CAN AYURVEDA HELP LIVER CIRRHOSIS?

QMy mother was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver two years ago. She is under treatment but her condition has not improved greatly. Now the doctor is suggesting she undergo a liver transplant. She is 69 years old. Can Ayurveda help her?

AIn cases of cirrhosis of the liver, if diagnosed in time, and the cause is treated, further damage can be limited; rarely, it can be reversed. The general causes of liver cirrhosis include viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic alcohol abuse, Wilson’s disease – a rare genetic disorder that causes copper poisoning in the body – cystic fibrosis, iron build-up in the body, poorly formed bile ducts, autoimmune hepatitis, hardening and scarring of the bile ducts and certain medications.

Complications of liver cirrhosis include enlargement of the spleen, high blood pressure in the veins that supply blood to the liver, swelling in the legs and abdomen, gastric bleeding, infections, ascites (accumulation of protein-containing fluid within the abdomen), malnutrition, hepatic encephalopathy, jaundice, bone disease and liver failure.

In Ayurveda, the terminology of scarring or fibrosis or cirrhosis is a primary or secondary Vata imbalance.

The treatment approach varies according to the cause, as well. For instance, in the case of liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis, there is a two, sometimes three-stage treatment therapy that includes a series of oral medications.

Ayurveda offers specific protocol and has several medicines in its pharmacopoeia for liver cirrhosis.

However, the prognosis of a case of liver cirrhosis is beyond the scope of this column; therefore, I suggest meeting an experienced Ayurveda doctor in person for a detailed investigation. He/she will be able to prescribe a suitable treatment plan. Don’t forget to carry all reports while meeting him/her.