How acupuncture helps to lower high cholesterol and triglycerides

Condition analysis:
Hyperlipidemia refers to elevated levels of plasma lipids. This includes cholesterol, cholesterol esters, phospholipids and triglycerides. Lipids are found in blood plasma and are bound to proteins. In this form, they are called lipoproteins. There are several forms of lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL). VLDL and LDL levels are considered ‘bad cholesterol’ because they tend to clog arteries whereas HDL is considered ‘good cholesterol’.

Instructions:
Acupuncture reduces cholesterol. Researchers measured the effects of needling acupuncture point ST40 (Fenglong) on plasma cholesterol levels. In a laboratory experiment, electroacupuncture successfully downregulated LDL cholesterol. Simultaneously, electroacupuncture downregulated several proinflammatory macrophages linked to dyslipidemia: MCP-1, ICAM-1, IL-1gamma. The researchers conclude that electroacupuncture at ST40 downregulates plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and proinflammatory macrophages in cases of Hyperlipidemia.

Electroacupuncture lowers levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in cases of high cholesterol. Acupuncture points LI11 (Quchi), CV12 (Zhongwan) and ST40 effectively lowered LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides.