What is the best Chinese medicine for high blood lipids?
In recent years, with the improvement of living standards, the problem of hyperlipidemia has gradually become a health hazard that plagues modern people. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history and rich experience in regulating blood lipids. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to give you a detailed introduction to the most suitable traditional Chinese medicines when blood lipids are high, and provide structured data for reference.
1. Chinese medicine understanding of hyperlipidemia

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that hyperlipidemia is mostly related to factors such as "phlegm-dampness", "blood stasis", and "qi stagnation". By regulating the spleen and stomach, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, removing dampness and reducing phlegm, blood lipid levels can be effectively improved. The following are common TCM syndrome differentiation types for hyperlipidemia:
| Dialectical type | Main performance | Treatment principles |
|---|---|---|
| Phlegm-dampness block type | Obesity, chest tightness and shortness of breath, thick and greasy tongue coating | Strengthen the spleen, remove dampness, reduce phlegm and reduce lipids |
| Qi stagnation and blood stasis type | Swelling and pain in the chest and hypochondrium, dull complexion, and ecchymosis on the tongue | Promotes qi and blood circulation, removes blood stasis and unblocks collaterals |
| Spleen and kidney yang deficiency type | Aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and weakness in waist and knees, frequent nocturia | Warm and nourish the spleen and kidneys, transform qi and circulate water |
2. Commonly used Chinese medicines for lowering blood lipids
According to the latest research and clinical practice, the following traditional Chinese medicines have significant effects in lowering blood lipids:
| Chinese medicine name | Main functions | active ingredient | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | Digest food and resolve accumulation, activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis | Flavonoids, organic acids | 10-15g/day |
| Cassia | Clears the liver and improves eyesight, moistens the intestines and relieves constipation | Anthraquinones, emodin | 9-15g/day |
| Red yeast rice | Promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis, strengthens the spleen and eliminates food | Monacolin K | 6-12g/day |
| Salvia | Promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, stimulates menstruation and relieves pain | Tanshinone, salvianolic acid | 10-15g/day |
| Alisma | Diuretic and dampness-relieving, heat-releasing and fat-reducing | Triterpenes, volatile oil | 6-12g/day |
3. The mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine in lowering blood lipids
Modern research has found that traditional Chinese medicine lowers blood lipids mainly through the following pathways:
| Mechanism of action | Represents traditional Chinese medicine | Specific performance |
|---|---|---|
| Inhibit cholesterol synthesis | Red yeast rice, hawthorn | Inhibit HMG-CoA reductase activity |
| Promote cholesterol excretion | Cassia seed, rhubarb | Increase bile acid excretion |
| Improve lipoprotein metabolism | Salvia miltiorrhiza, Panax notoginseng | Adjust LDL/HDL ratio |
| antioxidant effect | Ginkgo leaf, green tea | Scavenge free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation |
4. Recommended Traditional Chinese Medicine Compatibility Plan
According to different physical constitutions and symptoms, the following Chinese medicine compatibility options can be selected:
| Applicable people | Recommended recipe | Efficacy and characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Simple hyperlipidemia | Hawthorn 15g + Cassia seed 10g + Alisma 10g | Mild lipid reduction, suitable for long-term use |
| accompanied by obesity | 12g red yeast rice + 10g lotus leaf + 15g poria | Reduce fat and lose weight, strengthen spleen and remove dampness |
| with high blood pressure | Salvia 15g+Chrysanthemum 10g+Uncaria 10g | Lower blood pressure and lipids, calm the liver and subdue yang |
| with diabetes | Astragalus 15g + Chinese yam 15g + Coptis 6g | Regulate blood sugar and improve blood lipids |
5. Precautions for using traditional Chinese medicine to lower blood lipids
1. Traditional Chinese medicine for lipid-lowering needs to be taken continuously for a period of time to be effective. It is generally recommended to take it continuously for more than 3 months.
2. People with different physical constitutions are suitable for different traditional Chinese medicines. It is recommended to use syndrome differentiation under the guidance of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
3. Some Chinese medicines may interact with Western medicines. For example, the use of red yeast rice together with statins may increase adverse reactions.
4. During the period of taking traditional Chinese medicine, blood lipid levels should be monitored regularly to evaluate the efficacy.
5. While treating with traditional Chinese medicine, it should also be combined with a healthy lifestyle, including a reasonable diet, moderate exercise, etc.
6. Latest research progress
According to recent research reports, the following traditional Chinese medicines have shown new potential in lowering blood lipids:
| Chinese medicine name | new discovery | research institute | Publication time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulberry leaves | Contains 1-deoxynojirimycin, which can inhibit glycolipid absorption | China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences | October 2023 |
| Gynostemma pentaphylla | Gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins can regulate the PPARγ pathway and improve lipid metabolism | Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine | September 2023 |
| Turmeric | Curcumin improves dyslipidemia by regulating intestinal flora | Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine | October 2023 |
Conclusion:
Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in regulating hyperlipidemia. It works through multiple targets and multiple pathways, and has relatively few side effects. However, it needs to be emphasized that traditional Chinese medicine treatment should be based on syndrome differentiation and varies from person to person. It is recommended that patients with hyperlipidemia choose a Chinese medicine regimen that suits them under the guidance of a professional Chinese medicine practitioner, and at the same time adjust their lifestyle to achieve the best lipid-lowering effect.
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