Chinese herbs can help you lower cholesterol naturally without the use of pharmaceuticals. If you are already on cholesterol-lowering drugs, you have the option to address the root causes of your high cholesterol naturally. This may lead to being able to reduce or eliminate taking cholesterol-lowering drugs if you work with your doctor while being treated by us.

In Chinese medicine, I like to class high cholesterol in the following 3 stages, each stage presents slightly differently and we use slightly different herbs to address high cholesterol depending on your case.

Three Stages of High Cholesterol

Mildy High Cholesterol: Stage 1 is Dampness
Your cholesterol is starting to creep up, and you may have slight to moderate weight gain. You are concerned, but not enough to change your diet or start taking drugs for it. In Chinese Medicine, we consider this stage an excess of dampness.

​Moderately High Cholesterol – Stage 2 is Phlegm

Your cholesterol is definitely too high, and you have gained a lot of weight or already are carrying a significant weight gain. Your doctor wants you on statins and you either are taking them or are considering it. In Chinese Medicine, at this stage, the excess dampness has thickened and turned into “phlegm”.

Severely High Cholesterol – Stage 3 is Blood Stasis
You have high cholesterol and are probably taking a statin or other drug to control it, but you have not changed anything to address the root cause, you are just treating the symptoms. When excessive amounts of cholesterol are present in the body, they may deposit on the inside lining of arteries, leading to a number of coronary heart disorders and/or fatty liver, or other cardiovascular diseases. This is what we call “blood stasis” in Chinese Medicine.

Chinese Herbs to Lower Cholesterol

There are several Chinese herbs that can help lower cholesterol naturally. There is a science to back up the efficacy of Chinese herbs in treating high cholesterol. You can check out the abstract on one research study of the herbs listed below here.

Shan Zha
Shan zha (hawthorn fruit), treats high cholesterol as well as hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary artery disorders, and angina. It improves blood circulation and promotes the digestion of red meat and greasy, fatty foods.

Jue Ming Zi
Jue ming zi (cassia seed), reduces high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. It has a diuretic effect and lowers blood pressure. Studies show that 98 percent of subjects with high cholesterol were within the normal range after six weeks of treatment with jue ming zi.

Ze Xie
Ze xie (Oriental water plantain rhizome) is good for dampness and phlegm because it has a diuretic effect, regulating water circulation and reducing edema. It helps you to lower cholesterol, reduces arteriosclerosis and treats fatty liver. Ze xie may also help lower blood pressure and reduce dizziness and vertigo.

Dan Shen
Dan Shen (salvia m) removes blood stasis and promotes blood circulation, as well as relieving pain and restlessness. Dan Shen is widely used to treat patients with coronary artery disease in China.

In conclusion, Chinese herbs offer an excellent, natural way to lower cholesterol levels. Not only are these remedies effective but they are also quite economical and easy to obtain. As with any health treatment, however, it is important to speak with your physician before beginning a course of Chinese herbs or other natural remedies. With proper monitoring and guidance from a medical professional, you can lower your cholesterol levels naturally and safely with Chinese herbs.

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Malnutrition impairs immune function. Burgers, Fries and Bourbon do not build a strong immune system or healthy white blood cells either. Nope, sorry, it’s through virtuous, self-righteous diets jammed packed with nutrients that promote and support a healthy immune system. This means eating foods like organic fruits and vegetables, lean healthy proteins, healthy fats and nuts and seeds are the cornerstones for good immune function.

Using Medicinal Mushrooms such as shiitake, maitake and reishi can boost immune function because they contain beta-glucans that enhance immune activity against infections and cancer as well as reduce allergy responses.


As for foods to avoid, research shows us that simple sugars in the form of surgery foods and juices impair immune function. Of course, the data suggests that gluten donating foods are especially destructive to the immune system.

We specialize in Nutritional Protocols to Optimize Immune Function. Call us to schedule your Nutritional Consultation.

Reduce Stress Level

When we are stressed out, our poor adrenal glands churn out epinephrine and cortisol. When we are running from a Grizzly Bear this is a very helpful response, but most of us are stressed out and activating our adrenal output on an hourly and daily basis. Long-term activation of the stress response depletes our immune system. Research shows us clearly that psychological stress raises the risk for common colds and other viruses. We are 30% more likely to get the “flu” when we are under stress.

Chronic stress can also promote a ” hyper-immune response” and aggravate underlying conditions such as allergies, asthma and autoimmune disease.

One of the things that we focus on at Integrative Acupuncture is finding opportunities and tools to help our patients reduce unwanted stress. Check out our Acupuncture, Meditation Workshops and our Hypnotherapy services.

There have been many studies that have shown that acupuncture induces the relaxation response in patients for up to 48 hrs after treatment. And regular acupuncture helps to decrease the negative side effects of stress in our daily lives.

