Homeopathic medicines, treatment and remedies for high cholesterol

Homeopathic treatment for high cholesterol is done through personalised medicine. This means that every person gets a unique set of medicines according to his/her characteristic symptoms and miasm (the individual's tendency to get a disease).

The medicines are selected on the basis of the homeopathic law of similar (like cures like). The law says that any substance that produces certain symptoms in a healthy person will heal the same symptoms in a sick person, provided the substance is taken in medicinally prepared doses.

When combined with regular exercise, healthy dietary habits and restricted use of tobacco and alcohol, homeopathic medicines can help to reduce cholesterol.

Since it is a personalised medicine, homeopathic treatment not only helps manage high cholesterol but also it helps to improve the general health of the person.

(Read More - Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia)

• Baryta Muriaticum
  Common Name: Barium chloride
  Symptoms: This remedy is best suited to disease associated with ageing, such as high blood pressure, circulatory disorders, seizures or epilepsy. People with the following conditions benefit from this remedy:
  • High cholesterol and resultant damage caused by deposition of fat in the walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
  • High blood pressure due to fat deposition and narrowing of blood vessels
  • Heaviness in the head that is commonly associated with a headache due to high blood pressure
  • Paralysis due to high blood pressure resulting from high cholesterol
  • Weakness in the body with stiffness of leg muscles which is worse in the morning, immediately after waking up

Lab studies suggest that baryta muriaticum is effective in reducing blood cholesterol levels.

• Baryta Carbonicum
  Common Name: Carbonate of barium
  Symptoms: This medicine works well in children who are slow in their physical and mental development, and old people who are mentally and physically weak. The following conditions respond to a prescription of baryta carbonicum:
  • High cholesterol, high blood pressure and disturbance in blood circulation, leading to problems in the brain and heart, especially in old people
  • Strong and rapid heartbeat, which is worse on lying down, especially on the left side (Read more: Tachycardia causes)
  • Severe weakness with extreme sensitivity to cold air
  • Excessive sweating with an offensive smell
  • A tendency to swelling of the tonsils and salivary glands
  • A tendency to catch a cold easily
  • All complaints are worse while lying on the painful side while thinking about the complaints, exposure to cold and humidity.
  • Complaints improve after walking in open air.

Animal studies indicate that baryta carbonicum can reduce raised levels of cholesterol. A clinical study on hypertensive individuals showed that baryta carbonicum, when given in combination with baryta muriaticum helped in lowering raised blood pressure.

• Syzygium Jambolanum (mother tincture)
  Common Name: Jambol seeds, jambul
  Symptoms: This medicine is recommended for people suffering from diabetes and its complications, such as diabetic ulcers. Patients who benefit from this remedy experience the following symptoms: 
  • Severe dryness of mouth with intense thirst
  • Frequent urination with presence of sugar in urine
  • Skin problems such as prickly heat

In vivo (animal) studies show that syzygium jambolanum ameliorate the levels of both bad (LDL and VLDL) and good cholesterol (HDL).

• Cholesterinum
  Common Name: Cholesterine
  Symptoms: In homepathy, cholesterine is an important remedy for the treatment of liver cancer. Patients who benefit from this remedy have the following symptoms:
  • Gallbladder stones, disturbance in sleep and high cholesterol
  • Severe burning type of pain on either side of the body

An experimental study conducted on monkeys showed that cholesterinum is effective in decreasing high levels of cholesterol.

• Lycopodium Clavatum
  Common Name: Club moss
  Symptoms: This medicine works best in people who are intelligent but physically weak; they also have a weak digestion and tend to get excessive stoamch gas. This medicine is useful in the treatment of high cholesterol as a constitutional remedy. Patients who benefit from this remedy experience: 
  • Strong and rapid heartbeat, especially at night, that is worse on lying on the left side
  • Rapid breathing and lung disorders 
  • Aggravation of complaints between 4 pm and 8 pm
  • Improvement of symptoms with cold, exposure to open-air or burping

A scientific study showed that lycopodium clavatum is effective in reducing raised cholesterol levels and improving the general health of individuals suffering from high cholesterol.

