Cholesterol is a type of fat the body uses to make hormones and insulate nerve cells. It also forms parts of cell membranes. However, having too much cholesterol in your blood may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. If you have high cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, your doctor will likely tell you to cut your intake of saturated fats and increase your physical activity. You may also need to take prescription cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins. Some natural medicines may also help to improve your cholesterol levels, but they should not be used in place of dietary modifications or medical treatments. Get medical advice before using them.
Examples
A number of natural medicines may help to lower cholesterol levels, including policosanol and garlic. Policosanol is derived from sugar cane and is used as cholesterol-lowering medicine in a number of Latin American countries. It contains a number of compounds, though one in particular, known as octacosanol, likely confers policosanol's therapeutic effects. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that it may even be as effective as the prescription cholesterol-lowering drugs, lovastatin and simvastatin. Garlic is commonly used to flavor foods, but it may also help to destroy cholesterol deposits that line the arteries and lower cholesterol levels.
Administration
Garlic and policosanol are both available as supplements, although you can take raw garlic if you prefer. The UMMC website suggests taking 5 mg to 10 mg of policosanol twice-daily. Alternatively, you may wish to take 900 mg of garlic powder standardized to contain 0.6 percent of the active ingredient, allicin, once daily. If you prefer to eat raw garlic, RxList suggests eating one clove daily to help reduce your cholesterol levels. Check with your health-care provider on whether these doses are suitable for you.
Scientific Evidence
An analysis of data from 13 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, published in the September 2000 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine," concludes that although its effects are modest, garlic is a more effective cholesterol-lowering treatment than placebo drugs. However, the authors add that the value of using garlic as a treatment for hypercholesterolemia is questionable. Evidence supporting the use of policosanol as a cholesterol-lowering medicine is mixed. The Mississippi Baptist Health Systems website states that although data from early clinical studies was positive, studies were all done by a research group with financial connections to a major policosanol manufacturer. In addition, the results of an independent clinical trial, published in the May 2006 issue of "JAMA," show that policosanol is no more effective than placebo in lowering high cholesterol levels.
Safety Considerations
Garlic is safe for most people, states MedlinePlus. However, it may cause mild side effects including vomiting, body odor, bad breath and diarrhea. Bear in mind that its use is contraindicated in several conditions, including HIV and bleeding disorders. People with digestive problems should also avoid this herb. Policosanol may cause headache, insomnia and diarrhea. It may also have blood-thinning effects, so don't use it alongside anticoagulant drugs. The Mississippi Baptist Health Systems website adds that it may heighten the effect of the Parkinson's disease treatment, levodopa.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypercholesterolemia
- Mississippi Baptist Health Systems: Policosanol
- RxList: Garlic
- "Annals of Internal Medicine"; Garlic for Treating Hypercholesterolemia. A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials; C. Stevinson et al.; September 2000
- "JAMA"; Effect of Policosanol on Lipid Levels Among Patients With Hypercholesterolemia or Combined Hyperlipidemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial; H.K. Berthhold et al.; May 2006
