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Factors Responsible For Liver Failure How Does Ayurveda Deals With It

Abstract

Problems like liver failure has immerse to a great height nowadays. The main reason if it is modernization. People at a very young age of their life start drinking alcohol it could be due to peer pressure or due to any other reason. But this is not the only one factor contributing to liver failure there are so many. Such as in developing countries infections like hepatitis, viruses are the main reason of chronic liver disease & hepatobillary (liver + gall bladder) carcinoma that ultimately leads to hepatic failure.

Ayurveda is the ancient most science that focuses on examining the disease first then going toward the management part. This is beautifully explained in the below mentioned verse.

It states that a physician should try to diagnose the disease first then proceed towards the application of medicine. He should always need to have a detailed knowledge of the ailment.

In this article let put some rays on the factors responsible for liver failure & how ayurveda deals with it does.

Cirrhosis of the Liver

Introduction

Firstly let’s discuss about the liver: Liver- It is an organ situated at the right hypochondrium quadrant of abdomen. It plays major role in maintaining metabolism of the body & in detoxifying the blood. It weighs about 1-1.8 kg in humans.

According to ayurveda we call it “Yakrit” (liver) the main place of ‘Agni’ (digestive fire). It releases various useful enzymes and hormones in the circulation.

How does it originate in humans?

This verse explains that – yakrit (liver) & paliha (pancreas) develops from the blood during the embryonic stage of life.

This yakrit (liver) & paliha (pancreas) are the main seat of Raktavah Srotas (blood containing channels) in the body.

Functions Of Liver

It produce albumin (a protein found in blood serum)
Helps in synthesis of angiotensinogen (hormone) important for raising the blood pressure.
Gall bladder a small pouch that’s present below the liver, produces Bile (contain cholesterol & bile acids) that helps in breakdown of fat.

Definition Of Liver Failure

It means inability of the liver to perform its functions properly there is formation of necrosis (death) in hepatocytes (liver cells).

This is of two types

Acute liver failure: There is rapid development of hepatic failure in this due to any underlying pathology or hepatotoxic drugs (e.g. NSAIDS non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, anti depressants)
Chronic liver failure: When a person suffering from liver disease from a longer duration of time such as due to cirrhosis, cholestatic jaundice.
In regards to our classical text: In rakatavah srotas dushti, vitiation of pitta dosha is usually seen that leads to rakat (blood) toxification.

Causes

As per ayurveda the main reason of raktavah srotas dushti are as follows:

Consume vidhai anna (acidity causing food)
Over intake of snigdh (soft), ushan (hot), drav (liquid) diet.
Excessive exposure to sunlight and fire.

Other causes

Halimak vyadhi (chronic obstructive jaundice) – in this there is formation of greenish yellow discoloration in the skin.
Kumbh kamla (chronic jaundice with edema) – presence of edema along with the dark yellow coloured urine & stool.
Panaki (chronic jaundice complicated with diarrhea).

In modern science

Acute viral hepatitis is the most common cause worldwide.
Drug toxicity example paracetamol toxicity.
Mushroom (Amanita phalloides) poisoning during pregnancy.
Excessive consumption of alcohol.
Iron and copper overload.
Due to underlying autoimmune diseases.
Certain carcinoma.
Over intake of fat rich diet leads to fatty liver disease.
Cholecystitis (inflammation of gall bladder).
Cholelithiasis (gall stones).
Non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Herditary
Obstructive jaundice.

Clinical Features: It means the complaints, patient present in front of physician. They are as follows:-

General body weakness.
Nausea & vomiting.
Clubbing of fingers (abnormal shape of nail bed)
Bruising (bluish discoloration of skin) over the body.
Jaundice (presence of yellow coloration of skin & sclera of eye).
Dilated abdominal veins.
Edema (fluid accumulation)
Profuse sweating.
Low blood pressure.
Ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity).
Fatigue.
Bodyache
Anorexia (loss of hunger)
Drowsiness (lethargic)
Indigestion
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)

DIAGNOSIS

It means how we can identify the disease. There are various methods:

Physical examination of the patient: by analyzing the physical signs seen in patient body.
History taking: A proper history taking play a role of asset in diagnosing the disease.
Laboratory findings: it includes:
1. Complete blood count.
2. Liver function test – It includes serum bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT etc.
3. Toxicology screening of urine.
4. Prothrombin time becomes prolonged as liver plays a major role in the synthesis of coagulation factors that got hampered in this.
5. Percutaneous Liver biopsy
Past history: Generally there is presence of family history.

