What To Know About Fatty Liver Disease?

ABSTRACT

The liver is located in the upper right part of the abdomen. The weight of the liver is 3 pounds (1.36078kg). The liver regulates most of the chemical levels and excretes bile. The liver is an organ which is responsible for supporting metabolism, immunity, digestion, detoxification and vitamin storage. The liver is the only organ in the human body with dual blood supply from the portal vein (approximately 75%) and the hepatic artery (approximately 25%). There are many kinds of liver diseases such as jaundice, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, long-lasting tissue injury or scar tissue, and fatty liver due to excessive alcohol intake. Further we will learn about one of the liver diseases called fatty liver, its pathology and its treatment accounting to ayurvedic point of view.

INTRODUCTION

Fatty liver is a chronic liver disease that occurs when fat builds up in the liver in medical terms this is also known as hepatic steatosis. A healthy liver contains little to no fat, a normal liver fat is up to 5%. When fat makes up more than 5% to 10% of the liver’s total weight, it’s considered fatty liver. It can have few or no symptoms, but sometimes there may be pain or tiredness in the upper right side of the abdomen. In view of Ayurveda, Fatty Liver is caused due to imbalances of doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha). Mainly this is a pitta dominated organ, to regulate its function properly the pitta dosha needs to be balanced along with other two doshas. Liver is very essential for digestion and has the ability to eliminate toxins from the body.

CAUSES

• Poor diet: A kind of diet which contains a large amount of refined carbohydrates, saturated  fats and an excess amount of sugar.
• High triglycerides: Elevated levels of triglyceride in the blood can cause the accumulation of fat in the liver.
• Metabolic syndromes: Such as obesity, diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels and hypertension.
• Obesity and insulin resistance: The person with excess body weight and insulin resistance directly impacts the health of the liver and it makes it more challenging for the liver to process the fat.
• Medication: Such as corticosteroids
• Type 2 diabetes: Due to insulin resistance, people with type 2 diabetes have high risk to develop fatty liver.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to inflammation and liver cell damage.
• Viral hepatitis: Chronic viral infection with hepatitis C and lead to fatty liver.

TYPES OF FATTY LIVER

There are two main types of fatty liver disease

1. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): This condition is caused by other factors rather than alcohol use. The exact cause of this condition is still not completely understandable but it often happens in a person with metabolic disorder such as obesity, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels. Some of the fat is normal in the liver but when the body starts to store the fat in the liver from more than 10% of a person’s weight then the person may begin to suffer. It affects 25% of the people worldwide. Most of the people don’t experience any kind of symptoms, only 2%-5% of the people will experience the symptoms.
2. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): This condition is caused by other factors rather than alcohol use. The exact cause of this condition is still not completely understandable but it often happens in a person with metabolic disorder such as obesity, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels. Some of the fat is normal in the liver but when the body starts to store the fat in the liver from more than 10% of a person’s weight then the person may begin to suffer. It affects 25% of the people worldwide. Most of the people don’t experience any kind of symptoms, only 2%-5% of the people will experience the symptoms.

STAGES OF FATTY LIVER

• Grade 1: It’s known as milf fatty liver. 5-33% of the fat is present in the liver and in this there is no inflammation and damage in the liver.
• Grade 2: It is known as moderate fatty liver. 34-66% of the fat is present in the liver and there is mild inflammation present.
• Grade 3: It is known as a severe grade of fatty liver. More than 66% of the liver fat is present in the liver and there is severe inflammation and damage in the liver.

SYMPTOMS

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Mild abdominal discomfort: Experience discomfort mainly in the right upper side.
• Weakness
• Jaundice
• Swelling: Swelling in abdomen (ascites) or swelling in legs (oedema) can be observed due to retention of fluid from the body.
• Unexplained weight loss

Diagnostic Measures

• Ultrasound imaging: Most common diagnostic way to detect fatty liver and other abnormalities.
• Blood test: liver function test (LFT) and complete blood count. Elevated Liver enzymes may indicate the disease.
• Imaging studies: CT scan and MRI scan
• Liver biopsy: A small sample of liver tissue is taken with the help of a needle and further evaluation done in the laboratory.

