Chronic Liver Disease

Introduction

Chronic liver disease is a diseased condition of the liver in which there are quick destruction and reconstruction of the liver leading to pathology like cirrhosis. It describes for an infection of the liver, which continues for a period of at least six months. It may occur due to inflammation like chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Signs and Symptoms

• Anemia- Fatigue
• Encephalopathy
• Face -Jaundiced sclera, Fetor hepaticus
• Chest – Spider naevi, gynaecomastia
• Abdomen – Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly (due to portal hypertension), Ascites.
• Polyneuropathy
• Nail clubbing
• Feminizing hair distribution
• Testicular atrophy

Causes

Following are the reasons because of which Chronic Liver Disease can occur:

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Excessive alcohol drinking
• Overdose of Paracetamol and other drugs like nitrofurantoin, methotrexate, etc.

Risk Factors

These are the factors due to which a person suffered from chronic liver disease:

• Excessive alcohol use
• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome including raised blood lipids
• Infected needle and syringes
• Continuous exposure to chemicals which are toxic in nature

Diagnosis

At acute stage, liver changes are minimal which are presented as indigestion, vomiting, excessive flatulence and many others. Chronic liver changes take a long time to develop. So proper investigations must be required to avoid irreversible changes which lead to death.

Following are the investigations which initially should be conducted:

• Complete Blood Picture
• Liver Function Test
• Ultrasonography
• In severe cases, a biopsy of the liver, if required

General management

Diet – Healthy and well-balanced diets play an essential role in making the liver and other parts of the body healthy and avoid liver damage. A healthy diet provides energy to the body and immunity becomes powerful and destroys foreign matters to enter in the body. Digestion also gets boosted by eating healthy and well-balanced diet. Avoid fatty food and excessive sugar which leads to weight gain and which may affect many organs including the liver. Foods rich in fat and sugar can increase cholesterol level which damages the liver and increases the risk of liver diseases.

Homeopathic Medicines

Chronic Liver Diseases is difficult to treat if any pathology develops. In homeopathy, treatment based on the complains that a patient has, on which similar medicine related to symptoms is prescribed on the totality of symptoms which relief a complaint of the patient and cure the suffering of the patient. Following are some medicines which can be used in the cases of Chronic Liver Diseases –

BRYONIA ALBA – Bryonia is a medicine indicated in a condition when stitching pains are present in the region of right abdomen in right hypochondrium get worse from slightest motion and better by rest, lying on right side. There is dryness of mucus membrane is also marked. The liver is swollen, congested and inflamed. There is marked thirst for large quantity of water is the main symptom of Bryonia. Along with it, vomiting of bile and water immediately after eating, especially warm drinks, which are immediately vomited out. There is a marked constipation, stools are hard, dry, black as if burnt; seem too large.

MERCURIUS – Mercurius is a medicine used in cirrhosis of the liver with dull pain and sensitive to touch over the region of the liver. Sensitiveness is so marked that the patient is unable to lie down on the right side. Enlargement of the liver is also present with slow digestion. Jaundice is also covered by Mercurius in which the skin and conjunctiva changes to yellow coloured. Great thirst for cold drinks is also present. The stools are not normal, colour changes to, either clay-coloured or yellowish-green stools accompanied with a great pain and unsatisfactory stool. Mercurius has particular yellowish white coated tongue with imprint of the teeth. All complaints of Mercurius get aggravated at night, from warmth of bed, from damp, cold, rainy weather, and during perspiration.

PODOPHYLLUM – The primarily use of Podophyllum is on gastro-intestinal tract. In liver affections, firstly, it produces a large quantity of bile, and secondly, it causes inactivity of liver causing jaundice. The liver became swollen and the skin and the eyes become yellow with great sensitiveness to touch in the region of the liver. The characteristic symptom of podophyllum is the patient constantly rubs the abdomen over the region of the liver. There is bad odour from the mouth with yellow coated tongue. Both diarrhoea and constipation alternating every day or two, for several days after the most prominent symptoms related to liver had disappeared. During diarrhoea, stool is loose, painless and offensive while constipation, stools are clay-coloured, hard, dry and difficult to evacuate. Prolapse of rectum can be happened before or during passing stool.

