Liver Care in Ayurveda

Liver Care formulations in Ayurveda

Introduction of Liver:

Ayurvedic Liver Care

Liver is the heaviest gland of the body, weighting about 1.4kg in an average adult. The liver is situated under the diaphragm and occupies most of the right hypochondriac region and part of the epigastric region of the abdominal cavity. The liver is divided in to two principal lobes by falciform ligament- A large right lobe and a smaller left lobe. The lobes of the liver are made up of many functional units called lobules. A lobule is typically of a six-sided (hexagon shape) structure that consists of specialized epithelial cells called hepatocyte, around a central vein. In addition, the liver lobule contains highly permeable capillaries called sinusoids, though which blood passes. Bile which is secreted by hepatocytes, lastly enters in to common hepatic duct which is join with cystic duct coming out from gall bladder and form common bile duct. The common bile duct drains the bile in to gastro-intestinal tract.

Blood supply of Liver:
Oxygenated blood coming to the liver from hepatic artery and nutrient-rich but deoxygenated blood coming to the liver from hepatic portal vein with drains blood into Liver sinusoids, then it enters in to the Central vein, and through central vein it enters into the hepatic vein and lastly via Inferior vena cava (IVC), blood reach to the heart.

Functions of Liver:
In addition to secreting bile, which is needed for absorption of dietary fats, the liver performs many other vital functions like-

• Carbohydrate metabolism
• Lipid metabolism
• Protein metabolism
• Processing of drugs and hormones
• Excretion of bilirubin
• Synthesis of bile salts
• Storage of glycogen and certain vitamins
• Phagocytosis
• Activation of Vitamin-D

Diseases of Liver:
According to Ayurveda, liver and spleen is the root of circulatory system. So, when liver is affected by any disease, whole the circulatory system of the body will get affected and gradually fails to deliver its normal functions in the body.

The major liver diseases includes-

• Pyogenic liver abscess
• Amoebic liver abscess
• Hepatoma or Hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC)
• Secondaries of the liver
• Liver mass
• Hydatid cyst
• Portal hypertentsion and
• Budd-chiari syndrome

Investigations of liver diseases-
CBC- Complete blood count
ESR- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
BT- Bleeding time
CT- Clotting time
PT- Prothrombin time
LFT- Liver function test
Urine- Routine and microscopic exam
Stool- Routine and microscopic exam
USG- Ultrasonography
CT Scan- Computerised tomography scanning

Ayurvedic treatment of Liver diseases:
According to Charaka(School of Ayurvedic medicine), there are four principle ways for the treatment of liver diseases.
कुर्यात् शोणितरोगेषू रक्तपित्तहरीक्रियाम् |
विरेकं उपवासश्च स्रावणम् शोणितस्य च || (Ref: Ch. Su. 24)

1)  रक्तपित्तहरीक्रियाम्- Ayurvedic medicines which removes the excess vitiated blood and vitiated pitta dosha
2)  विरेकम्- Medicated purgation (A procedure of Panchkarma treatment)3)  उपवास- Fasting4)  शोणितस्य स्रावणम्- Bloodletting (An Ayurvedic parasurgical procedure)

Famous Ayurvedic formulations for Liver disease-

• Kwath (Home-made decoctions): These are more famous and more preferable Ayurvedic medicines for liver disorders.Triphala Kwath; Faltrikadi Kwath; Bhunimbaadi Kwath; Abhayaadi Kwath; OPD CHEK Decoction etc.
  Method for preparing the Home-made decoction-Take around two tablespoonfuls of Herbal decoction and mix it well with around two cups of water (Around 150 ml water) in the evening hours. Keep the mixture for whole night. The very next morning, boil this mixture on light to medium flame. Shake it well during boiling. Gradually the water will start to get evaporating. When around half cup of water remains in the mixture during boiling, take it down. Strain the liquid into a glass or ceramic container using a sieve or a cloth such as a jelly bag or muslin cloth. Drink the freshly prepared liquid decoction after 4-5 minutes. 
• Kadha (Ready-made decoctions in Syrup base):Bhunimbaadi Kadha; Faltrikaadi Kadha; Pathyaadi Kadha etc.
• Churna (Ayurvedic herbal powders):Katuki Churna; Trivrut Churna; Triphala Churna; Haritaki Churna etc.
• Vati(Tabletes and Capsules):Pathyaadi ghanvati; Livotrit tablet; Liver-Kidney Care Capsule; Immunity Capsule (Organic India Pharma); Beliver Capsule (Pink health Pharma) etc.
• Syrup:Livotrit Syrup, Hepnar Syrup, Liv-52 Syrup etc.