TREATMENT

• Improve diet
• Medication to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides
• Medication to reduce blood pressure and to control diabetes
• Avoiding alcohol

OVERVIEW OF AYURVEDA

In view of ayurveda fatty liver is taken under Yakṛt Roga. The vast number of liver disease come under Yakṛt Roga and fatty liver is one of them. In view of Yogratnākara,vidāhī (spicy food) and abhiṣyandī āhāra (food which blocks the channels).The Yakṛt Roga is caused when after consuming specific nidana, the dosha gets vitiated from there places, the pitta dosha is mainly responsible for Yakrit roga and it can be treated by giving proper ayurvedic diet by which the elevated pitta dosha become balanced. Such as in dairy product salted cheese and kefir, in fruits banana, cherries, papaya, peaches and strawberries, ingrains amaranth, corn, buck wheat, short grain brown rice, quinoa, millets (jowar,ragi) these things can be given as advice to balance there pitta. According to ayurveda the pooravaroopa of fatty liver are low digestion strength, inability to tolerate a little excess food, constant loss of strength, vidaha (burning of indigestion) of all food, pain and adhyamana (distension) in basti sandhi (lower part of abdomen). According to acharyas, virechana should be given to the patient. They should be given snehana (oiling), swedana (sweating) and then snigdha virechana (purgation therapy). There are some yoga asanas which can help in fatty liver such as Triangle pose (trikonasana), Sphinx pose (salamba bhujangasana), Cobra posa (bhujangasana), Bow pose (dhanurasana), Half load of the fishes pose (ardha matsyendrasana) etc.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR FATTY LIVER BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda provides the best treatment for their patients. The medicines that form planet ayurveda are 100% pure. They use the best quality of herbs and prepare medicines by following  proper ayurvedic principles. They have a fatty liver care pack for best ayurvedic treatment of fatty liver. These products are totally natural and safe with no side effects. They have a care package to manage fatty liver

1. Yakrit Plihantak Churna
2. Livo Plan Syrup
3. Liver Detox Formula

Product Description

1. Yakrit Plihantak Churna

This is a herbal powder, containing herbs like Kaasni (Cichorium intybus), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), Bhumi amla (Phyllanthus niruri) etc which helps in managing liver disorders due to its hepatoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It may also help to reduce the level of elevated liver enzymes. The herbs used in making this powder helps in eliminating vitiated Pitta dosha from the body.

Dosage: 1 teaspoon twice a day with warm water before meal.

2. Livo Plan Syrup

This is a liquid form of medicine, this syrup is the extract of various herbs such as Bhringraj (Eclipta alba), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), Kasni (Cichorium intybus) etc. These herbs may help in regenerating the liver cells, they have the property of anti-inflammatory, antioxidants. It can also improve the digestive system and can also improve the bile flow. It can also help in lowering serum lipid levels, which prevents the accumulation of lipids in liver cells. These herbs help in balancing the tridosha mainly pitta dosha by eliminating increased dosha from the body.

Dosage: 2 teaspoon twice a day after meal

3. Liver Detox Formula

It is a herbal capsule preparation prepared by using herbs like Kutki (Picrorhiza Kurrooa), Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), Makoy (Solanum nigrum) etc. This formulation is mainly used for liver disorders, it protects the liver against cell damage caused by free radicals due to its antioxidant, hepatoprotective properties. It can also help to provide relief in gas and abdominal discomfort. These herbs are very beneficial for balancing pitta dosha in the body.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice a day with warm water after a meal.

CONCLUSION

The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body.  The liver regulates most of the chemical levels and excretes bile. It helps in processing nutrients from food, regulates metabolism. If the liver is not in good condition the whole body has to suffer. Fatty liver is the most common in today’s lifestyle and can lead to cirrhosis and the end result of many liver diseases can lead to liver failure. Nowadays for a better lifestyle ayurvedic is one of best and natural sources to eliminate disease from a person’s body with no side effects.