淺談高膽固醇之一

吳宇琛

Sum Wu

Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner

Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (UTS)

Bachelor of Science Majoring in Psychology (UOW)

Director of Hurstville Chinese Herbs Centre

Vice Dean of College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics Australia

Specialising in pain management and mental wellbeing through Tradition Chinese medicine in combination with modern science in mental health, dieting and nutrition.

吳宇琛，澳大利亞政府注冊中醫師、針灸師，五龍崗大學心理學學士、悉尼科技大學中醫系學士，澳大利亞松軒中醫藥中心主任醫師，澳大利亞中醫骨傷專科學院副院長。

擅長用傳統針灸理傷手法和中藥治療各種新舊損傷痛症，特別採用中醫中藥和現代心理學、營養學相結合調理治療各種慢性病和亞健康。

High Cholesterol

高膽固醇

High cholesterol, or hyperlipidaemia, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While Western medicine views cholesterol as a measurable biochemical marker directly linked to heart disease risk, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets it through the lens of internal balance, organ function, and Qi dynamics. Comparing these two perspectives highlights both the mechanistic precision of modern biomedicine and the holistic depth of traditional approaches, offering opportunities for integrative care.

高膽固醇（或稱高脂血症）是心血管疾病的重要危險因子，而心血管疾病則是全球主要的死亡原因之一。西醫將膽固醇視為可量化的生化指標，直接與心臟病風險相關；中醫則從身體整體平衡、臟腑功能及氣的運行角度來理解。比較兩種醫學觀點，可見現代醫學的精確機制與傳統醫學的整體思維，各自優勢為綜合治療提供寶貴的可能性。

Western Medical Understanding of High Cholesterol

西醫對高膽固醇的理解

In modern medicine, cholesterol is a fatty substance essential for building cell membranes and hormones. However, elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol, can lead to plaque build-up in arteries, causing atherosclerosis, heart attack, or stroke. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.

在現代醫學中，膽固醇是一種脂肪性物質，對構建細胞膜和合成激素至關重要。然而，當低密度脂蛋白（LDL，俗稱「壞膽固醇」）水平升高時，容易在血管內形成斑塊，引發動脈粥樣硬化、心臟病或中風。高密度脂蛋白（HDL，俗稱「好膽固醇」）則有助於將多餘的膽固醇從血液中清除。

Common causes of high cholesterol include genetics, poor diet (especially high in saturated fats and trans fats), obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism. Diagnosis is straightforward through blood tests, and treatment primarily involves lifestyle modification and medication. Statins, the most widely prescribed drugs for high cholesterol, work by reducing cholesterol production in the liver and improving the body’s ability to remove it from the blood.

導致高膽固醇的常見原因包括遺傳、飲食不當（特別是攝入過多飽和脂肪和反式脂肪）、肥胖、缺乏運動、吸烟以及糖尿病或甲狀腺功能减退等疾病。診斷通常通過血液檢測完成，治療以生活方式的調整和藥物治療為主。最常用的他汀類藥物可通過抑制肝臟膽固醇合成並促進膽固醇排出而降低血脂。

While effective, medications can have side effects such as muscle pain or liver enzyme elevation. As a result, some patients seek complementary approaches to support cardiovascular health, including dietary therapy, herbal medicine, and stress management; areas where TCM offers valuable insights.

雖然效果顯著，但藥物可能帶來副作用，如肌肉疼痛或肝酶升高。因此，一些患者尋求輔助療法以改善心血管健康，包括飲食調理，中藥治療及情志管理等，這些正是中醫的強項。

TCM Interpretation of High Cholesterol

中醫對高膽固醇的認識

In TCM, there is no direct term for “cholesterol,” but conditions resembling hyperlipidaemia are often described as Phlegm-Dampness accumulation, Blood stasis, or Spleen deficiency with Dampness. Cholesterol build up is seen not simply as a local problem in the blood vessels, but as a sign that the bodies internal balance, especially in digestion, circulation, and metabolism, has been disrupted.

中醫中並無“膽固醇”一詞，但與高脂血症相似的病證多歸屬於“痰濕內阻”、“血瘀”、“脾虛濕盛”等範疇。膽固醇堆積並非單純的血管局部問題，而是身體內部平衡失調的反映，尤其與脾胃運化，氣血運行及代謝功能相關。

The Spleen, in TCM physiology, governs transformation and transportation of food and fluids. When its function is weakened by poor diet, stress, or overwork, fluids accumulate and congeal into Phlegm or Dampness. Over time, this stagnation may obstruct blood flow and contribute to Blood stasis, a concept that parallels the modern idea of arterial plaque and poor circulation.

