Liver Cirrhosis and Ayurvedic Treatment

Liver cirrhosis is considered as the last stage, where scarring of liver has damaged the liver. It is caused by many types of liver diseases and conditions such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism.

Whenever human injured his liver due to any reason like excessive alcohol consumption, liver cells try to repair themselves in this process scar tissues form. As this process of cirrhosis progress more and more scare tissues form. Advance form of liver cirrhosis if life threating. In Ayurveda it is included under UDARA ROGA.

In charaksamhinta chapter 13 shloka 9 acharyacharak mentioned that when jatharagni (Digestive power) gets weak and leads to vitiation of tridoshas, mala and mutra which leads to formation of many type of diseases. Due to mandagni when food is not digested properly then vitiated doshas start accumulating in Udara(Abdomen). These vitiated doshas further vitiate prana and apanavayu and block upper and lower channels then these vitiated doshas cause ADHMANA and leads to formation of udararoga. Under the classification of udararoga, liver cirrhosis is mentioned under Jalodhra.

Symtoms Of Liver Cirrhosis :-

Symptoms are mentioned like loss of appetite, thirst, passing of fluid from the anal region, Pain(shool), Asthma (swaas), Cough (Kaas), weakness (daurbalya), fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites), yellow discoloration of skin and eye, loss of libido, confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech

Risk factor In Liver Cirrhosis :

1. Drinking of excessive alcohol is a risk factor.

2. Obesity increases risk factors like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis which may lead to Cirrhosis

3. Having infected with hepatitis may lead to liver cirrhosis..

Complications of Liver Cirrhosis Can include:

Portal hypertension; Due to cirrhosis the normal flow of blood through the liver slows which increase the pressure in the vein that brings blood to the liver from the intestines and spleen.

Portal hypertension cause fluid to accumulate in the legs and in abdomen (as ascites) leads to swelling in legs and abdomen. These can be caused due to inability of liver cells to form certain blood proteins like albumin.

Splenomegaly which is swelling of spleen can also be occur due to portal hypertension. Decreased WBC and Platelets in your blood can be the first sign of cirrhosis.

Portal hypertension can lead to esophageal varicesi.e enlarged veins in the esophagus or gastric varices. It is caused as portal hypertension redirect the blood to the smaller veins. Which cause extra pressure and these veins can burst causing serious bleeding.

Cirrhosis makes it difficult to fight infections. Occurrence of ascites can lead to bacterial peritonitis which is a very serious infection.

Cirrhosis leads to malnutrition and makes it difficult to body to process nutrients, leading to weakness and weight loss.

Hepatic encephalopathy: a liver damaged by the cirrhosis is unable to clear toxins from the blood which healthy liver do. So these toxins build up in the brain which leads to mental confusion and difficulty in concentration. This further leads to coma.

Jaundice: it occurs when diseased liver is unable to clear enough bilirubin, a blood waste product from human blood.

Bones related issues like weakness of bones and fractures

Prevention In Liver Cirrhosis :

1. If you have any liver disease do not take alcohol.

2. Take plant based diet full of fruits and vegetables. Choose whole grains and lean sources of protein. Stop intake of fried, fatty and junk food.

3. Keep your body fit and maintain a healthy weight. Excess of body weight or fat can damage the liver.

4. Reduce risk of hepatitis. Needles sharing and unprotected sex can increase your risk of hepatitis B and C

Treatment Of Liver Cirrhosis in Ayurveda

As all udarroga are tridoshaj in nature so in them tridoshashamakchikitsha should be done. Patient should administered dipniyaaushad as in all udararogas there is involvement of mandaagni. Food should be light to digest. If there is involvement of ascites patient should be administered nityavirechanam, and there should treatment to destroy jaladosha. Use of gomutra is very effective with other tikshankshara formation and with deepniya and kaphanashakdravyas like punarnava.use of herbs like bhumiamla,kalmegh, sarpunkha, kutki. Preparation like jigrofit, kabajgul, kumariAsav are very effective product from Dr yogi Pharma..