Fatty liver is emerging as one of the crucial causes of liver damage in India. It is important to find the best treatment so that one knows the options in hand if the situation arrives.
Here, we are discussing a much recommended and accepted approach to this disease. It works on a completely different course from conventional medicine and promises permanent results without any side effects.
Curious to know more? Keep reading.
What Is Fatty Liver Disease?
Hepatic steatosis or fatty liver is a health problem related to an excess of fat deposition in the liver. The liver plays an important role in breaking and absorption of nutrients from everything you eat and drink. Along with this, it also filters harmful and unwanted substances that then move out of the body through our urinary system and intestines.
While small amounts of fat is not a problem, too much fat can easily damage the liver or create big wounds in it. These wounds may end up in liver failure. Therefore, it is important to get it diagnosed and treated without any delays.
Types of Fatty Liver Disease
- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NASH): As the name suggests, the fat deposition, in this case, takes place through things other than alcohol. It results in inflammation of liver cells and several other serious problems like cirrhosis and fibrosis. If left untreated for long, it may also develop into liver cancer. There is no point in taking it lightly or delaying visits to a doctor.
- Alcohol-Related Fatty Liver Disease(ALD): Too much consumption of alcohol leads to excess fat deposition in the liver. It is possible to prevent alcoholic fatty liver disease, the patient needs to limit or outrightly stop drinking. If the person keeps drinking after the onset of ALD, it may result in several serious problems like enlarged liver, alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, internal bleeding, enlarged spleen, liver failure, etc.
Causes of Fatty Liver
Doctors are still looking for answers as to why fat accumulates in the liver? Years of studies and observations have allowed a limited understanding of the fatty liver disease. They underline a few basic causes that are closely linked to the development of the fatty liver disease:
- Obesity or overweight
- High levels of fats in the blood
- High blood sugar indicating type 2 diabetes
- Insulin resistance stops cells from absorbing sugar.
- These are a few problems that promote the deposition of fats in the liver. When the amount of fat reaches beyond the natural limit, it gets toxic for liver cells and starts a series of negative reactions.
Symptoms of Fatty Liver
There are hardly any signs of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, a person suffering from this disease may suffer from:
- Discomfort or pain in the upper side of the right abdomen
- Fatigue
- Weakness
The symptoms get worse as the disease progresses. In an advanced stage, the patient experiences:
- Red palms
- Abdominal swelling
- Enlarged blood vessels under skin’s surface
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
- Enlargement of spleen
Common symptoms for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver patients include:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss or gain
- Nose bleeds
- Itchy skin
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling in the legs
- Confusion
- Breast enlargement in men
- Web-like patterns of blood vessels under the skin
- Abdominal swelling
Fatty Liver Disease in Ayurveda
Ayurveda calls fatty liver disease Yakrit Roga (a liver-related disorder) and Medoroga (a disorder related to body fat).
Both these aspects play a crucial role in the development of Yakrit Roga. Ayurveda also states that this problem is more common in men as compared to a woman.
Ayurveda also states that excessive intake of dairy and milk products, spicy food items, and daytime sleeping are the major causes of liver-related disorders.
How Ayurveda Treats Fatty Liver Disease?
Ayurveda has treated hundreds and thousands of fatty liver patients. The Ayurvedic treatment of fatty liver disease includes herbal medicines, Panchakarma therapies, lifestyle changes, diet changes, and regular exercise.
The primary focus is on the restoration of the normal working of the liver. The herbal medications slowly recover the wounds in the liver and its disorders.
Panchakarma therapies like Vaman and Virechana are used to detoxify the body systems and reduce the fat deposit in the liver.
The frequency and nature of these medicines and therapies depend on the stage of the disease. But yes, it is possible to treat fatty liver disease with Ayurveda.
Diet & Lifestyle for Fatty Liver Patients
Fatty liver patients need to be extremely careful about their diet. Here are a few tips:
- They must stay away from spicy food.
- Alcohol consumption is a big no-no.
- Increase the consumption of non-acidic cooling fruits like pears, melons, mangoes, berries, and pomegranates.
- Aloe vera juice is said to be very beneficial but must be taken under a doctor’s supervision.
- Long pepper, Ginger, Makoy, Kasni, and Punarnava are considered quite useful in improving liver disorders.
- Regular mild exercises help in the metabolization of fats.
- If you are overweight then you must work on losing weight.
Preventions
- Keep your alcohol consumption under control.
- Try to maintain a healthy weight.
- Keep your diet rich in nutrients that have low fats, trans fats, and refined carbohydrates.
- Try to exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes every day.
- If you are diabetic, work with your doctor to control your cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood sugar levels.
