Cholesterol

High cholesterol in your blood is a definite risk factor for future heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is necessary for essential hormone production and also useful in insulating the thin fiber wall that surrounds nervous tissues. When there is too much cholesterol in your body, it can cause narrowing of the walls of the arteries and seriously impede the blood flow from the heart. Although modern drugs can be used to lower your cholesterol levels, many side effects are common with these drugs, which include dizziness, vomiting, weakness, liver problems and rashes. Thus, it becomes imperative on your part to search for a class of drugs that pose no dangers and serious side effects on your body system. Herbs and their derivatives fit this bill perfectly with their healing properties and characters. Several herbs could be used to lower cholesterol from your body and keep it under normal levels. Here are some of the well-known herbs that are used to maintain your cholesterol levels.

Red Yeast Rice (Monascus purpurea): This is an ancient Chinese remedy which has been used in China for over 2000 years and it is used to balance blood cholesterol levels in your body. It can cut down on the bad part of cholesterol with its synergistic actions.

Gugulipid: This is an extract of Myrrh tree that grows quite extensively in many parts of the world. Studies have indicated that gugulipid can be more effective in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Gugulipid is also indicated to increase levels of protective HDL cholesterol.

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis): An African herb, Rooibos can control blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and enhance immune functioning.

Rice Bran and Sugar Cane: Their extracts are known to safely reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol while significantly raising HDL ("good") cholesterol.

Angelica: It is a strong tonifier of blood. It also reduces blood pressure effectively.

Alfalfa: Saponins that exist in this herb may prevent absorption of cholesterol and block the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. It is assumed that fibers and chemicals in alfalfa may stick to cholesterol, thus keeping it from staying in the blood for a long time or depositing in blood vessels in an excessive amount.

Capsicum: This green vegetable is known to lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is also known to increase the blood flow from the heart to all body organs.

Garlic: This spice keeps the cholesterol levels in our blood in good equations. This done by lowering serum cholesterol levels while raising ‘good’ HDL-cholesterol levels within the circulatory system.

Ginseng: It is an excellent herbal root that helps you check the advancing cholesterol particles attacking the walls of your arteries. It is also a good immune agent that is tonifying in nature.

Echinacea roots: These superb herbal roots are essential for your body to reduce the traces of bad cholesterol that constrict the walls of your arterial system.

Thyme herb: A famous herb that is anti-cholesterol in nature and healing in its properties, especially on the circulatory system.

There are hundreds of other herbs that can also act as excellent healing agents in curing many heart diseases and cardio-vascular aberrations. One of the greatest advantages of using these herbs is its compatibility with your body system, without any traces of visible side effects.