Alternative Medications for Cholesterol

Millions of Americans are searching for a way to lower their cholesterol. Though cholesterol has some good benefits, high cholesterol is a leading risk factor for coronary artery disease. While a doctor can prescribe medication such as statins to control cholesterol, potential side effects can be avoided by finding natural treatments.

Red Yeast Rice

• Red yeast rice comes from a fungus that grows on rice and contains compounds that slow production of cholesterol in the liver. One of the compounds is monacolin K, a natural form of lovastatin. Red yeast rice acts as a low dose of lovastatin. Some researchers believe there are other cholesterol-lowering factors in the rice that haven't been discovered. A study published in the June 15, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Physicians looked at 62 patients who experienced muscle pain while taking statins. Instead of the medication, half of the patients were given 1,800 mg of red yeast rice daily for 24 weeks. The other half were given a placebo. They were also placed on a Mediterranean diet, engaged in an exercise program and practiced relaxation techniques. At the end of the study, the group on red yeast rice lowered their LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or bad cholesterol, by 35 points on average without an increase in muscle pain.

Flaxseed

• Flaxseed comes from the flax plant and has a long history of being used as a laxative. It is high in fiber and mucilage, a gummy substance. It contains alpha-linolenic acid, part of the omega-3 fatty acids that lower cholesterol levels in blood, improve heart health and reduce blood clotting. Flaxseed reduces LDL cholesterol slightly, while elevating HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or good cholesterol, significantly. It also reduces plaque on the arteries that can cause atherosclerosis. It may also help reduce triglyceride levels, but the studies are inconclusive on this.

Niacin

• Niacin is one of the B vitamins, and it is a major help against heart disease. It blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. It also helps with energy production, gene expression and hormone synthesis. It helps improve HDL functioning. Niacin can raise HDL, the good cholesterol, by 15 percent to 35 percent, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Lecithin

• Lechithin mimics the function of HDL cholesterol with LDL cholesterol. Lecithin helps cholesterol and fat travel through the bloodstream by keeping it solvent in the blood so it doesn't attach to artery walls. This action essentially turns LDL cholesterol into HDL cholesterol and moves it out of the body. However, medical and scientific studies have been inconclusive about whether this is what actually happens.

Green Tea

• Green tea has been shown to help prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing in the arteries and turning into plaque. A University of Hong Kong study looked at the effect of various Chinese teas (jasmine, Iron Buddha, Pu-erh, oolong and green tea) on the body. It found that jasmine and green tea significantly lower cholesterol levels in the blood and liver. Green tea has no side effects and is well tolerated by most people.

Black Tea

• A 2003 study in China and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that daily tea extracts could reduce cholesterol by up to 16 percent. The human study involved patients taking one tea extract capsule (equivalent to 35 cups of black tea) each day. The pills were taken for 12 weeks.