Move Your Body

Moderate exercise has been shown to enhance the immune system as well as discharge stress and tension. In a recent study, researchers took 115 postmenopausal women and assigned half of them to stretch exercises 1 time per week and the other half to at least 45 min of moderate-intensity exercise 5 times per week. At the end of the year-long study, the “stretchers” had 4 times more colds as the moderate exercisers.

So find a moderate exercise program that works well for you. There are many different ways to address this and we can guide you in your search for the right program for you.

Sleep Soundly Every Night

Sleep is the time when growth-promoting and reparative hormones undo the damage done in our busy hectic daily lives. Sleep deprivation, as well as sleep disturbance, activates the stress response, depresses our immune function and elevates inflammatory chemicals being made in our body.

In one study, after researchers inoculated adult volunteers noses with cold viruses, men and women who habitually slept less than 7 hours were 4 times more likely to develop colds than those who slept 8 hours or more.

If you or someone you know is not getting sufficient healthy restful sleep consider acupuncture to help alleviate this issue. Acupuncture has been shown to improve both the length of time we sleep as well as improve the overall quality of our sleep.

Expose Yourself !

If you cannot get enough sun exposure then make sure that you supplement with Vit D. Vitamin D plays a critically important role in promoting and modulating immune function. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with lower immune strength, cancer, several autoimmune diseases and our body’s susceptibility to infections ( including viral and bacterial respiratory infections.)

Unfortunately, nearly 1/3 of the U.S. population is Vitamin D deficient. Optimal levels of Vitamin D should be between 50-80. If you know your levels are low, ask us about proper supplementation.

If we can help you in any way to Optimize and Strengthen your Immune System call us at 608-236-9000 or email us at drxzhou@acupunctureherbalmd.com

The post 5 Steps to Strengthen Your Immune System appeared first on Dr Zhou’s Acupuncture Clinic in Madison and Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Did you know that watermelon, aka Xi Gua (Shee Gwa) has been used as a Chinese medicinal herb for centuries? It has appeared in Chinese herbal medical texts since 1350 CE. This favorite summertime treat is not only delicious, it can also help keep you cool and hydrated.

Chinese herbs, some of which are actual foods, are categorized by their taste, temperature, associated meridians and their effects on the body.

Watermelon has medicinal properties of being sweet and cold and is associated with the heart, bladder and stomach meridians. It clears heat, reduces irritability and promotes urination. It is effective in treating summer heat, the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) equivalent to heat stroke, which has symptoms of fever, restlessness, sweating, dizziness, and nausea. It also has a beneficial effect on the liver and, in some cases, can help expel jaundice. Mixed with other cooling herbs, watermelon is used to treat mouth sores, tooth infections and sore throats as well as burns and ulcers.

Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, mung bean, and lotus leaf are just a few other examples for common foods that are used in Chinese herbal medicine.

I asked my favorite nutritionist (and younger sister) Carolyn Brown, RD for her take on the benefits of this sweet treat. Here’s what she had to say: “Watermelon is the perfect summertime snack because just like it’s name implies, that juicy sweet fruit is mostly water – 92% water content! It’s hydrating and has tons of good-for-you nutrients, like lycopene which is great for heart and bone health and cancer prevention.


Another nutrient, citrulline, helps with circulation and soothes sore muscles. It’s also loaded in vitamin A, C and potassium too! Make sure that in addition to the fleshy part, you nosh on the white part closer to the rind too, because that’s where the highest concentration of nutrients is (even if slightly less tasty!).”

But remember— everything in moderation. Too much of this cold fruit can cause upset stomach, cramping and diarrhea– symptoms of cold-invasion of the stomach in TCM. If you experience these symptoms, warming herbs like ginger and cinnamon can help.

Here are a few of my favorite Watermelon inspired recipes:

SPICY WATERMELON SALAD:

4 cups diced watermelon
Juice of 1 Lime
1 tsp cayenne pepper
Flaky Sea Salt
Directions: Toss watermelon in lime juice and cayenne, add sea salt right before eating.

SUMMER SALAD WITH WATERMELON AND TOMATO:

4 cups diced watermelon
2 diced heirloom tomatoes
1 cup crumbled feta
1/2 cup torn mint or basil
1 tbsp good quality olive oil
1/2 red onion thinly sliced
2 tsps balsamic vinegar
Flaky Sea Salt
Directions: Toss watermelon, tomatoes, onion and feta in olive oil and balsamic. sprinkle feta and add torn mint or basil. Right before serving, add flaky sea salt. (If you add this too soon, it will suck the water out of the melon and you will end up with soup!)

WATERMELON GAZPACHO:

8 cups of seedless watermelon, diced
½ red bell pepper, finely diced
1 medium cucumber, peeled and seeded and finely diced.
¼ cup of chopped flat-leafed parsley
3 Tablespoons of red wine vinegar
¼ cup of chopped fresh basil
2-3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
¼ jalapeno pepper


Directions: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Using a hand blender, puree 3 cups of the mix, transfer to another bowl. Puree 3 more cups and add to pureed mixture. Stir in 3 cups of the remaining mixture. Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature. Makes 6 servings.

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