Best ayurvedic medicine for fatty liver
Fatty Liver has been a growing global concern over the last decade or so. Statistics suggest that roughly 25% of the global population is affected by this condition.
Since the condition doesn’t cause serious symptoms at first, individuals do not get to know about it during the initial stages. If left ignored or untreated though, fatty liver may progress to advanced liver diseases such as fibrosis or cirrhosis.
In this post, we will take a good look at both alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) & non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the best ayurvedic medicines that can treat fatty liver.
What exactly is a fatty liver?
It is normal for human beings to have a minute amount of fat in some liver cells. However, when the fat inside the liver is more than 5% of its weight, the liver is said to be “fatty”. Usually a fatty liver doesn’t cause adverse effects. However, according to ClevelandClinic, roughly 7%-30% of individuals witness a worsening of the condition, which progresses slowly to the following advanced stages:
- Steatohepatitis: When the liver becomes inflamed, damaging its tissue
- Fibrosis: When the scar tissue forms in areas where the liver is damaged
- Cirrhosis: A severe condition of liver resulting in extensive scarring and liver failure
The two types of fatty liver disease
Fatty liver is broadly classified under two categories:
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD)
Excessive alcohol consumption leads to fat accumulation in the liver, resulting in a condition known as AFLD. Usually moderate consumption of alcohol means 1 drink/day for women and 2 drinks/day for men.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
NAFLD is a common condition among people who either don’t drink at all or drink in moderation. As of now, there is no known cause of NAFLD. However, people battling conditions such as obesity and diabetes may be at a higher risk of developing this condition.
Symptoms of Fatty Liver
Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of a fatty liver include:
- Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight Loss
- Jaundice, characterized by yellowish skin and whites of the eyes.
- Fatigue
- Mental confusion
Causes of Fatty Liver
As stated earlier, there is no known/fixed cause that can be pinpointed at for this condition. However, there are a few risk factors that may increase your chances of getting a fatty liver as you age. These include:
- Having Type-2 Diabetes or Insulin resistance
- Obesity
- High blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels
- Prescription medications like steroids, diltiazem, amiodarone and tamoxifen
Ayurvedic view on Fatty Liver
According to Ayurveda, the liver is a pitta (fire) organ. It plays a significant role in chayapachay (metabolism). Furthermore, the liver converts Rasa Dhatu (clear plasma) to Rakta Dhatu (blood) and stores toxins, not allowing them to flow with the blood.
Excessive intake of alcohol, spicy foods and milk products are regarded as the key reasons behind extra fat deposits in the liver. Ayurveda tries to treat the condition with a combination of ahara (diet changes), vihara (lifestyle recommendations) and vyama (mild exercise).
Diagnosis of Fatty Liver
There are many approaches to diagnose a fatty liver:
Blood Tests
If the analysis of your samples return elevated values of liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase test (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase test (AST), the doctor may diagnose a fatty liver after running one of the following tests:
- Ultrasound/CT Scan: Helps to take a picture of the liver
- Biopsy: A tissue sample is taken to check if the liver condition has reached the advanced stage
- Fibroscan: An advanced, special type of ultrasound to determine the amount of fat and scar tissue
Best Ayurvedic Medicines to treat Fatty Liver
Ayurveda offers a number of safe and effective solutions for liver disorders. Given below are a few time-tested herbal formulations by reputed companies that could improve your liver health within 3 month of use. So, here we go:
- Liv.52 DS by Himalaya Herbals
When it comes to treating liver ailments and maintaining the overall health of the liver, Liv.52 DS is the undisputed king. The “DS” here stands for “double strength” and acts faster than its predecessor Liv.52.
Because of its key ingredients Chicory (Kasani) and the Caper Bush (Himsra), this herb — which is available in both tablet and syrup form — restores the functional power of the liver by protecting the hepatic parenchyma and promoting hepatocellular regeneration. The medicine also improves appetite and is recommended as a shield from jaundice, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
- Forestica Syrup by Western Ghats Pharma
This is perhaps not as popular as the first one on our list, but is still quite effective. Forestica serves as a great liver tonic and rejuvenator, especially for people suffering from alcoholic fatty liver disease.
