E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Ayurveda medicines

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2024 Volume 9 Number 1 January
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Role of Ayurveda medicines in the management of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Acharya G S1*, Niranjan S2, Swayamprabha S3, S Acharya R4
DOI:10.21760/jaims.9.1.15

1* Shripathi Acharya G, Director, Academic and Development, Muniyal Institute of Ayurveda Medical Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

2 Niranjan S, Professor, Department of Kayachikitsa, Major S D Singh PG Ayurvedic Medical College, Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

3 Swapna Swayamprabha, HOD, Department of Agada Tantra, KATS Ayurvedic College, Ankushpur, Odisha, India.

4 Rajeshwari S Acharya, Post Graduate Scholar, PG Department of Panchakarma, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Due to faulty food habits and altered lifestyles, non communicable disorders are commonly occurring in modern India. Alcoholic liver disease is caused due to intake of excessive alcohol for prolonged period. The alcohol taken undergoes metabolic changes and acetaldehyde is formed which damages the liver. Initially liver cells get studded with fat droplets and leads to inflammation of the liver called Alcoholic hepatitis. If further alcohol is taken in excessive amounts, it leads to Alcoholic cirrhosis. In this condition some of the hepatocytes undergo necrosis followed by abnormal regeneration and formation of multiple nodules and extensive fibrosis. There will be decrease in liver function followed by emaciation of the body and ascites in alcohol liver disease. Ayurveda medicine has a better role and outcome. Use of hepatoprotectives, hepatic stimulant, Rasayana drugs. Choalaganges, Tikta and Madhura Rasayukta drugs, Mootrala drugs and protein supplementation are found effective in the management of Alcoholic liver disease. Present paper highlights the role of Ayurveda medicines in the management of Alcoholic liver disease.

Keywords: Alcoholic liver disease, Hepatoprotectives, Mootrala drugs, Rasayana

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Shripathi Acharya G, Director, Academic and Development, Muniyal Institute of Ayurveda Medical Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Email: 		Acharya G S, Niranjan S, Swayamprabha S, S Acharya R, Role of Ayurveda medicines in the management of Alcoholic Liver Disease. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2024;9(1):113-116.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/3023

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2023-11-17 2023-11-27 2023-12-07 2023-12-15 2023-12-23
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None declared Nil Yes 20.96

© 2024by Acharya G S, Niranjan S, Swayamprabha S, S Acharya Rand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

J Ayu Int Med Sci 2024;9(1)113
Shripathi Acharya G. et al. Role of Ayurveda medicines in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Introduction

Alcoholic liver disease is commonly seen in Indian population. In recent years, the consumption of alcohol by Indian people has been raised. Due to altered lifestyle and behaviours. Modernization of lifestyle in urban areas has led to increase in alcohol consumption. Alcohol, after undergoing metabolism in the body forms acetaldehyde which is hepatotoxic agent. Hence this leads to chronic damage to the hepatocytes with occurrence of ALD. Use of Vyadhi Pratyanika Aushadhis, regular exercise, Pranayama and Yogasana practises, Panchakarma therapy, Pathya Apathya Prayoga and regular counselling showed better results in the management of ALD.[1,2]

Clinical feature of ALD

a) Alcoholic steatosis

1. Loss of appetite

2. Constipation

3. Weakness

4. Lethargy

b) Alcoholic hepatitis

1. Icterus

2. Yellowish discolouration of skin, conjenetive and urine

3. Loss of appetite

4. Abdominal pain

5. Itching

6. Lethargy

7. Altered consciousness

c) Alcoholic cirrhosis

1. Loss of appetite

2. Cachexia

3. Ascitis

4. Clubbing

5. Bilateral pedal edema

6. Hypoproteinaemia

7. Spider naevi

8. Telangectasia

9. Echymoses

10. Gynecomastia

11. Infertility

Single drugs

1. Katuka (Picorrhiza curroa)

2. Kumari (Aloe Vera)

3. Guduchi (Tinospara cordifolia)

4. Dronapushpi (Leucas aspera)

5. Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa)

6. Moolaka (Raphanus sativus)

7. Alabu (Water gaurd)

8. Kakamachi (Solanum nigrum)

9. Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)

11. Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellarica)

12. Amalaka (Emblica officinalis)

13. Patola (Trichosanthus dioca)

14. Bhunimba (Andrographis paniculata)

15. Kharjura (Phoenix dactylifera)

Formulations useful in ALD[3,4]