CHELIDONIUM MAJUS – It is one of the remedies predominantly act on the liver, mainly jaundice and fatty liver. It is mainly right sided medicine. There is a stitching pain with soreness in the liver and spleen which radiate to back, under the angle of the right shoulder blade, which may further extend to the chest, stomach, or hypochondrium. Right and may be on left side of abdomen (hypochondrium) are painful on slight pressure. Liver is swollen white chilliness, yellow discolouration of eyes and the skin with fever. Great desire for acids and sour things like pickles. Nausea is also present along with sensation of heat in stomach. All complaints relieved after dinner.

DIGITALIS – Digitalis can be thought of when jaundice arises from cardiac diseases. In Digitalis, the person experience drowsiness, semi-consciousness with soreness and crushing pain in the region of the liver. All food tastes bitter. In cases of severe cases of jaundice, Digitalis is used when the pulse become irregular, more frequent and intermittent. There is rapid decline of all the strength of the body. There is shooting and tearing colic, with desire to vomit, more during movement and expiration. Passes stool of white colour like chalk, or the ashy stool.

MYRICA CERIFERA – Myrica is an important remedy in affections of the liver. There is dull pain in region of the liver with feeling of fulness. Jaundice is also treated by Myrica, when there is weakness, prostration with clay-coloured stools and loss of appetite. There is spasmodic and pulsating pain with a desire to pass stool but only passes a flatus which is offensive and passes flatus while walking. All complaints increase from warmth of bed at night, after disturbed sleep and better after breakfast, and in open air.

NUX VOMICA – Nux vomica is best acted in complaints arises after consumption of excess of alcohol, or highly seasoned food. There is tearing and crushed sensation in the abdomen is present in the Nux vomica. The liver is hard and enlarged with soreness and stitching pain is felt by the patient in the region of the liver. Constipation is another important symptom with unsatisfactory feeling, as some part remained in the rectum after passing the stool. Colic, with upward pressure, causing short breath, and desire for stool.

LYCOPODIUM – Lycopodium is another remedy which act mainly on the Gastro-intestinal tract. The liver is very sensitive to touch with dull and aching pain which increased while lying on the right side or on the painful side. There is a feeling around the abdomen as the area tied around the waist. There is sensation of heaviness and complete fulness in the stomach after eating a little quantity of food. Pain radiate to back and right side due to inflammation of the liver also covered by Lycopodium.

CARDUS MARIANUS – Cardus marianus has special action om the liver which causes pain in the liver. the liver complaints arise after excessive intake of alcohol. This is best indicated in the liver diseases associated with headache which is dull in character. It has white tongue with red edges which is indication for Cardus. There is fullness sensation in the abdomen, especially in the region of the liver with bright yellow coloured stools and golden yellow urine. Constipation is also present with hard, difficult stool which alternates with diarrhoea. Feeling as if bowels moved on expiration. Feeling of extreme tiredness, especially in the morning on waking, with sweat, at 7 a.m. with yawning, at 4 p.m. with sleep for ten minutes, at 5 p.m. with sleep for some minutes, and after dinner is prominent symptom of Cardus.

PHOSPHORUS – Phosphorus is one of the best remedies for fatty liver, jaundice. All the symptoms come suddenly like sudden emaciation, weakness, etc. There is extreme soreness in the liver area. The person desire for icy cold water which vomit out as soon as become warm in the stomach. Jaundice followed by pneumonia also cover by Phosphorus.

Conclusion

Chronic Liver Disease is the second most common cause of death in the world. In today’s era, the liver disease is more common because of faulty lifestyle and dietary habits like consumption of excessive alcohol, sedentary habits, unhealthy food, etc. Many persons get affected by the liver diseases in which many symptoms occur in later stages which can lead to even death. Proper management and treatment can decrease the complications of the liver diseases to some extent. Homeopathic medicines like Chelidonium, Nux vomica, Bryonia, etc. are the Homeopathic medicine which has affinity to treat Chronic Liver Diseases.