Ayurvedic management of cirrhosis of liver: A case report

Abstract

Cirrhosis of liver is a condition in which the liver does not function properly due to long-term defect. This defect is characterized by the replacement of normal liver tissue by scar tissue. Typically, the disease develops slowly over months or years. Early on, there are often no symptoms. As the disease worsens, a person may become weak, tired, have swelling in the lower legs, itchy, develop yellow skin or develop spider-like blood vessels on the skin, have fluid buildup in the abdomen. Cirrhosis is most commonly caused by hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus, alcohol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has a number of causes, including being jaundice, overweight or obesity, high blood sugar, high levels of fat particularly triglycerides, in the blood. A number of less common causes of cirrhosis include autoimmune hepatitis (inflammation and scaring of the bile ducts), primary biliary cholangitis certain medications, and gallstones. Diagnosis is based on blood testing, medical imaging (Radiology), and biopsy. In Ayurveda, cirrhosis of liver is a disease of raktavaha and udakavahasrotas. A 48yrs old female patient with a prior diagnosis of Cirrhosis of liverwas admitted in P.D. Patel Ayurveda Hospital, Nadiad. She was treated with mild virechana of katukichurna, daily along with oral medicaments including Punarnavādikvātha, vardhmanpippali, Bhūmyāmalakīcūrṇa, bhrungrajchurna, sarpunkhchurna, shwetparpati. Laboratory investigations (i.e. SGPT, SGOT, Bilirubin) were also decreased. This case report is presented here to share the encouraging results of Ayurvedic treatment in this particular patient of Cirrhosis of liver.