Hypercholesterolemia and Ayurveda

Karin Gunthor's collaboration to the Australasian Association of Ayurveda (AAA)'s March newsletter:

Hypercholesterolemia and Ayurveda

Karin Lakshmi Gunthor, BSc Hons Ayurveda

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a greasy substance that is part of circulating lipids in the body.

It is part of the cell membranes and is used for the synthesis of steroid hormones, bile salts, and vitamin D.

It is derived from the diet and it is synthesized within our body mainly in the liver. Cholesterol is an important building block in the formation and repair of cell walls, the function of nerve tissues, the production of hormones. It is important to understand that normal amount of cholesterol itself is not bad and is essential for the body.

What if we have too much of it?

Hypercholesterolemia involves abnormally elevated levels of any or all lipids and/ or lipoproteins in the blood. These lipids include cholesterol, cholesterol esters, phospholipids, and triglycerides.

Hypercholesterolemia is recognized as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease and coronary mortality.

Lipids can be correlated to sneha, medo dhatu, saama rasa due to similarity in their properties.

In Ayurveda, we do not have any disease which can be directly compared to Hypercholesterolemia but we know that this disease is characterized by an increased amount of lipids present in the bloodstream.

Most of the acharyas have considered hypercholesterolemia under the heading of medoroga or medodosha but some authors consider it as as rasagata-snehavriddhi, raktgata-snehavriddhi and some authors consider it under the broad umbrella of AMA.

Most of the acharyas have stressed upon the role of an imbalanced diet and sedentary habits as a causative factor of medoroga or santarpanajanyavyadhis

We can say it is a dushya dominant disorder mainly of the meda and rasa dhatu.

there are two types of medo dhatu. One is poshaka and second is poshya.  Among these two, poshaka is mobile in nature (gatiyukta) which is circulated in the whole.

Improper diet and lifestyle, as well as emotional factors, will lead to improper Agni resulting in Ama.

The pathology of Medodhatuagnimandya leads to excess homologous poshakamedo-dhatu in the circulation.

Nidana

• Aharaja/ dietary factors

• Viharaja/ lifestyle factors

• Beejadosha(genetic or hereditary)

• Anya nidanas/ other causes

Samprapti Ghataka

• Dosha: Kledaka Kapha, Pachaka Pitta Samana, and Vyana Vayu

• Dushya: Rasa and Medo Dhatu

• Agni: Rasa and Medo dhatvagni

• Srotas: Rasavaha srotas, Medovaha srotas

• Srotodusti: Sanga and Margavarodha

• Adhisthana: whole body

• Udbhavasthana: Amashaya

• Vyaktasthanka: Sarvanga

• Ama: Jatharagni mandhyajanita ama, Dhatvagnimandhyajanita ama

• Roga marga: Bhaya

Ayurvedic Management

1. Nidana Parivarjana

1. Apatarpana chikitsa

1. Sodhana chikitsa

1. Shamana chikitsa

1. Pathya/ Apathya Ahara Vihara

Things you should do if you suffer from High cholesterol

• Avoid fatty and deep fried foods

• Eat sattvic food

• Exercise daily

• Drink “copper water”

• Use Ayurvedic herbs such as Guggulu/ commiphora mukul

• drink a cup of madhudaka/ honey water

• Yoga poses

• Pranayama

• Meditation

Case presentation:

46-year-old male who just had been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia after having had a blood test by his GP (09/2017). No other significant medical conditions.

His GP advised him to start on Lipitor which the patient refused because of the possible side effects of the medication.

He is new to Ayurveda!

In the initial consultation, he was advised on strict

• Pathya/Apathya Ahara Vihara

• Ayurvedic medicines Kaishore Guggulu, Triphala and Guduchi.

• daily medicated takra/ buttermilk for Srotosuddhi.

8 weeks after his treatment the blood test was repeated and within the short period of time, the Cholesterol has already reduced a great amount. For clinical evidence please contact Karin.

Note: Information published in this articles is for education purpose only, for further information for corrections, questions related to the publication please contact the AAA admin office or the practitioner contributed the article.