ABSTRACT
Liver is one of the heaviest and your body's second largest organ. It is placed right under your ribcage on the right side and is approximately the size of a football. It does a lot of things that keep a person healthy. Liver separates nutrients from toxins as they move through the digestive system. It carries out toxins out from your body and also helps in the process of digestion. So when your liver isn't working well, it affects your entire body. In this article, we will take a look at the modern treatment of ursodiol for liver disease and its safer alternatives options in Ayurveda, a 5000 year old system of medicine.
INTRODUCTION - WHAT ARE DIFFERENT LIVER DISEASES
The term liver disease refers to the different conditions that can affect and damage the liver. According to latest numbers, one out of every five people in India are getting affected by some sort of liver disorder. Some of the different kinds of liver disease are:
- Alcohol related liver disease
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Hepatitis
- Haemochromatosis
- Primary biliary cholangitis
If left untreated, overtime liver disease can cause cirrhosis (scarring). As more scarring occurs and healthy tissue is replaced by scar tissue, the liver becomes unable to function properly. This can eventually lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
CAUSES OF LIVER DISEASES
Different liver disorders arise from different causative factors. Some of them are:
- Viral Infections: Hepatitis A, B and C are caused by viral infections.
- Problems with immune system: When the immune system mistakenly attacks one's own liver cells, it results in autoimmune liver diseases. For example, Primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis.
- Genetics: Some disorders manifest because of inherited genes. For example, haemochromatosis.
- Cancer: When abnormal cells present anywhere in your body multiply in the liver, it may lead to tumors. For example, Liver cancer.
- Consumption of toxins: Excessive alcohol use results in alcohol related fatty liver disease. Excessive fat consumption may lead to non alcohol related fatty liver disease. NAFLD has become more common in the recent past owing to busy and sedentary lifestyles.
- Drug overdose: Excessive consumption of OTC medicines can also lead to liver disorders in the longer run.
SYMPTOMS OF LIVER DISEASES
Some conditions like NAFLD don't cause noticeable symptoms, while some conditions lead to jaundice when the liver is unable to clear a substance called bilirubin. Other visible common symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Swelling in arms and legs
- Changes in the color of urine and stool
- Easy bruising
- Loss of appetite
TREATMENT AS PER MODERN METHODS
Treatment of liver disease is based on multiple factors: the kind of disorder, the cause behind it and the progression of disease so far. Possible treatments include:
- MEDICATIONS: Medications are normally given for disorders that are caused due to infections and genetic disorders. For example, Wilson's disease and hepatitis infection. Some of the common medications used are:
- Avatrombopag
- Entecavir
- Metadoxine
- Methionine
- Ursodeoxycolic acid
- LIFESTYLE CHANGES: Diet and lifestyle changes are commonly suggested to patients suffering from fatty liver disease. Avoiding alcohol, fat, and increasing the fiber intake can often lead to the reversal of the fatty liver.
- LIVER TRANSPLANT: When liver disease progresses and is left untreated for longer periods of time, it leads to cirrhosis and then to liver failure. This often leads to no solution other than a liver transplant in modern medical treatment.
In the further article, we will take a close look at one of the mentioned medications ursodeoxycholic acid (also known as ursodiol), its benefits, side effects and better safer alternatives of ursodiol.
WHAT IS URSODIOL?
Ursodeoxyccholic acid (UDCA),also known as ursodiol, is a naturally occurring bile acid that has a minor fraction of human bile acid. There are many benefits of ursodeoxycholic acid/ursodiol because of which ursodiol has been used in liver diseases and kidney diseases for decades. Ursodiol was first approved by FDA in 1987 for dissolution of gallstones and for primary biliary cirrhosis. Ursodiol works by replacing the hydrophobic or more toxic bile acids from the bile acid pool. This is sold in the market under the brand name UDILIV.
Benefits of ursodeoxycholic acid include:
- Cryoprotectant nature
- Immunomodulating effects
- Choleretic effects
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS OF URSODIOL?
Although there are many benefits of ursodiol for liver disorders, there are many toxic side effects reported over the years. These side effects are often ignored considering the benefits of ursodiol. Some common side effects of ursodeoxycholic acid or ursodiol are:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Nausea
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Indigestion
- Dark stool
- Frequent urination
- Weakness
Along with all these side effects, ursodiol also reacts with other drugs and causes drug-drug interaction leading to more severe adverse effects. Let us take a deeper look into what Ayurveda thinks of liver diseases and if Ayurveda has safe alternatives of ursodiol.
AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE ON LIVER DISEASES
According To Ayurveda, the liver is formed from the blood during the embryonic stage. Ayurveda believes Liver has a close relation of liver with Agni and Pitta dosha. It is considered to be the main site of blood. Causative factors for liver disorders according to Ayurveda are:
- Madyapana(Alcohol intake)
- Vegadharna (Suppression of natural urges)
- Divaswapna(Day sleep)
- Ushna teekshna ahar (Intake of spicy food)
- Guru abhishyandi bhojana (Heavy food)
In Ayurveda, Liver disorders can be classified as:
- Mlana Yakrit (Decreased function and shrinkage)
- Yakrit Vriddhi (Enlarged liver)
AYURVEDA MANAGEMENT OF LIVER DISEASES
First and foremost, Ayurveda recommends Nidana Parivarjan (eliminating the cause). All the precipitating factors need to be avoided. Patients are advised to avoid exertion and heavy work. Fat is majorly restricted and protein rich food is recommended. For the medication part, Ayurveda has safer alternatives of ursodiol that provide healing properties and yet cause no side effects in the longer run. Many herbs in Ayurveda are effective at balancing pitta, clear accumulated heat, cleanse the blood and detoxify the liver. The herbs recommended in Ayurveda are carefully chosen to have the following properties:
- Deepana (Carminatives)
- Pachana (Digestives)
- Shodhaka (Laxatives)
- Pittavirechaka (Cholegauges)
Alongwith the herbs, certain panchakarma procedures such as Vaman and Virechan are used which expel the toxins out of the body. In this article, let us majorly look at the ayurveda herbs that are safer alternatives to ursodiol and can be used for the treatment of liver disorders.
Herbs That are Safer Alternatives To URSODIOL
Ayurveda, a 5000 year old system of medicine mentions many alternatives to ursodiol. These herbal alternatives to ursodiol help in faster and safer recovery from liver disorders. Some of these herbs are:
1. BHUMYAMALAKI
Bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri) is an Ayurveda herb mentioned in classical text books of Ayurveda. It majorly affects the health of the liver. This herb has cleansing, soothing and cooling properties. It balances the pitta and kapha dosha and balances the excess agni/heat in the digestive tract. Not only liver, it also helps gallbladder in cleansing and detoxification.
2. TRIPHALA
Triphala, a combination of three ayurveda herbs namely amla (Phyllanthus emblica), Harad (Terminalia chebula), Bahera (Terminalia billerica) is one of the most used ayurveda combinations has a unique ability to provide multiple benefits to the body. A combination of three herbs ,it helps in constipation and digestion.Along With this, it helps to detox, replenish and nourish the liver with its qualities. It can be easily consumed in powder form, tablet form or in a decoction form.
3. TURMERIC
Active ingredient of the most common Indian herb curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It deeply clarifies the blood and supports the healing of the overall body tissues. Turmeric can be cooked with food but can also be taken in the form of capsules or tablets.
4. KALMEGH
Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) is a well documented Ayurveda herb mentioned in Ayurveda textbooks. It is called Indian Echinacea; it is one of the most important and powerful ayurveda herbs against liver disorders. It has been proven to have hepatoprotective properties. It is antiviral, anti bacterial, immune boosting and anti infective which makes it the foremost choice of the herb against liver disorders.
BEST HERBAL ALTERNATIVES OF URSODIOL BY PLANET AYURVEDA
Planet Ayurveda is an authentic, GMP certified company that produces pure Ayurveda herbs and formulations under the expert supervision of Ayurveda doctors. All the formulations are vegetarian, 100% pure and are mentioned in 5000 year old Ayurveda texts. Planet Ayurveda's liver care pack is one of the leading and most trusted combinations of ayurveda herbs against liver disorders.
The ingredients of this pack are:
- Yakrit Plihantak Churna
- Phyllanthus Niruri
- Echinacea Capsules
- Liver Detox Capsules
PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION
1. Yakrit Plihantak Churna
Yakrit Plihantak Churna by Planet Ayurveda is a powder formulation prepared with the pure ayurveda herbs such as Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), Bhringraj (Eclipta alba), Bhumi Amla (Phyllanthus niruri) and many other hepatoprotective herbs. These herbs have katu (pungent) and Tikta (bitter) ras (taste) and help in balancing out kapha and pitta dosha in the body. All these herbs work in sync and assist in sustaining the health of the hepatic system without any side effects.
Dosage: Decoction of 1 tsf of Churna twice daily.
2. Phyllanthus Niruri Capsules
Phyllanthus niruri capsules by Planet Ayurveda contain 500 mg of pure extract of phyllanthus niruri or Bhumiamla. This herb has cold potency, bitter and sweet in taste. This herb has anti viral, antihelminthic and laxative properties. It balances out aggravated Vata and pitta dosha and hence manages thirst, cough and cold. This formulation is known to remove all the mala (waste) from the body and is known to retain health while reversing the liver disorders.
Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily.
3. Indian Echinacea Capsules
Indian Echineace capsules are prepared by 500 mg standardized extract of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata). This herb has a bitter taste and is known as the king of bitter in ayurveda texts. According to ayurveda, this is Yakrit Utejak, Pittasark and Rechak which means these capsules by Planet Ayurveda support healthy hepatoprotective activity and sustain good liver health.
Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily.
4. Phyllanthus Niruri Capsules
Phyllanthus niruri capsules by Planet Ayurveda contain 500 mg of pure extract of phyllanthus niruri or Bhumiamla. This herb has cold potency, bitter and sweet in taste. This herb has anti viral, antihelminthic and laxative properties. It balances out aggravated Vata and pitta dosha and hence manages thirst, cough and cold. This formulation is known to remove all the mala (waste) from the body and is known to retain health while reversing the liver disorders.
Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily.
Conclusion
Liver is the most important detox organ of the body. It is very important for the liver to function properly to be able to maintain overall body health. As discussed, liver disorders can be treated with ursodiol but considering the side effects of ursodiol in the longer run, it is better to opt for natural detox herbs to assist the liver. Ayurveda herbs mentioned along with fat restriction can help with liver protection with negligible side effects.
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