🌿 Folk Prescriptions

TCM believes that hyperlipoproteinemia arises from internal accumulation of greasy substances, phlegm turbidity, and blood stasis. Thus, it is classified into four types. Corresponding lipid-lowering foods are used based on each type.
First type: Phlegm-dampness excess pattern. Patients are usually obese, feel heavy and sluggish; often experience chest tightness, white phlegm, poor appetite. Diet should be light, preferably including: millet, corn, radishes, legumes and their products, black fungus, eggplant, pea shoots, tomatoes, lettuce, oranges, pomelos, peaches, soybean oil, tea, carp, jellyfish, etc. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables, sweets, and greasy, rich-tasting foods to prevent phlegm generation and dampness accumulation.
Second type: Phlegm-stasis intermingled pattern. Symptoms include dizziness, heaviness in head, chest oppression, heart pain, numbness in limbs; dark tongue with ecchymosis, greasy coating, deep and涩pulse. Primarily caused by internal heat. Therefore, avoid spicy, hot, and stimulating foods such as lamb, dog meat, chili peppers, Sichuan pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, etc.
Third type: Spleen deficiency with phlegm-dampness pattern. Patients are obese, short of breath, speak little, often feel fatigued and sleepy. Should eat more food that strengthens the spleen, such as broad beans, green beans, yam, chicken, shrimp, eel, red dates, chestnuts, glutinous rice, etc. Avoid cold-natured foods like raw fruits and vegetables, crab meat, duck eggs, etc.
Fourth type: Liver-kidney yin deficiency pattern. Patients are elderly and weak, with sore waist and legs, fatigue, dizziness, tinnitus, dry eyes, frequent palpitations, insomnia, and dry mouth. Can regularly consume foods that nourish liver and kidney, such as black beans, black fungus, seaweed, mushrooms, etc.
In addition, patients with hyperlipoproteinemia should quit alcohol as ethanol promotes cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis, raising blood lipid levels.