Ayurvedic Remedies to Reduce Cholesterol

An optimum amount of cholesterol is necessary to maintain the body’s physiological functions. But these increased levels may harm your body. Ayurvedic remedies can be a trump card against this neverending statin consumption.So let’s change the existing lifelong statins and maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

What is cholesterol according to Ayurveda?

Hyperlipidemia is always a health concern that affects most of the human population. Some may experience specific symptoms, while some may not. People usually acknowledge it when they go for a health checkup. However, this delay may aggravate the disease.

Let’s discuss the Ayurvedic take on it.

Ayurvedic views on cholesterol are very different and do not compact with that of western medicine. According to Ayurveda, Cholesterol is a medo dhatu (lipid tissue) component that circulates through the arteries and veins and lubricates them. 

However, bad cholesterol (LDL and triglycerides) are formed due to the body’s increased medo dhatu (lipid tissue). 

These circulate throughout the body through srotas (arteries and veins) and may get deposited there, leading to vascular diseases. In this process, good cholesterol (HDL) plays a vital role in lubricating the channels and preventing the LDL from getting deposited. 

So, healthy cholesterol isn’t bad for your health but is essential to your fat metabolism. However, when Ama (toxins) levels in the fat tissue rise, it may cause blockages in the channels, and if it is not flushed out in proper intervals, it may spread to other dhatus and affect all your body functions.

This mix-up may damage the organs and lead to health concerns such as hyperlipidemia, heart problems, hypertension, and stroke.

What are the reasons for a higher level of cholesterol?

Eating large quantities of foods high in saturated and trans fats may increase your risk of cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases. 

A sedentary lifestyle and obesity add to the risk factors. If you are obese, you most likely have higher triglycerides. 

If you don’t exercise and are not active in general, it can lower your good cholesterol (HDL). Other lifestyle factors, such as smoking and inactivity, can also contribute to hyperlipidemia.

Genes play an essential role in developing cholesterol. So if your parents have cholesterol, you are more likely to develop hyperlipidemia.

Other health conditions, such as diabetes and hypothyroidism, may increase the chances of developing hyperlipidemia and other complications.

Ayurvedic views

According to Ayurveda, lack of exercise, day sleep, and consuming excess oily and sweet foods are the prime causes. Ayurveda also explains the role of heredity in hyperlipidemia. In due course of time, blockage of medovaha srotas propagates defective tissue metabolism, leading to 

medoroga and associated disorders like obesity, diabetes, skin disorders, etc., as a part of dyslipidemia. The Ayurvedic lifestyle modification methods prevent hyperlipidemia and provide better management of the statins burden.

Ayurvedic treatment for cholesterol

Diet and lifestyle modification, ayurvedic medicines, and panchakarma therapies can significantly manage hyperlipidemia. 

The Ayurvedic approach to hypercholesterolemia involves:

• Increasing Agni levels.
• Normalizing the metabolism.
• Removing toxins.
• Expanding the food’s assimilation.
• Removing the causative factors.

Many single-drug formulations and combinations are there to manage hyperlipidemia, metabolic disorders, and detoxification.

For the reduction of LDL and increasing HDL levels, clear the following aspect first

• Reducing the causative factors
• Improve the metabolic activity
• Normalize assimilation capacity and elimination of metabolic waste products properly.

Proper functioning of Agni is essential for the tissues to be appropriately formed, including the fat tissue. Therefore, when the production of meda dhatu is affected, the quantity (amount and proportion) and quality (contents) of meda dhatu are also disturbed.

When the liver becomes overloaded with toxins due to certain physical, psychological, and environmental factors, its functioning can become compromised. When this happens, it disturbs the digestive fire (Agni).

According to Ayurveda, hyperlipidemia is linked to the aggravation of Kapha dosha. Ayurveda suggests that when Kapha levels in the body swift away from optimum and Ama levels rise, toxins mix up with the tissues and attack the srotas, causing hyperlipidemia.

Ayurveda always emphasizes the importance of digestive fire (Agni) in metabolism. However, Agni is hampered in this condition due to their lifestyle habits. 

The treatment primarily involves correction at the Agni level and tissue level.

Agni-enhancing drugs like Trikatu churna and Hareetaki can give the best results at their first level.

Guggulu, shilajit, Triphala, Arjuna powder, etc., can provide good results and lifestyle modifications.

A study conducted on 87 people with high LDL and VLDL levels showed that people consuming 5 grams of Arjuna powder twice a day for two to three weeks experienced a notable drop in their overall LDL and VLDL levels.

Similarly, studies have shown that Triphala is beneficial in relieving constipation and aiding the body’s overall detox process. These properties of Triphala may help it reduce cholesterol too.

Ayurvedic Panchakarma Procedures

A gut cleansing (virechana) followed by colon cleansing (vasti) helps in the proper correction of primary & secondary metabolism. This also improves your body’s absorption power and the appropriate absorption of nutrients from your food intake.

It is to correct the balance of the tridoshas and sapta dhatus of the body.

It would be best if you underwent a series of panchakarma therapies in the panchakarma treatment program. You will also need to follow an ayurvedic diet plan that helps balance your Kapha dosha levels.

Natural tips to reduce cholesterol level

Diet changes

• Buttermilk infused with some curry leaves and Garlic.
• Water boiled with cloves or coriander seeds, or cinnamon for a week
• Green tea
• Fenugreek tea
• A glass of water with apple cider vinegar
• Consume more dietary fibers
• Flax seed powder in the morning
• Foods rich in omega3 fatty acids
• Amla juice with a pinch of turmeric
• Consume foods available within your area, don’t go for those costly oils; ultimately, it will ruin your health and money.
• Avoid deep-fried and junk foods.

Lifestyle changes

• Chew your food properly
• Concentrate on your food, not on gadgets
• Maintain enough gap between your meals
• Avoid consuming incompatible food combinations like fish with curd, sour fruits with milk, etc.
• Avoid reheating oils while cooking.
• Ditch those nonstick pans and start using iron or clay utensils
• Avoid sleeping during the daytime
• Stay active with your workout sessions
• Cardio workouts and yogic postures like chakrasana, Ardha matsyendrasana, Sarvangasana, paschimottanasana, shalabhasana, kapalbhati pranayama 

Conclusion

A healthy lifestyle and eating habits are the only solutions for all lifestyle disorders, including hyperlipidemia. Regular statins are shown to induce various side effects and increase the risk of stroke and other vascular diseases. Instead, they are adopting natural remedies that, for a specific period, are shown to reduce cholesterol levels along with diet modifications. Ayurvedic panchakarma therapies are also proven beneficial for this disorder. Consult with an ayurvedic physician if you wish to take Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala