/assets/production/practices/99eef256a2570f1cd584fb067e8cd6973ebaa8d1/images/2843250.jpg)
High Cholesterol services offered in Portland, OR
A high cholesterol reading is not the whole story - and statins are not the only answer.
Naturopathic physicians Rebecca Sand ND and Elizabeth Emrick ND at Open Wellness
PDX take a comprehensive approach to lipid health, evaluating the full metabolic
context behind elevated cholesterol and working to address root causes rather than
simply managing numbers. If you have been told your cholesterol is high and want to
understand what is actually driving it and what your real options are, we can help. Call
the Portland office, request a telehealth visit, or book online.
High Cholesterol Q&A
What does high cholesterol actually mean?
Standard cholesterol testing provides a limited picture of cardiovascular risk. Elevated LDL, for example, means something very different depending on particle size, inflammation levels, insulin resistance status, and other metabolic factors. At Open Wellness PDX, Dr. Sand and Dr. Emrick use expanded lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, fasting insulin, and other advanced labs to assess cardiovascular risk more accurately and identify the underlying drivers.
High cholesterol can result from familial hypercholesterolemia, thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, liver dysfunction, dietary patterns, chronic inflammation, and nutrient depletions. Understanding which of these is driving an individual's numbers is the starting point for meaningful treatment.
How does naturopathic medicine treat high cholesterol?
Treatment is individualized based on lipid patterns, metabolic context, and underlying drivers. Options may include therapeutic nutrition planning, evidence-based botanicals and nutrients including berberine, red yeast rice when appropriate, plant sterols, omega 3 fatty acids, green tea extract, and coenzyme Q10; amino acid support; nutrient optimization; movement prescription; blood sugar and hormone balancing; gut health treatment; and pharmaceutical support when clinically indicated.
To get started, call 503-770-0670, request a telehealth visit, or book online.