Strokes are one of the most frightening things that can happen to a person. They can change a person’s life in an instant and create a ripple effect of health issues for years to come.

But there are ways of reducing the risk of strokes. In addition to following sensible dietary and lifestyle habits, one botanical can moderate cholesterol levels, stop inflammatory damage, and potentially keep patients who have suffered a stroke from relapsing. This natural medicine is amla, also known as Indian gooseberry.

And it can literally be a life saver in a variety of ways:

• Preventing stroke and heart disease
• Stopping inflammatory damage to blood vessels and arteries
• Boosting levels of HDL cholesterol
• Reducing LDL cholesterol
• Normalizing blood pressure levels

Prevent Strokes in Your Patients

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. They are so common that twice as many women die from strokes as from breast cancer.

Grim as these statistics are, there is good news. First, obtaining emergency care within the first few hours of a stroke can greatly reduce the damage done. Second, with patience, hard work, and good fortune, many victims of strokes recover some—or all—of their lost abilities. Third, and perhaps most importantly, strokes are largely preventable. Prevention starts with keeping arteries and blood vessels in the best shape possible.

Shifting the Balance for Better Blood Vessels

Arteries become clogged for two main reasons: oxidation and inflammation. When low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol becomes oxidized, it tends to get “stickier,” forming clots in the arteries. This oxidation (and clotting) also triggers an inflammatory response. These conditions damage arteries and attract more LDL cholesterol to the clot. Additionally, some serious cholesterol problems may have more to do with a patient’s history of cholesterol. Since the body can produce up to 1,000 mg of cholesterol a day, it can, in turn create an abundance of LDL, boosting the odds of oxidation and inflammation.

While there is lively (and necessary) debate about whether or not cholesterol is an ‘enemy’ as has been commonly taught, a balance of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL is essential. And one particular plant extract from an herb long used in Ayurvedic practice, amla (Emblica officinalis), can help achieve this without the dangers of statin drugs.

Amla: Traditional Use and Clinical Research

Amla has been used in Ayurvedic practice for over 2,000 years, and early Ayurvedic medical texts dating back to 200 to 400 BC referred to it as “one of the best rejuvenating herbs.” Practitioners noted that it helped rebuild tissues throughout the body, reduce inflammation, support vision, and strengthen bones. Also known as Indian gooseberry, amla has been proven on many fronts in current research, inhibiting growth in human lung cancer cells, melanoma cells, and cervical cancer cells. Additionally, amla can increase levels of the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), which detoxifies carcinogens, boosts natural killer cell cancer-fighting NK activity, and prevents DNA mutations caused by aluminum, lead, and chromium.

And for balancing cholesterol levels, and thereby reducing a major cause of stroke, amla truly shines.

For example, a clinical study showed that participants taking amla increased HDL by 14 percent and decreased LDL cholesterol by 21 percent. Their total serum cholesterol was reduced by 17 percent and triglyceride levels dropped by 24 percent within only three months.

In other clinical research, amla improved endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes, and lowered LDL, total cholesterol, and A1C levels. Additionally, amla has been shown to lower C-reactive protein (CRP) by 30 percent, so it has potent anti-inflammatory action.

In the most recent placebo-controlled clinical study, amla reduced the atherogenic index of the plasma (AIP), a measure of the ratio of triglycerides to HDL, by 39 percent in 12 weeks. This is an important finding because high AIP measures are a sign of higher risk for coronary heart disease, and are a definite marker of atherosclerosis. Amla significantly lowered LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, and CRP levels. Additionally, patients in this study also saw slight reductions in fasting blood sugar levels, and – unlike statin drugs – amla did not reduce levels of CoQ10.

Leading-edge scientific research has found that when amla was administered as a preventive and treatment for ischemic stroke (in an animal model), it improved outcomes, reduced infarct size, normalized glutathione levels, and increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key protein for brain plasticity. This makes the potential use of amla for stroke recovery quite encouraging.

In the vast majority of cases, strokes are preventable. Encouraging your patients to eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, and get regular physical activity can make a tremendous difference. So can the addition of amla to a heart-centered daily protocol.

Amla has proved that it is effective for correcting lipid levels in individuals with or without diabetes and without the risks of statin drugs. This makes amla perfectly poised to be an excellent natural medicine for integrative practice. Like many botanicals, it tackles a multitude of health concerns, including its original purpose of recommendation, without causing complications or serious side effects. Look for a clinically studied amla, with a fruit extract in a 25:1 ratio and standardized to contain at least 35 percent polyphenol content. Your patients who struggle with healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels will be grateful.