Ayurvedic Treatment in Kerala for Fatty Liver
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UNDERSTANDING FATTY LIVER
Liver is a wonderful organ - it will repair, regenerate and function even when there is some damage. But if you continue to overburden it, it may break down. Yet, there are chances that you remain totally asymptomatic. Usually diagnosed as a part of routine scans and blood tests, fatty liver may progress to life threatening conditions, if left untreated. A course of ayurvedic treatment in Kerala for fatty liver helps restore the metabolic activity of the liver effectively without causing any further damage.
What is fatty liver?
When there is too much fat in the liver, it is called fatty liver. Some amount of fat in your liver is healthy and normal but when fat begins to collect in the liver due to disturbances in metabolism (metabolism refers to the chemical processes that happen in your body) and reaches excessive proportions, it grows into a health problem. When more than 5 to 15 percent of the liver weight is from fat, it is diagnosed as fatty liver. Fatty liver is usually classified into two types - alcoholic fatty liver and non alcoholic fatty liver. Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala is effective in both types of fatty liver.
What is alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD)?
Heavy alcohol use disturbs metabolism and causes a buildup of fat inside liver cells and it is called, alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). This condition is potentially dangerous. Ayurvedic treatment for alcoholic fatty liver disease involves a series of steps - complete alcohol withdrawal, treating the pathological changes caused in the body, detoxification and correction of metabolism. Initial stages of alcoholic fatty liver disease may be completely reversed with proper ayurvedic treatment and thus prevent the need for liver transplantation and progression to end stage liver disease.
What is non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?
When fatty liver develops in persons who do not use alcohol in excess, it is called non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This is usually seen in those with a cluster of metabolic disorders like high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity, because in such persons, metabolism is highly impaired. Malnutrition / rapid weight loss, hepatitis, exposure to certain toxins, pregnancy and use of certain drugs are some other factors that may cause metabolic disturbances and lead to fatty liver.
What are the two different types of non alcoholic fatty liver disease?
NAFLD ranges from simple fatty liver to a more serious condition called steatohepatitis (NASH or Non Alcoholic Steato Hepatitis).
Steatohepatitis (NASH): When fat deposits cause inflammation and damage to liver cells, it is called steato hepatitis . This type is serious and can progress into life threatening problems, if not treated in time. Ayurvedic treatment for NASH involves panchakarma therapies and internal medicines focusing on arresting the inflammatory process and damage so that further progression and complications can be prevented to a large extent.
Simple fatty liver: In this condition, there is excess fat in the liver, but no inflammation or cell damage nor any problems in liver function. Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala in this case focuses on preventing worsening and reversal of the condition completely.
What causes fatty liver?
Lifestyle has got a lot to do with fatty liver. Wrong dietary habits, alcoholism and sedentary lifestyle over many years, as well as diseases like obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes etc. cause an aggravation of kapha dosha in the body. When kapha dosha is thus aggravated, it disturbs another important dosha - the pitta dosha - and subsequently, its most important function ie. metabolism. In a normal healthy body, fat is metabolised by the liver but when kapha is aggravated, liver fails to break down fat and fat metabolism gets impaired. It gets accumulated in the liver leading to what we call fatty liver. The approach adopted by ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver is to restore the balance of doshas, thus enabling the liver to carry out its functions properly and thereby prevent the progression of the disease into complications like cirrhosis, ascites, liver cancer etc.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR FATTY LIVER
What is the ayurvedic treatment for simple fatty liver?
If fatty liver is not treated in time it could progress to complications that are fatal in nature.
Of all the different kinds of fatty liver, simple fatty liver is the one that responds best to treatment, because with proper ayurvedic treatment in Kerala, this condition could even be completely reversed and complications can be prevented. However, when ignored, it is linked to an increased risk of cardiac disease, diabetes and kidney disease and may also progress to NASH with greater risks of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma etc. A structured weight loss program with proper diet and lifestyle changes, along with minimum medicines and therapies at an ayurvedic center in Kerala might reverse the condition completely.
What is the ayurvedic treatment for steatohepatitis (NASH)?
If the inflammatory kind of fatty liver - steatohepatitis (NASH) - is not treated in time, there is a high risk of developing complications like cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver cancer and complete liver failure. Since ayurvedic treatment for NASH concentrates on arresting the inflammatory changes and reversing the root cause, timely treatment can prevent the occurrence of such complications to a great extent.
What is the ayurvedic treatment for alcoholic fatty liver?
Alcoholic fatty liver may be considered the first stage of liver damage before it turns into more complications. It may be preventable as well as reversible in the initial stages. Ayurvedic treatment for alcoholic fatty liver disease helps the person withdraw from alcohol and prevent complications like alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis.
How does ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver work?
Ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver aims to:
Address the underlying cause: The first step in the ayurvedic treatment of fatty liver is to analyze the cause of fatty liver. If alcohol is the cause, then treatment will include steps to reverse the addiction caused by it. Similarly, if metabolic syndrome is the cause, those parameters like elevated glucose levels, cholesterol levels etc. will be brought under control first before proceeding to other therapies.