中醫認為，脾主運化水穀精微。飲食不節，思慮過度或勞倦傷脾，會使運化功能减弱，體內水濕停聚，凝結成痰。痰濕日久，可阻滯血脈，形成血瘀，與西醫所說的動脈硬化有相似之處。

Liver imbalance is also commonly implicated. The Liver is responsible for maintaining the smooth flow of Qi and regulating emotions. Stress, frustration, or anger can lead to Liver Qi stagnation, which transforms into internal Heat, damaging vessels and aggravating Phlegm accumulation. This combination of Spleen weakness and Liver stagnation creates the internal environment conducive to high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

肝的功能失調也是重要因素。肝主疏泄，調暢氣機。情緒緊張、鬱怒不舒，會導致肝氣鬱結，化火生熱，灼傷血脈並加重痰濕。脾虛與肝鬱並見，痰、瘀、熱互結，便構成高膽固醇及心血管疾病的內在環境。

TCM Approaches to Treatment

中醫的治療方法

Treatment in TCM focuses on addressing the root causes while improving circulation and digestion. Herbal formulas such as Er Chen Tang and Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang may be prescribed to resolve Phlegm, strengthen the Spleen, and promote Blood flow. Acupuncture can further regulate Qi movement, calm the mind, and support organ harmony.

中醫治療著重於標本兼顧，既調氣血，化痰瘀，又健脾助運。常用方劑如二陳湯、血府逐瘀湯等，用以健脾化痰，氣活血。 針灸可進一步疏通經絡，調和臟腑，安神理氣。

For example, at our clinic we may use a combination of herbal medicine, acupuncture and topical herbal paste as a therapy. While treating the internal imbalances via herbal medicine, treatments such as our clinic’s topical herbal pastes can also help promote Qi and Blood circulation and unblocking underlying acupuncture channels. By invigorating blood movement and Qi circulation, we can promote a healthier cardiovascular health and reinforce the function of various organs such as the Spleen and Liver which will help combat cardiovascular and cholesterol diseases.

例如，我們診所可能會採用中藥、針灸和外用藥膏相結合的治療方法。在用中藥調理體內失衡的同時，我們診所的外用藥膏等療法也能促進氣血運行，疏通經絡。通過增强血液循環和氣血運行，我們可以促進心血管健康，並增强脾臟，肝臟等器官的功能，從而有助於預防心血管疾病和高膽固醇疾病。

Dietary therapy also plays a crucial role. Patients are encouraged to eat light, easily digestible foods, reduce greasy, sweet, and fried items and increase vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Foods such as garlic, hawthorn berries, and green tea are traditionally recommended for clearing Phlegm and moving Blood.

飲食調養亦為關鍵。患者宜多食清淡、易消化之品，少食油膩、甜食及煎炸之物，多攝入蔬菜，全穀及豆類。大蒜、山楂、綠茶等食物歷來被認為能化痰降脂，活血通絡。

Integrative Perspective

中西醫結合的啟示

Both TCM and Western medicine aim to prevent complications by restoring balance, one through biochemical regulation, the other through restoring imbalances in the body. Combining the two can be highly effective. Western medicine provides clear diagnostic markers and rapid reduction of cholesterol levels when needed, while TCM offers long-term regulation of metabolic and emotional factors. Together, they form a comprehensive approach that not only lowers cholesterol but also strengthens overall cardiovascular health and vitality.

無論中醫還是西醫，其目標皆是恢復平衡、預防併發症。西醫通過生化調控快速降低膽固醇；中醫則著眼於整體調養，調節代謝與情志因素。二者結合，可形成系統而全面的治療體系，不僅降低膽固醇，更能增强心血管功能與整體活力，達到“治未病”的理想狀態。

如有疑問想咨詢吳宇琛中醫師，可以在微信或whatsapp搜索61 404836368，加吳宇琛中醫師微信或whatsapp，也可以發短信或致電0404836368作語音留言，吳宇琛中醫師有空就會回復。

（吳宇琛中醫師，澳大利亞政府注冊中醫師、針灸師，五龍崗大學心理學學士、悉尼科技大學中醫系學士，悉尼好思維松軒藥行主任中醫師，澳大利亞中醫骨傷專科學院副院長，本文僅供參考，具體診療應諮詢專業人士。）