Symptoms

High blood cholesterol refers to high levels of fat in the blood. Blame the condition on a fatty diet, heredity, alcoholism, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, or a combination thereof - whatever the cause, the condition is dangerous. Gummy in texture, fat thickens blood and gets stuck on artery walls, thus increasing one’s risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. Symptoms can include chest pain, lethargy, pallor and shortness of breath. However, the condition is often asymptomatic; many individuals learn they have high cholesterol only after a routine blood test.

How Ginseng Can Help

Taking ginseng is one of many complementary measures that lower high blood cholesterol levels. Important steps include adopting a low-fat vegetarian or near-vegetarian diet, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly. Several American, Chinese and Japanese studies have found that ginseng works with more traditional therapies by reducing total levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids and thinning fat-thickened blood. Ginseng also accelerates the body’s excretion of cholesterol.

Dosages

If you are currently on medication to lower blood cholesterol level, talk to your doctor about replacing medication with ginseng. Take one 200mg capsule twice a day; or 1/2 teaspoon of liquid extract twice a day; or 1 teaspoon of tincture twice a day.