More Than a Number: Why I Refused Statins and Embraced the Wisdom of Ayurveda
It started seven years ago. I sat in my doctor’s office, feeling the cold crinkle of the paper on the exam table, while his PA began telling me all of the horrible things that could happen to me if I didn't accept his prescription for statins.
My cholesterol number was "high" on paper. But here is what wasn't on that paper: I had a Coronary Calcium Scan score of zero. My arteries were wide open—better than many people half my age. I was active, eating well, and living a healthy lifestyle. I was also in the throes of perimenopause and doing deep, difficult trauma healing work.
I refused the prescription.
For the next two years, every visit was a battle. He picked at me, pressured me, and warned me. But I held my ground. I knew something he didn't: my body wasn't failing; it was responding.
Eventually, through the wisdom of Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda (SVA), my numbers came down naturally. The pressure from the PA stopped. But the saddest part of this story isn't the conflict—it’s the silence that followed. When my numbers normalized without his drugs, he never once asked, "What are you doing? How did you fix this?"
He missed the chance to learn something that could help his other patients. And that is why I am writing this today. Because I see family members and clients blindly accepting these medications out of fear, often suffering side effects that are worse than the condition they are trying to treat.
The "Sticky" Truth About Cholesterol
We have been taught to demonize cholesterol, but the truth is, you would die without it.
Your body produces cholesterol for vital reasons. It is the raw material for your hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol). It is also the primary component of the myelin sheath—the protective coating around your nerves that allows them to conduct signals.
When we take statins, we aggressively block the liver’s production of cholesterol. But this pathway is also responsible for producing CoQ10, a nutrient essential for mitochondrial energy. By shutting this down, we risk:
Depleting CoQ10: Leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, and "statin myopathy."
Damaging the Myelin Sheath: Research published in JAMA Neurology has shown that inhibiting cholesterol synthesis can impair the body's ability to repair myelin, potentially leading to neuropathy and cognitive issues.
We are literally starving our nervous system to treat a number on a page.
Why the Numbers Rise (It’s Not Just Diet)
In my case, my body was demanding more raw materials for two specific reasons:
Perimenopause: As my ovaries slowed down hormone production, my liver had to work overtime to produce enough cholesterol to manufacture the hormones I was losing.
Trauma & Stress: I was processing deep emotional trauma. Stress requires cortisol. Cortisol is made from cholesterol. My body wasn't "sick"—it was trying to keep me safe and stable.
The SVA Perspective: Flow vs. Clogging
This is where the lineage of Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra changes everything. In SVA, we understand that cholesterol itself isn't the enemy. The enemy is Ama (toxins).
As Vaidya Mishra and his student Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum have taught, cholesterol is meant to be a lubricating, stabilizing lipid (Meda Dhatu). It only becomes dangerous when it mixes with metabolic toxins (Ama) or acidic, reactive toxins (Amavisha). That is when it becomes sticky and clogs the channels.
If your liver (Ranjaka Pitta) is overheated from processing anger, stress, or environmental toxins, it cannot process these fats efficiently. The solution isn't to stop the production of fat; the solution is to clean the liver and cool the inflammation.
My SVA "Cooling" Prescription
Disclaimer: I am an Ayurvedic consultant, but please consult with your healthcare provider before making changes.
Instead of suppressing my body, I supported it using these SVA principles.
1. The Sip: SVA Coriander Tea (To Cool the Liver)
SVA Coriander Tea
The liver is a "hot" organ. When it overheats, it creates inflammatory cholesterol. In SVA, we generally avoid raw herbs because they can be hard to digest. We use heat to awaken the intelligence of the spice.
Recipe: Boil 1 cup of water. Add 1 teaspoon of organic whole coriander seeds. Let it boil for 1-2 minutes, then turn off the heat and cover. Let it steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain and drink warm or at room temperature.
Why it works: This method extracts the cooling, chelating properties of the coriander to flush toxins through the kidneys and cool the Ranjaka Pitta (liver fire) without extinguishing your digestive fire.
2. The Breath: Sheetali Pranayama (Cooling Breath)
Stress heats up the body and demands cortisol. This breath practice physically cools the blood and calms the mind.
How to do it: Curl your tongue like a taco (or pursue your lips if you can’t curl). Inhale slowly through the curled tongue, feeling the cool air. Close your mouth and exhale through your nose. Repeat for 3-5 minutes.
3. The Movement: Seated Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
Seated Spinal Twist
Twists are "squeeze and soak" motions for your internal organs. They gently compress the liver and kidneys, helping to wring out venous blood and encourage fresh, oxygenated flow.
Practice: Sit tall. Inhale to lengthen your spine. Exhale to twist gently to the right. Hold for 5 breaths. Repeat on the left. Keep it gentle—we are coaxing the body, not forcing it.
4. The Connection: Moon Gazing
Moon Gazing
In SVA, the sun is heating (Agni), but the moon is cooling (Soma). Since high cholesterol is often a condition of excess heat and stress, spending time under the moonlight is legitimate medicine.
Activity: Take a 10-minute walk in the evening or simply sit by a window. Let the "Soma" of the moon soothe your nervous system.
Resources & Research
If you want to dive deeper into the science and the lineage that saved my health, here are the links to the experts and studies mentioned:
Dr. Douglas Beech: Dr. Doug Beech - Beech Chiropractic & Ayurvedic Health Center
My personal Ayurvedic doctor in Frederick, MD, who was instrumental in my healing.
Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum: The Cholesterol Myth: What Really Clogs Our Arterieps
A must-read article from Dr. Teitelbaum explaining why oxidized LDL is the real problem, not cholesterol itself.
Study on Statins & Myelin Damage: Negative Impact of Statins on Oligodendrocytes and Myelin Formation
Research published in JAMA Neurology showing how statins can interfere with nerve repair.
Study on Statins & CoQ10 Depletion: Coenzyme Q10 and Statin-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Scientific evidence on how statins deplete the energy needed for healthy muscles and heart function.
We have to stop treating the body in parts. If you are being pressured to take medication for a number, I encourage you to pause. Look at the whole picture. Are you under stress? Are you in a hormonal transition? Is your body trying to tell you something?
There are ancient, effective ways to heal that don't come with a side of nerve damage. Let’s start exploring them.
Here is a video from YouTube that discusses Dr. Teitelbaum's perspective in more depth: The Cholesterol Myth: What Really Clogs Our Arteries