Fatty Liver: Ayurvedic Treatment and Herbal Remedies

Introduction

Today’s lifestyle is such that it results in various metabolic disorders. One such disease is Fatty Liver, which has become one of the most common chronic liver disorders in various parts of the world. Fatty liver is excessive fat accumulation in the liver – with inflammation or without inflammation. Based on the inflammation and complication, Fatty Liver is of various grades. 

Fatty liver is strongly associated with various lifestyle disorders like Obesity, Diabetes, alcohol consumption, staying awake at night, etc. In India, one out of five people has an excessive accumulation of fats in the liver and one out of ten people is suffering from Fatty Liver disease. Fatty liver is reported in all age groups, even in children. In Ayurveda, Fatty Liver is correlated with Yakritodara (liver disorder) and Meda yoga (body fat disorder). 

According to Ayurveda, Agni plays an important role in the manifestation of Fatty Liver. Malsanchya, Mandagni and Madyapaan are the main culprits behind these disorders. NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) is correlated with Sntarpan Janya Vyadhi and its cause is related to Sthaulya i.e., Obesity. Fatty Liver is also considered Nidana Arthkara Roga in Ayurveda i.e., the disease refers to secondary conditions in various diseases like Sthaulya (Obesity), Parmeha (Diabetes), etc. Various Ayurvedic formulations and herbs give better and more promising results in Fatty Liver than modern medicine does.

Facts about fatty liver

• 5% of population in the US is suffering from AFLD (Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases)
• 1 child out of 10 children in the US is affected by NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases)
• 1 adult out of 3 adults is suffering from NAFLD in the US.
• 8-32% of the population in India suffers from AFLD. 
• Diabetic and obese people are more prone to suffer from Fatty Liver.
• Postmenopausal women have more chances to get fatty liver diseases.
• 25% of cases of NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steato-hepatitis), also known as NAFLD, changes into Cirrhosis of the liver.
• Women are more affected by NASH than men are.

Types of Fatty Liver 

There are 2 types of Fatty Liver:

• Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases (AFLD)
• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD)

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease occurs because of drinking alcohol. It is the earlier stage of alcohol-related liver stages. This problem gets better if you stop drinking, hence this condition is preventable. If steps are not taken on time, this condition results in enlarged liver, Alcoholic Hepatitis, Alcoholic Cirrhosis.

AFLD is of Two Types:

Simple Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: AFLD in which only fats are deposited in the liver and there is no inflammation or complication 

Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: AFLD in which fats are deposited in the liver and there is liver inflammation. If not treated in time, Alcoholic Steatohepatitis results in scarring of the liver which is known as cirrhosis. Alcoholic Steatohepatitis can also lead to liver failure and can ultimately cause death.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

It is an umbrella term used for liver disease that affects people who do not drink or drink just a little alcohol. NAFLD is the most common form of liver disorders:

NAFLD is of three types:

Simple Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: NAFLD in which only fats are deposited in the liver and there is no inflammation or complication 

Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): NAFLD in which fats are deposited in the liver and there is liver inflammation. 

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP): It is a rare but serious complication that may be present in few cases of pregnancy, mainly in the third trimester. It risks the health of both mother and the child. In some cases, the condition is relieved just a few weeks after the delivery.  

Stages of Fatty Liver

• Simple fatty liver: Excess fat is present in the liver with no inflammation
• Steatohepatitis: Excess fat is present in the liver with liver inflammation
• Fibrosis: Excess fat, inflammation, and a little scarring of the liver
• Cirrhosis: Widespread scarring of the liver

Causes of Fatty Liver

Modern point of view

• Obesity
• Insulin resistance
• High lipid profile
• Intake of certain medications like amiodarone, diltiazem, steroids, methotrexate, etc.
• Overnutrition
• Alcohol consumption
• Imbalance gut bacteria
• Frequent intake of refined carbs

Ayurvedic point of view

• Madya Paan (consumption of alcohol)
• Ati Santarpan (excessive intake of food)
• Ati Sevanam of Ushan Teekshan Aahar (intake of more spicy and penetrative food)
• Guru Bhojanam (intake of heavy food)
• Abhishyandi Bhojanam (intake of foods with obstructive pathology)
• Ratri Jagaran (staying awake at night)
• Vishmashana (irregular eating habits)
• Navanapanna (use of newly harvested grains)
• Dwivaswapan (sleeping during the day)
• Kshat (any kind of injury)
• Vega Dharana (suppression of urges)

Symptoms of Fatty Liver

Modern point of view

• General weakness in the body
• Swelling in abdomen 
• Swelling in legs
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Bruising
• Feeling of fullness or heaviness in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Swelling in the veins of esophagus

Ayurvedic point of view

• Sakthi Shool (pain in waist or flanks)
• Asthi Shool (pain in joints)
• Tikataasyata (bitter taste in mouth)
• Mala Vaivarnya (discoloration of stool)
• Bheda (splitting pain)
• Kshuda (excessive intake of food)
• Galani (general weakness)
• Anga Shitilta (flabbiness in the body)
• Udarvriddhi (enlargement of the abdomen)
• Vishtambh (distension of abdomen)
• Bahu Udgaara (excessive belching)
• Agnimandya (low digestive fire)
• Shotha (edema)
• Pit Netrata (yellow eyes)
• Kamala (Jaundice)
• Toda (prinking pain)

Ayurvedic treatment of Fatty Liver

• Nidana Parivarjan (causative factors should be avoided)
• Deepan (carminatives)
• Paachan (digestive)
• Pitta Rechak (cholagogues)
• Vamana (emetic therapy)
• Mridu (mild) Virechana (purgative therapy)

Herbs:

Following herbs should be recommended in case of fatty liver:

• Katuki (Picrorhiza kurrooa)
• Aaragwadha (Cassia fistula)
• Parpataka (Fumaria parviflora)
• Nili (Indigofera tinctoria)
• Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia)
• Sharpunkha (Tephrosia purpurea)
• Nimba (Azadirachta indica)
• Patola (Trichosanthes dioica)
• Bhumi amalaki (Phyllanthus niruri)
• Rohitak (Tecoma undulata)
• Draksha (Vitis vinifera)
• Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata)
• Daruharidra (Berberis aristata)
• Chirayata (Swertia chirata)
• Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)

Dos and Don’ts

• Take Laghu Ahara (light diet)
• Increase intake of your water and take at least 4 liters of water every day
• Include Shastika Shali (red rice), Ikshu Rasa (sugarcane juice), Narikela Jala (coconut water), Alabu (bottle gourd) in your daily diet
• Take Madhur (sweet), Tikat (bitter) food.
• Avoid Ushana, Tailakat, Teekshan Bhojan (spicy fried food)
• Avoid aerated drinks
• Avoid alcohol consumption 
• Stop intake of complex carbohydrates
• Include red lentils (Masur Dal), green gram (Mung Daal), meat, and soup of animals of drylands (Jangala Pashu Mans Rasa).
• Avoid Aatap and Vahni Sevan (avoid exposure to sunlight and fire)
• Avoid Ati Rati (excessive indulgence in sexual activity)
• Avoid Adhwagamana (excessive walking)

Conclusion

Modern medicine has very little to offer for the treatment of fatty liver. On the other hand, various Ayurvedic classical formulations and single herbs used along with Pathya and Apathya give promising results in the treatment of fatty liver. One such formulation is Livo Savior by Yukti herbs, which gives promising results in the fatty liver if taken in the prescribed manner.

You may order Livo Savior from the website www.yuktiherbs.com. You may also call or WhatsApp at +91 828-386-5637 or +91 752-786-9388. You may email at yuktiherbs@gmail.com.