsa including emesis and purgation, and exercise.
🌿The selection of treatments and medicine will depend on the condition of the individual.
Common herbal supplements to combat high cholesterol
🌿The most commonly used single drugs are Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), lasuna (garlic) and arjuna (Terminalia arjuna). The other drugs that have action on reducing the level of cholesterol are ginger, turmeric, shilajit, pushkaramoola (inula racemosa), puarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), triphala, garcinina, tribulus terrestris etc.
🌿Based on the condition of the patient, the medicines like Punarnava Guggulu, Guggulu panchapalam churna, Guggulu tikthakam kashayam, Rasonadi kashayam, gomutra hareetaki, hareetaki churna, kaidaryadi kashayam etc. can be used for management based on the condition of the patient under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner only.
😋Dietary modifications
🌿Increase the intake of fiber in food- eat flax seeds, beans, fruits, oats, etc.
Lose excess body fat- 5-10% reduction in the body weight can reduce the LDL cholesterol in the blood.
👍Eat more plant food
👍Increase your activity level – do moderate exercise every day
👍Try the Mediterranean diet- the diet rich in olive oil, sea food, vegetables, nut and beans.
👍Reduce smoking
👍Curcumin and omega 3 fatty acids
🌿On conclusion, high cholesterol is a common problem among the new generation, due to the change in the life style, faulty dietary practices and lack of proper exercise. It creates the main burden in the society. The cholesterol level depends on the factors such as activity level, body fat, and body weight. So lead a healthy life style for the management of high cholesterol.
🖋️Dr Susmitha. S.G.
BAMS, MD (kayachikitsa)
Ojus Ayurveda