According to ayurveda we diagnose the disease

Trividh pariksha (Set of 3 examination)

Darshan (diagnosis is made by visual examination of the symptoms)
Sparshan (physician use tactile examination to evaluate whether skin is cold/hot)
Prashan (physician ask direct question form the patient)

Asthavidh pariksha (Set of 8 examination procedure)

Nadi pariksha – by palpating the pulse rate of the patient.
Mutra pariksha – by examining the urine of the patient.
Mal pariksha – by stool examination.
Jivha pariksha – by examining the tongue whether coated or not.
Shabad pariksha – by observing the natural sounds within the body like intestinal sound (peristalsis)
Sparsh pariksha – by observing the patient skin texture whether it is cool, wet or dry.in psoriasis it is usually dry, rough in texture.
Drik pariksha – when physician inspect patient symptoms through his/her eyes. In liver disease patient yellowish discoloration of skin (jaundice) is the prime finding.
Akriti pariksha – observing the patient body posture whether lean or obese.

Management

Condition like liver failure is usually a non recoverable ailment. If we diagnose it in its early phase then the recovery rate is good. But once it reaches the chronic phase then only management is the final solution we cannot completely cure this.
In modern science they recommend you to go for a liver transplant procedure, every individual cannot afford this as it an expensive procedure & you need to find the right donor for this.

But with ayurveda we can manage its growth with certain herbal drugs such as Bhumiamlaki, kalmegh, daru haridra. Etc.

Line of treatment according to ayurveda: as it is pita elevated “tridoshaj vyadhi”

A. Sanshodhan Chikitsa (Detoxification procedure) –

Virechan (Purgation) is the best technique to release out the pita dosha from the body by anal route.
Raktamokshan (Bloodletting) It is considered as “ardh chikitsa” (As a whole treatment) by acharya shushruta because it helps in purifying the blood by removing harmful toxins from it.

B. SAMSHMAN CHIKITSA (By medication) – in this we control the disease by subsiding dosha with in the body itself

Drink gomutra(Cowurine) – 15 to 20 ml early in the morning
Triphala sawaras early in the morning.
Cowmilk with cowurine (15 to 20 ml) drink it empty stomach after waking up.

Planet Ayurveda offers various formulations that aid in managing the further advancement of this:

Liver Care Pack

Product Description

1. Liver Detox Formula

Ingredients: Katuki (Picrorrhiza kurrao), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), Kasni (Cichorium intybus) etc.
Above mentioned herbs are natural supplement works as hepatoprotective agents (Good for liver), help in lowering the blood pressure, so prove as best medication in liver disease.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily after meals.

2. Indian Echinacea

Ingredients: kalmegha/bhunimab (Andrographis paniculata)
It is mentioned as the best herb to enhance the liver function in the body. It has properties like pita sarak (releases pita dosha from the body), krimighan (kill worms)
Help in maintaining the immune system and supporting overall health it will provide strength to the patient body in hepatic failure.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily after meals.

3. Yakritplihantak Churna

Ingredients: Is a herbal powder formulation containing herbs like Phyllanthus niruri, Eclipta Alba, Picorrhiza kurro, Andrographis panniculata etc.
All these herbs works as natural analgesics (pain killer), appetizer (enhance hunger) & hypotensive (lower blood pressure) thus help in managing further growth of hepatic failure.
Dosage: You can boil the powder 1 teaspoonful in 400 ml water, keep it boiling until it remains 50 ml. Strain it and drink the water. Leave the residue. Do it twice daily. Make fresh every time.

4. Phyllanthus Niruri

Ingredient: Bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri)
It posses sheeta virya (cold potency) best suited for lowering the vitiated pitta dosha, also is a hepatoprotective & hypotensive herb, thus help in maintenance of Liver function so effective in liver failure.
DOSAGE: 2 capsules twice daily after meals.

In our ancient text it is also mentioned that:

If a physician have a good knowledge of curable and non curable disease after that when he precede the treatment in time, he will surely succeeds. But if he try to treat incurable disease even after knowing that it is a non treatable ailment, he will certainly suffers from the loss of arth (wealth), vidya (his/her study), yash (reputation) in the society.
The main conclusion of above verse is- it is very important for a doctor to tell his patient that your disease is a non curable one, we cannot treat it completely but we can stop its advancement with herbal medication.

Conclusion

Now we can conclude that liver failure is a condition where disease progress to the advanced stage the only treatment modality for it is liver transplant as per modern science but with ayurveda we can manage its progression by using proper herbal medicine, dietary changes & lifestyle changes.

Planet ayurveda the leading herbal manufacturing unit offers you best herbs and diet charts made under the supervision of ayurveda experts. Products are 100% organic & preservative free. So there is no need to worry when we have planet ayurveda with us. You can contact us through our website www.planetayurveda.com

How Ayurveda Treat Liver cirrhosis with Diet & Herbal Remedies

Overview

Liver cirrhosis can be compared with Kumbhkamala in Ayurveda. Mostly alcohol is responsible for it. Liver has to perform multiple functions like production of biles to absorb vitamins & fats, regulation of proteins and flushing out the toxins & pathogens.

Although it is a disease which can’t be reversed, but if treated earlier it saves you from further troubles. Ayurveda has natural and herbals ways to treat this disease in a humble way.

