Red yeast rice has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine since the Tang Dynasty. It has recently gained popularity as a cholesterol lowering natural remedy.
Other Names
This herb is also called hong qu mi, red kojic rice, red fermented rice, red koji rice, anka, zhi tai, and ang-kak.
Process
This herb is made by soaking raw rice in water and then exposing it to the yeast strain Monascus purpureus. The yeast is allowed to grow on the rice for 3 to 6 days. Then the rice is sold dry or cooked and made into a paste.
Origins
This process originates in China.
Part Used
The rice grain is used whole, ground into a powder or cooked and made into a paste.
Medicinal Uses
This herbal remedy has the same effect as a statin drug. It works to lower cholesterol because it contains a chemical that blocks the enzyme that causes the liver to produce LDL.
This remedy should not be used if you are at risk of stroke or heart attack. It should not be taken with any other blood pressure lowering medication.
Because it works like a statin drug, like statins, it can cause some liver damage with long term use. This product is not regulated so the amount of active ingredient you get in each dose is unknown.
If you found this information useful, check out my complete listing of herbs at my Herb Index. You can find a listing of ailments and their natural treatments on my Free Home Remedies page.
