CHOLESTEROL in itself is not harmful, but too much blood cholesterol is unhealthy. High cholesterol is one of the risk factors for angina and cardiovascular diseases. When cholesterol levels are very high, it may appear as yellow nodules beneath the skin of the elbows or knees or under the eyes.

Heart disease is the leading killer in the United States and Britain. Morbidity related to heart disease is also high, leading to massive productivity losses. Less developed countries are moving up the mortality curve as it relates to cardiovascular disease.

In Malaysia, a 1996 survey showed that five per cent of the population has high blood cholesterol and about 15 per cent has borderline high cholesterol. This percentage may have doubled in the last decade. Improper dietary intake and unhealthy lifestyle may have a role in the rise of blood cholesterol in our society.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, the majority being statins, were the second best-selling class of drugs worldwide in 2000, with nearly US$16 billion (RM58.75 billion) in global sales. By 2005, the worldwide market for cholesterol-lowering drugs was US$25 billion.

While many opt for drug intervention, there are also effective and safe alternatives. Herbs such as red yeast rice and the ayuverdic herb, guggulipid, have been traditionally used for the treatment of high to borderline blood cholesterols. Studies done by researchers also confirmed that these herbs are effective in reducing high blood cholesterol and are gentle on the body.

Some of the more important herbs for maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels are milk thistle and dandelion. This formulation cleanses the liver and protects it. An overburdened liver does not work at its best and this affects the clearance of toxins, hormones and even affects cholesterol metabolism.

Milk thistle is traditionally used for liver disorders. It contains silymarin, which is an anti-oxidant to help prevent free radical damage on the liver due to toxins. Perhaps the most interesting effect of milk thistle components on the liver is its ability to stimulate protein synthesis. This results in an increase in the production of new liver cells to replace damaged cells.

Meanwhile, dandelion aids digestion by stimulating the release of bile by the liver and gallbladder. This helps prevent liver congestion, bile duct inflammation, gallstones and jaundice.

The writer is a pharmacist who is actively involved in the dissemination of information on natural healthcare and holistic therapies. For more information, she can be contacted at csyam@streamyx.com