FATTY LIVER

Dr. Narayanaprasad R.

Assistant Medical Officer (Research – Ayurveda),

Santhigiri Scientific & Industrial Research Institute

Fatty Liver is the accumulation of excess fat in the liver. Close to 1 in 5 people in India have excess fat in their liver and 1 in 10 have fatty liver disease. Fatty liver generally has no symptoms until it progresses to a greater extent. Ayurvedic point of view Ayurveda consider liver as the chief organ which is playing the leading role in regulating the ‘Pachakagni’ – or the Digestive Fire. The essence of the food that we eat, which is extracted by this fire is called the Ahara Rasa. This Ahara Rasa gets imbibed into Sapthadhathu – The 7 physical constituents of our body, which are the structural and functional entities. That means, after the extraction of the aforementioned essence of food, it is carried to the next Dhathu – The Rektha, and further. During this process of imbibing, there occurs an assimilation of a part of the essence, at each stage of transfer, by each of the dhathus, with the help of the Agni that it carries – The Dhathvagni. Beyond being the assimilatory fire, this Dhathvagni plays important roles in maintaining the homeostasis and preparing the remaining essence of food, for the assimilation of the next Dhathu to which it is transferred.

In fatty liver diseases failure of Mamsa dhatwagni, Medo dhatwagni and Asthi dhatwagni results in increases of Medodhatu. The accumulated fat will result in the blockage of Srothas (channels) which carry Medodhatu and it will result in impaired fat metabolism resulting in fatty liver diseases.

TYPES OF FATTY LIVER

1.  Alcoholic fatty liver: ­Predisposed by excess intake of alcoholic ­beverages.

2. Non Alcoholic fatty liver: Predisposed by obesity, Diabetes mellitus, Hyperlipidemia, increased hepatic fatty acid synthesis, decreased secretion of fat from liver.

Treatment principles

The treatment has to have the ­following basic aims:

1. To reduce Kapha Dosha
2. To reduce Durmedas
3. To Improve the quality of the fire
4. To ease digestion
5. To refine the blood

At times, usually in cases of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver cases, we may have to follow the treatment principles of Udara Chikitsa, Prameha chiktsa and madathyaya chiktsa. In fatty liver periodical purgation is advisable.

Some Potent Formulations in Ayurveda & Siddha

Kashayam        :        Vasaguluchadi, Punarnavaadi, Rudrakshadi etc.

Ghritham        :        Thikthaka Ghritham

Choornam        :        Avipathi, Triphala

Vadakam        :        Mandoora vadakam

Lehyam        :        Karisalai Lehyam

Capsule        :        Rejuliv forte Cap

Tablet                :        Keezharnelli tablet