Hyperlipidemia and the Role of Blood Lipids According to Iranian Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Objective: The first and most common cause of death in the world is due to cardiovascular diseases, and hyperlipidemia is one of the important and a critical controllable risk factors for these diseases. The connection between fat metabolism and a wide range of diseases, side effects of chemical drugs, and the increasing attention to the use of natural remedies reveal the necessity of further attention to the viewpoints of other schools of medicine, including complementary medicine. This review study aims to interpret hyperlipidemia from the perspective of Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM). Methods: This is review study conducted based on a library method using the keywords related to hyperlipidemia to collect data through searching in online databases and ITM books. The data were analyzed based on the content analysis method. Results: Hyperlipidemia is mainly diagnosed by laboratory findings and often have no clear clinical symptoms. According to ITM, for diagnosing hyperlipidemia, attention should be paid to the role of liver, heart, and stomach along with the health principles and quadruple digestion. Conclusion: Hyperlipidemia is a condition that can be either pathological or physiological. According to ITM, it occurs due to the imbalance of humors inside the arteries and leads to higher blood concentration and. In some cases, it can be due to a disease and in some cases, it can be caused by the body’s compensatory response. Paying attention to the views of ITM can be effective in preventing disease and improving therapeutic interventions.