High blood cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, is a condition in which elevated levels of cholesterol are present in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic dysfunction, which means that it can contribute to many other serious diseases-most notably by affecting the heart and cardiovascular system, resulting in conditions including angina, heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol that protects against heart disease, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol that contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries. Although there are no outward symptoms of elevated cholesterol, it slowly clogs up the arteries and its impact can be devastating over time. Aside from a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol, the most common causes of elevated cholesterol are diet and lifestyle.

Chinese medicine recognizes that diet and emotions play a key role in high cholesterol. Cholesterol is viewed as a result of the accumulation of dampness and mucus as a result of impaired function of the digestive system, most notably of the spleen, stomach, liver, and pancreas. Western medicine similarly recognizes that cholesterol is either consumed and absorbed through the digestive tract or produced by the liver. Metabolic and hormonal conditions like diabetes and menopause can also contribute to elevated cholesterol levels. With a correct diagnosis and treatment with acupuncture, herbs, diet, and exercise, we've helped many patients reduce their blood cholesterol levels.