Can Ayurveda Cure Fatty Liver Diseases?

Fatty liver disease, as the name implies, is a build-up of fat in the liver that can damage the organ and lead to serious complications like cirrhosis and multiple systemic disorders, if not treated on time. Excessive alcohol consumption was known as the major cause of fatty liver disease. But, you will be surprised to know that Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now emerging as an important cause of liver disease in India. Its prevalence in India is about 9% to 32% of the population with a higher prevalence in those with obesity, diabetes or prediabetes conditions. Excessive intake of tea, coffee, oily, fatty, spicy and packaged foods, sedentary lifestyle, certain prescription medicines & steroids, increased cholesterol levels, indigestion and weak agni (digestive fire) are some of the other primary causes of fatty liver disease. To treat it effectively, it is important to address the disease from its root cause, in the initial stages. Unlike other treatment procedures that jump straight to symptom management, Ayurveda addresses the root-cause of fatty liver disease.

Fatty Liver Cure in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, fatty liver disease is defined as Yakrit Roga (liver disorder) and to some extent as Medaroga (body fat disorder) because both aspects are present in this disease. Ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver begins by detoxifying the body so that medicines can work better towards treating the actual root-cause of the disease. In the case of Alcoholic fatty liver disease, Ayurveda treatment focuses on reducing the toxic effect of alcohol, deep cleansing toxins from the liver tissues and finally strengthening and rejuvenating the liver. In patients affected with Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the condition is created by the presence of ama (toxins) deposit in the stomach and liver by undigested food. Hence, the Ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver works specifically to reinvigorate agni (digestive fire), which strengthens the digestive power as well as reduces ama presence in the body. Atibhojana (excessive food) and Divaswapan (sleeping during the day) are also one of the primary causes of this type of fatty liver. Therefore, at Jiva, besides suggesting a personalised Ayurvedic remedy for fatty liver, a specific diet and lifestyle plans are also provided to complement the action of the medicine.

When to See a Doctor

All you need to do is taking timely treatment and prevention for fatty liver disease. You should immediately consult an Ayurvedic doctor if you observe these signs and symptoms –

1. Loss of appetite or weight loss
2. Nausea, weakness & fatigue
3. Tension or mental confusion
4. Weak digestion
5. Pain in the upper abdomen
6. Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes

The liver has an amazing ability to repair and regenerate itself. Hence, the good news is that any damage that has been caused to the liver, if detected and treated on time, can be repaired and healed.

Early Diagnosis of Fatty Liver Disease

In most cases, the fatty liver disease does not show any symptoms and it goes undiagnosed even with an ultrasound or liver function test. In Ayurveda, the liver problem gets diagnosed at an early stage by identifying the ama (toxins) deposit in the liver and other body parts which may cause further complications in the liver if not treated on time. You may also take an Ayurvedic Liver Health Evaluation Test online prepared by our team of expert Ayurvedic doctors. This self-evaluation test of 9 questions will assess the state of your liver and tell you at what stage of ama development you are! Ama indicates the level of toxin deposit in the liver and other body parts.

During the initial stages of ama deposit in the liver, you can take cleansing or detoxifying Ayurvedic therapies to restore the functioning of your liver organ under the supervision of an Ayurvedic doctor.

Ayurvedic Tips to Prevent Fatty Liver Disease

1. Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol & caffeine.
2. Have timely meals & sleep. Avoid sleeping in the daytime.
3. Take an alkaline diet & consume fresh, healthy & light foods.
4. Maintain a healthy weight & happy emotions.
5. Be physically active & regularly exercise for at least 45 minutes.
6. Drink herbal juices like amla, aloe vera and giloy.

Avoid over usage of drugs and self-medication.