It helps in preventing damage to the liver cells, restoring normal functions and providing daily nutrition. Furthermore, it aids in filtering bilirubin out from the blood. Doctors prescribe this syrup to treat jaundice, alcoholic fatty liver disease and general weakness.
- Livomyn Tablets by Charak Pharma
Charak Pharmaceuticals is an old, very well-reputed name in the world of ayurveda. We are pretty sure that you must have read this name in our other blog posts as well, thanks to the wide variety of effective products that they offer.
Livomyn tablets, which contain quality herbs such as Kalmegh, Katuki, Bhumyamalaki, Punarnava, Daruharidra, Triphala and Kumari, protects the liver cells from toxins and regulates bile flow through its anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Priced at INR 130 for a pack of 30 tablets, this medicine is an effective fatty liver treatment.
- Shuddhi Liver Care Package
Another quality product coming from the wisdom and experience of renowned ayurvedacharya Dr. Manish is Shuddhi Liver Care Package.
Shuddhi Liver Care Package comprises a bottle of Divya Liv-DS capsule, Udar Vikar Janya Rog Churna, Divya Jeevan Vati, Detoxifier Powder and 32 Herbs Tea. Its price tag of INR 6,000 may appear high at first, but considering the number of quality preparations this liver care package offers, it is definitely worth a try.
- Organic India Liver-Kidney Care Capsules
This quality formulation from Organic India contains certified organic herbs such as Organic Bhumyamalaki whole herb (Phyllanthus niruri), Organic Punarnava root (Boerhaavia diffusa) and Organic Katuki rhizome* (Picrorhiza kurroa)
While Bhumyamalaki and Katuki take care of the liver through their antiviral and hepatoprotective properties, Punarnava also keeps the kidneys in good health, besides detoxifying the liver. You can purchase this product without the fear of experiencing any side-effects, through all leading online shopping and wellness websites.
Home Remedies for Fatty Liver
Once you begin with any medicine, it is imperative that you follow a few home remedies as well. Try resorting to the following home remedies for better relied:
Follow the Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet relies more on fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and healthy fats. Try to incorporate more of the following in your food:
- Legumes: pulses, chickpeas, beans and peas
- Fruits/Vegetables: bananas, apples, oranges, leafy greens, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes
- Healthy Fats: nuts, olives, extra virgin olive oil and avocados
- Whole Grains: brown rice, whole-wheat bread, whole-wheat pasta, whole oats
Exercise
If a sedentary lifestyle is associated with so many conditions and illnesses, don’t you think it’s high time we gave it up? Doctors recommend indulging in any physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, especially for those suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Notably, physical activity has also shown to improve mood, cholesterol levels and digestion.
Say No to Sugary Drinks
Foods and drinks containing high amounts of sucrose and fructose are huge contributors to the build-up of fat in the liver. Things you must avoid include:
- Soft Drinks
- Sports Drinks
- Energy drinks
- Ice creams, cakes, pastries, doughnuts, etc.
- Candies
- Fruit Juice concentrate
- High-fructose corn syrup
Increase your intake of Omega-3
Polyunsaturated fats such as EPA and DHA are necessary to a healthy heart and liver. However, our usual diet — especially if you are a vegetarian — doesn’t contain much of these fatty acids. As a result, you can rely on a supplement to meet this daily need. While non-vegetarians can opt for fish-oil or cord-liver oil capsules, vegetarians may turn toward algae-based omega 3 supplements.
Please note that although flaxseeds and its oil are also a good source of Omega 3, they mostly contain polyunsaturated fatty acid ALA, which the body can only partially convert into EPA and DHA. So, Ridhi Ayurveda doesn’t recommend resorting to flaxseed based supplements.
The Bottom Line
The human liver has been handed a lot of tasks by nature. Even slight issues in its functioning can lead to an overall poor health. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases can go unnoticed for years; therefore, it is important that we always keep a check on our blood tests. We recommend all our readers to get their blood checked at least once a year for any underlying condition.
The above-mentioned ayurvedic medicines for fatty liver will work only if you follow the lifestyle and diet guidelines as mentioned above. We suggest taking a proper prescription from a registered ayurvedic practitioner before purchasing any of these medicines.
We wish you the best of health!