• Calcarea Carbonica
  Common Name: Carbonate of lime
  Symptoms: This medicine acts well in children and old people who are obese, fair in complexion, have weak muscles and sweat profusely. It is used in the treatment of various disease conditions. Patients who benefit from this remedy have the following symptoms: 
  • High cholesterol associated with fat deposition and damage to the walls of arteries (atherosclerosis) and heart problems
  • Palpitations in the chest after meals and at night that disturbs sleep
  • Rapid heartbeat and breathing after mild exercise
  • Tendency to catch a cold easily
  • Symptoms aggravated by exposure to cold air, cold drinks, rainy weather and physical activity 
  • Symptoms relieved by dry climate and lying on the painful side

Clinical studies show that calcarea carbonica, when given in combination with some other homeoapathic medicines such as phosphorus, thuja occidentalis, helps decrease elevated levels of cholesterol in patients.

According to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, calcarea carbonica, sepia, lachesis, lycopodium and sulphur are effective in decrease high cholesterol associated with menopause in women.

• Gautteria Gaumeri
  Symptom: This homeopathic medicine is used to: 
  • Decrease overall levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
  • Increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), which protects the heart from the effects of bad cholesterol

A clinical study done in India found that gautteria gaumeri can be used safely to manage high cholesterol.

• Fucus Vesiculosus
  Common Name: Sea kelp (algae)
  Symptoms: Sea kelp works best in overweight people who suffer from constipation and problems of thyroid gland. It helps in weight reduction in obese people. This medicine helps by hastening the process of digestion and decreasing the formation of gas in the abdomen. Patients with the following symptoms benefit from this remedy: 
  • High cholesterol caused by overweight or obesity
  • Sensation of an iron band around the head during a headache

Animal studies show that fucus vesiculosus can decrease bad cholesterol.

Some other homeopathic medicines that are useful in the treatment of high cholesterol include nux vomica, rhus toxicodendron and sulphur.

The medicines in homeopathy are prescribed in very small doses, so a number of factors in our daily routine can reduce or cancel out their effects. Food items or drinks that have medicinal effects on the body disturb the action of homeopathic medicines to a significant extent. Hence, it is essential to follow certain dietary and lifestyle restrictions for the effective action of these medicines.

Do’s

• Follow a healthy, nutritious and balanced diet that is free from artificial flavours.
• Follow a healthy lifestyle which includes moderate exercises like walking.
• Keep your mind active by reading informative books and articles.

Don’ts

• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
• Avoid strong coffee and soups with vegetables or herbs which have medicinal effects.
• Avoid spices, food and drinks with artificial colours and flavours and strong-smelling perfumes.
• Avoid overeating and excessive intake of salt and sugar
• Avoid unhygienic living conditions.

(Read More - Cholesterol Test)

There are scientific studies to show that homeopathic treatment effectively decreases bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol in the blood when used alone for the treatment of high cholesterol. However, such studies are few in number and have several limitations. Some of them were conducted only on individuals with mild to moderate elevations in cholesterol levels. Others were unable to establish if the decreased levels of cholesterol were maintained with homeopathic medicines. In one study, the effects of homoeopathic medicines were tested in people on a low-fat diet; however, the contribution of fat restriction on cholesterol levels could not be substantiated. Also, the interaction of homeopathic with allopathic medicines taken by the individuals during the study could not be evaluated. Therefore, to establish the role of homoeopathy in the treatment of high cholesterol, studies involving a larger population should be conducted over a longer period of time.

Homeopathic medicines prescribed by a qualified homeopathic physician do not have any risks or harmful effects when taken in the right dose. Physicians prescribe the appropriate remedy based on the severity of the disease as well as the mental and physical make-up of the patient. It is safe to be prescribed to pregnant women as well as young children and babies.

(Read More - High Triglycerides treatment)

Homeopathy is a safe and effective alternative system of medicine with no side effects. Homeopathic medicines safely complement standard allopathic medicines in the treatment of high cholesterol. A well-selected constitutional remedy prescribed by a qualified homeopathic physician not only helps in symptomatic management of the condition but also aids in correcting the imbalances in various body systems that are responsible for high cholesterol.

(Read More - Home remedies for atherosclerosis)