Management of Fatty Liver Disease through Ayurveda

Abstract

Liver is an essential organ of the body, which acts as a well equipped biochemical laboratory where practically metabolism of all the nutritional substances takes place. The liver has enzymes for the beta-oxidation of fatty acids and their use in the Krebs cycle. So it is commonest site of fat accumulation liver it plays very significant role in fat metabolism. It depends on the cause and amount of fat accumulation that fatty change may be mild and reversible, or severe producing irreversible cell injury and cell death. Fatty liver is a reversible condition wherein large amount of fat accumulate in liver cells via the process of steatosis. When fat content exceeds 5% of total weight of liver or more than 30% of liver cells ina liver lobule are with fat deposit, this condition is called as Fatty Liver. Besides alcohol intake , Heavy fat rich diet, junk food, soft drinks, sedentary lifestyle, Metabolic syndrome (Obesity, Dyslipidaemia), drugs (eg: Corticosteroids, Aspirin,) etc. are considered to be the major etiological factors of fatty liver. Today there is no promising treatment for liver disorder in modern science. On the other hand Ayurveda has very rich herbo- mineral preparations as well as shodana therapies like virechankarma based on Ayurvedic principles. So here an approach has been made to manage the fatty liver disease with the help of Ayurveda.