Sandhya Raghavan
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Written By: Sandhya Raghavan | Updated : November 22, 2017 11:56 AM IST
Jaundice is commonly confused with a disease; but in reality, it is a symptom that tells you something is off in the body. And by something, it means that your liver is ailing. The commonest and the most well-known symptom of the condition is the sudden yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. This is because of bilirubin, a yellow compound produced when the red blood cells break down, proliferates because of some problem in the liver. The organ is primarily responsible for removing it from the body.
One of the well-known causes of jaundice is Hepatitis A, or the liver disease spread through contaminated water or food, a disease that is quite wide-spread during the monsoons. Associated problems include fever, malaise, pain in the right quadrant of the abdomen, nausea, headache and pale stools.
Allopathic medicines have no established system of treatment for Hepatitis A. Since it is a self-limiting condition, the World Health Organisation recommends no therapy for the disease. Instead, the patient is advised to take care of his nutritional needs and miss work for some days. However, the illness causes a lot of discomforts and missing work for a couple of days is not feasible for everyone.
No wonder more and more people are turning towards Ayurveda for the treatment of the problem. Dr Vaidya's New Age Ayurveda a 150-year-old Mumbai-based Ayurvedic institution sees no dearth of people seeking treatment for Hepatitis A, says Mr Arjun Vaidya the CEO, who is the 6th generation 'Vaidya' in his family. And in fact, the system of medicine has been consistently showing good results when it comes to treating jaundice caused by hepatitis A. Dr Surya Bhagwati, an Ayurvedic physician at Dr Vaidya's shares the many salient features of Ayurvedic treatment of jaundice.
What causes jaundice according to Ayurveda?
Ayurveda believes that all diseases happen due to the imbalance of the three forces or doshas: vata, pitta and kapha, derived from the five elements of nature. "Jaundice or Kamala in Sanskrit, happens when there is a vitiation of pitta or the fire element," says Dr Bhagwati." Sometimes, the liver fails to deal with the toxic substances that enter the body. It could cause inflammation in the organ resulting in jaundice. Excessive oily, spicy, salty and hot food can cause stress on the liver. Sometimes, psychological factors like excessive fear, anger, stress and worry can aggravate the condition. Even ailments like typhoid, malaria and tuberculosis affect the liver. These factors can cause an aggravation of the pitta, or the fire element and bile is thrown back into the blood stream. This results in yellow eyes, skin, fingernails, stool and urine."
How does Ayurveda cure jaundice resulting from hepatitis A?
Dr Bhagwati doesn't mince words when she says that Ayurveda offers the best treatment for hepatitis A. Ayurvedic preparations or poly-herb preparations, comprising various combinations of herbs are usually given to the patients." LIVitup!, Dr Vaidya's liver-protecting capsule is a mixture of argogyavardhini and kalmegh. Even tablets like Arogyavardhini vati and Avipatikar churna are prescribed to patients," says Dr Bhagwati. Tonics like Kumariasava are also used in the treatment of hepatitis A. Individual herbs are also used in the treatment of the disorder. The benefits of the treatment are as follows:
Balances the pitta: Since the cause of hepatitis A and resultant jaundice is pitta imbalance, Ayurveda attempts to maintain homoeostasis in the body. "Ayurveda aims to balance the pitta dosha in the body by balancing the other doshas," she says.
Regulates diet: Ayurvedic treatment approach does not stop at herbs and potions; it comprises strict diet regulations to ensure minimal stress on the liver and speedy purification of the blood. "Ayurveda has a holistic approach towards healing the body with a list of do's and don'ts to make the digestive system perfect," she says.
Has no side effects: Treatment in Ayurveda comprises herbal concoctions and diet changes. Without the added burden of chemical drugs in the system, the liver can heal faster. "Ayurvedic medicine has some of the best herbs for liver health," says Dr Bhagwati.
Regenerates liver cells: An inflamed liver can be bad news. A good jaundice treatment should ideally aim to strengthen the liver, and Ayurveda does just that. "It corrects liver metabolism by regenerating ineffective liver cells," says the doctor. Dr Bhagwati points out, "These herbs help cleanse the liver and strengthen the organs. They improve the overall function of the liver."
Expels bile from the body: The Ayurvedic treatment for jaundice aims to expel the excess bile from the system which can burden the body further. By giving enough time for the liver to recuperate, the herbs act as diuretics and reduce the inflammation in the body.
Manages pain: Abdominal pain, especially in the right quadrant of the belly is seen in patients during jaundice. Herbs like bhumi amlaki which are usually prescribed for the condition has antibacterial, antispasmodic and analgesic properties, which not only kill the trouble-causing pathogens but also reduces the pain in patients.
How long does the patient have to take treatment?
Even while the patient is on Ayurvedic treatment, timely follow-up is necessary says Dr Bhagwati. This means that the patient will have to continue the treatment until laboratory reports show encouraging results. "The patient can track his recovery by paying close attention to the colour of the skin, eyes and fingernails. Till the colour of the urine returns to normal, till the person's appetite and digestion improves, and when he starts feeling energetic and active, medicines have to be taken," adds Dr Bhagwati.
Also read:
Expert tips to deal with neonatal jaundice
7 Ayurvedic diet remedies for jaundice
Expert recommended dinner recipes to help recover from jaundice
5 foods to avoid during jaundice
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