Correct digestion and metabolism: In patients with fatty liver, digestion and metabolism are disturbed. Therefore, one of the chief goals of ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver is to correct it. Ayurvedic medicines with specific action on the secretion of bile as well as liver enzymes are used in order to restore the normal absorption and metabolism of fat, thus preventing its further accumulation and worsening of the disease.
Restore healthy liver function: Ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver includes panchakarma therapies that help in normalising dosha balance by correcting liver enzyme levels and thus boosting metabolism. This helps in restoring the ability of the liver to break down and export fat without causing further accumulation.
How successful is the ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver?
Ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver in Kerala requires in-patient treatment for around 15 to 21 days initially. The main objective of ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver is to arrest disease progression towards NASH, cirrhosis and liver failure. While very early stages of fatty liver can be completely reversed with ayurvedic treatment, later stages of fatty liver can only be managed well, preventing further progression. In alcohol induced fatty liver, complete withdrawal of alcohol along with therapies, medicines, diet and lifestyle modifications often gives great results with no recurrence in the future.
AYURVEDIC DIET AND LIFESTYLE ADVICE
What is the role of diet in the ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver?
Since impaired metabolism is the underlying pathology in fatty liver, diet modification is a very important part of ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver. A general guideline for patients with fatty liver is to reduce the intake of food that increases kapha dosha. This would mean you have to choose more dry varieties of food like dried beans, red lentils, peas, dried berries, pumpkin seeds etc. as a part of your diet. Fish like sardines, salmon etc are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which are good for your liver. Your diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables and high fiber items like legumes and whole grains. Greens such as broccoli, leafy vegetables, brussels sprouts etc. are rich in fiber and help you lose weight as well as prevent the buildup of fat in the liver.
Avoid excessively oily and deep fried items, heavy to digest non-veg like beef, pork, mutton and full fat dairy products. Candies, chocolates and pastries are kapha increasing foods, so avoid it. Give up processed and refined grain foods like white bread, white rice and pasta and substitute it with whole wheat and whole grain alternatives. Make sure you discuss your diet with your physician during your stay at the ayurveda hospital in Kerala so that you can make necessary modifications in your diet when you go back home.
What is the role of lifestyle in the ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver?
To sustain the results of ayurvedic treatment in Kerala, it is important to follow a lifestyle that does not increase kapha dosha. These tips could help:
If you are overweight, take measures to reduce it: regularly exercise until you sweat. Excess body weight is an indication of kapha predominance in your body and it increases the risk of fatty liver.
Make it a habit to eat in moderation. A full stomach makes digestion troublesome.
Untimely and excessive sleep aggravate kapha dosha, so avoid daytime sleep and go to bed early.
Go for short strolls after your meals, to make digestion easier.
Avoid thoughts that cause stress and depression since this could increase kapha dosha as well as create a tendency to eat more.
During your stay at the ayurvedic centre in Kerala you may have a chance to learn yoga. Practise yogasanas like suryanamaskara, pavanamukthasana, mandukasana etc. as these will help burn the extra fat in your body.
Avoid exposure to cold and stay comfortably warm always.
Stay active always, especially if your job demands sitting for a long time.
SUMMARY
Fatty liver is very common these days and people often tend to ignore it during its initial stages as it neither cause any difficulties, nor any specific symptoms. But ironically, the fact that it seldom exhibits any symptoms makes it more dangerous, nothing less than a silent killer. If left untreated, there are chances that it might progress to very serious life threatening conditions like cirrhosis, liver failure etc. While traditional western medicine fails to establish an effective management strategy, ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver, with its natural approach, aims at bringing the underlying cause under control and preventing further worsening of the disease. By balancing the disturbed pitta and kapha doshas through specific therapies and internal medicines, ayurvedic treatment corrects the metabolism, ensures optimum functioning of liver enzymes, maintains proper digestion and ensures complete liver health. A course of ayurvedic treatment in Kerala that lasts for 15 to 21 days may completely reverse the condition during its early stages without leaving any chance for recurrence in the future and arrest its progression effectively during advanced stages.
FAQs
I have been diagnosed with grade 2 fatty liver. Will ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver prove beneficial for me?
Certainly. Ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver at this stage works very well and it may be possible to reverse the condition permanently depending on the cause. A course of ayurvedic treatment in Kerala followed by systematic diet and lifestyle after discharge will ensure a healthy liver for the rest of your life.
Is ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver in Kerala beneficial for both alcohol induced and non-alcoholic fatty liver?
Yes.. Ayurvedic treatment for fatty liver in Kerala is effective in both cases. In both conditions, ayurvedic treatment aims to eliminate or keep in control the underlying factors so that there is no further worsening of the disease. For alcohol induced fatty liver, special treatment programmes for withdrawal from alcohol and counselling sessions will be provided, if found necessary.