Dyslipidemia (Medoroga): Bridging Ayurvedic Concepts with Contemporary Medical Science

Abstract

Dyslipidemia is one of the most common metabolic disorders worldwide and an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), stroke, and metabolic syndrome. It is characterized by abnormally elevated plasma lipids including increased total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and/or decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Statins and other lipid-lowering medicines are available, but the increasing frequency of dyslipidaemia associated with sedentary lifestyle, poor food, obesity and stress calls for a more comprehensive and preventive strategy. Though dyslipidemia is not described as a separate illness entity in Ayurveda, it gives a vast insight through the ideas of Medoroga, Santarpanottha Vikara, Kapha-Medo Dushti, Ama and Srotorodha. Remarkably, these principles are paralleled with present pathophysiological mechanisms of lipid metabolism disorders. This review attempts to connect Ayurvedic concepts with modern medical research with emphasis on the parallels in illness causation, diagnostic method and treatment strategies. Such an integrative perspective may be useful for the creation of comprehensive and personalized treatment solutions for dyslipidemia.