The liver is seen as your body’s engine and processing plant, which is responsible for multi-tasking job of generation, digestion, metabolism of numerous compounds, filtration of blood and distribution of vital nutrients to different cells and organs.To keep the plasma tissue (rasa dhatu) clean, the liver catches the bad toxins (Ama), which have accumulated in the liver, and throws them out.

According to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda the liver is an organ that is as fresh as a daisy. It keeps working as long as we live and has the same importance as the heart.
Currently, due to the rising amount in the consumption of all alcoholic drinks over the globe, we are at a risk of hurting our liver, whereas it becomes a duty of all humans to safeguard it from any such mishaps.
When liver gets disturbed, many infections are lurking in our environment to strike, if the liver is strong it keeps all infections at bay, but when it is hurt and gets weak, your body can be ambushed by any infection, then better be ready to face the music, which can also prove to be fatal if ignored.

Some of the most common liver diseases are:

1.Alcohol-related liver disease:

Cirrhosis or scarring of the liver caused by excessive consumption of alcohol or alcoholic beverages.

2.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease:

Liver damage can happen from fat build-up caused by obesity, high blood sugar level, insulin resistance or high levels of fats in the blood.

3.Hepatitis:

Infection can be caused by hepatitis A, B, C or D virus.

4. Primary biliary cirrhosis:

Mostly it is a result of autoimmune disease.

5.Haemochromatosis:

It can be a genetic condition in which an iron overload can cause liver cirrhosis.

Every individual has different reasons to cause liver cirrhosis, but by changing your diet plans and life style you can restore the health of the liver.

Natural Treatment for Liver cirrhosis

Arogyavardhini Vati

Ayurveda has an effective and most common remedy called Arogyavardhini, which heals the scarred liver. In fact it is a compound of katuki and calx that protects the patients from chronic deteriorating conditions like Jaundice happening.
Arogyavardhini Vati functions by reviving the liver muscles and is extremely beneficial in cirrhosis of the liver, jaundice and in case of poor liver functioning. This remedy comes in the form of powder (churna) and is also available in tablets.

Katuki

Katuki is a word of Sanskrit meaning bitter and another herbal remedy which is very effective and helpful. It is just available in powder form. It is a fragile herb that can be found growing in the pristine environment of the lower Himalayas. Its demand is gaining more because it possesses large scale therapeutic benefits.
It triggers the liver to produce more bile and soothes it from the congestion and pain. It also facilitates the tissues for working normally. It rejuvenates the liver after purifying the blood. It is a soft laxative and such a remedy excretes out the aggravated Pitta (excess bile) from the liver and makes it function in normal conditions. It also stimulates the fat metabolism and lowers bad cholesterol level. Mix 1 teaspoon of katuki powder with an equal amount of honey and have it thrice a day.

Bhringaraja

Bhringaraja is another herbal remedy in Ayurveda that can help the people who have infantile liver cirrhosis. Traditionally, Bhringaraj was used to treat diseases like Jaundice and fatty liver. Its leaf juice or plant extract may be given to patients of injured liver either alone or along with other products such as honey, pepper, or punarnava.
Your liver works in an arduous way to eradicate toxins from your body and Bhringaraj has the capacity to protect this vital organ from damage by harmful chemicals. Its ingredients like demethyl-wedelolactone and wedelolactone are thought to account for these beneficial effects as they show not only anti-hepatotoxic activity but are also able to help regenerate liver cells. Take 1 teaspoon of Bhringaraja, thrice a day. I know it tastes bitter, but you can add some honey to sweeten the taste.

Papaya

4. Papaya seeds are beneficial in cirrhosis, especially if liver cirrhosis happen due to alcohol. Papaya seeds can either be taken in raw form or can be put in a grinder to take out their juice. For the best way to have it is, mix 1 tablespoon of this juice with 10 drops of fresh lime juice, be regular and try it for a month, be ready for pleasant surprises.

Prevention & Tips

If liver cirrhosis has gone more complicated and has become Jaundice, then you need the juice of Raddish leaves, mixed with water. This process will enhance the appetite and regulates the movement of bowels, thus helps in digestion. This experiment proved with lots of patients saying that they do get positive results within 8 to 10 days.
If Jaundice has become severe, enhance the amount by taking fresh buttermilk. Persist on having healthy meals regularly. Better avoid the food which is rich in proteins and sugar. If you have a high quality of protein, which is available in goat milk, almonds and cottage cheese, then it can be given to the patients with cirrhosis. Avoid having pulses and legumes.

Other Remedies

There are many more remedies in Ayurveda that can restore liver like Vasaka, Triphala and kakamachi. All are herbal formulations.

Note

All these herbal remedies are tried in liver conditions and have a high success rate. Just make sure that all these herbs are grown in an organic manner to reap in the maximum benefits. It will be a lot more better that you consult with a highly qualifies and renowned Ayurvedic doctor before proceeding as he/she can guide in an adorable way.