1. Phalatrikadi Kashaya

2. Kumari Asava

3. Triphala Tablets

4. Arogyavardhini Vati

5. Kakamachi Swarasa

6. Guduchi Kwatha

7. Punarnava Mandoora

8. Triphala Mandoora

9. Pravala Panchamrita Rasa

10. Mukta Panchamrita Rasa

11. Pravala Pishti

12. Mukta Pishti

13. Pravala Moola Bhasma

14. Mukta Bhasma

15. Godanti Bhasma


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Shripathi Acharya G. et al. Role of Ayurveda medicines in Alcoholic Liver Disease

16. Rohitakarishta

17. Dronapushpi Swarasa

18. Punarnava Swarasa

19. Shweta Parpati

20. Kshara Parpati

21. Kharjuradi Mantha

Actions of the drugs and formulations used in ALD

1. Dipana

2. Pachana

3. Virechana

4. Mala Vatanulomana

5. Nutritive

6. Poshaka

7. Rasayana

8. Tikta, Madhura Rasayukta

9. Hepatic stimulant

10. Mootrala

11. Digestive

12. Diuretic

13. Carminative

14. Supplementation of protein

15. Antistress

16. Adaptogenic

17. Medhya

18. Buddhivardhaka

Pathyas in ALD

1. High protein diet

2. Narikela Jala

3. Yava Manda

4. Moolaka

5. Alabu

6. Salt and water restriction


Apathyas in ALD

1. Alcohol

2. Vidahi, Guru, Vishtambhi Ahara

3. Fats like oil, ghee

4. Katu Ushna Viryayukta Padartha

5. Excessive exercise

6. Irregular food habits

Discussion

Alcohol liver disease is caused due to chronic ingestion of alcohol. Chronic intake of alcohol affects many organs such as stomach, liver, CVS, CNS and metabolism. Alcoholic liver disease is of three stages.[5]

1. Fatty degeneration of the liver or Alcoholic steatosis
2. Alcoholic hepatitis
3. Alcoholic cirrhosis

The toxic metabolitic of the alcohol metabolism viz acetaldehyde causes damage to the hepatocytes leading ALD. Ayurvedic management includes uses of hepatoprotectives, hepatic stimulants; Rasayana drugs Tikta and Madhura Rasayukta substances. Dipana Pachana, Mootrala, Virechana and Malavatanulomana drugs. Common medicines used in such conditions are Phalatrikadi Kashaya, Arogyavardhini Vati, Yakridari Loha, Yakrit Plihari Loha, Kumari Asava, Guduchi Kashaya, Katuki Kwatha, Pravala Panchamruta Rasa, Mukta Panchamruta Rasa, Pravala Bhasma, Godanti Bhasma, Kharjuradi Mantha and Kamadugha Rasa.[6,7] Early stages of ALD are showing better results by Ayurveda treatment. These drugs help in correcting the liver function and also have nutritive and rasayana actions.[8]

Conclusion

Alcoholic liver disease can be better treated by Ayurvedic medicines. Use of hepato protective and hepatic stimulants proved beneficial in the treatment of ALD. The liver functions improved and the complications of ALD got reduced in severity. The general strength of the patient improved after treatment.


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Shripathi Acharya G. et al. Role of Ayurveda medicines in Alcoholic Liver Disease

References

1. Vaidya H. Chikitsa Chandrodaya. Madhura: Haridas and Company Ltd; 11th edition; 7th Vol. 2013. p. 908.

2. Sharma AK. Kayachikitsa, Part II. Delhi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2013. p. 950.

3. Vaishya S. Vanga sena. Mumbai: Khemaraja Srikrishnadas Prakashana; 1996. p. 1096.

4. Acharya S. Researches in Ayurveda. Manipal: Shripathi Acharya; 2010. p. 140.

5. Srinivasulu M. Clinical Diagnosis in Ayurveda. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Prathishtan; 2013. p. 612.

6. Nadakarni KM. Indian Materia Medica. Mumbai: Popular prakashan private Ltd; 2002. Vol 2. p. 968.

7. Rastogi RP, Mehrotra BN. Compendium of Indian Medicinal plants. Lucknow: CDRI, Newdelhi: NISC; 1960 - 1969. Vol I. p. 515.

8. Shastri RD. Chikitsadarsha Sampoorna. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Vishwa Bharathi; 1980. 5th edition. p. 230.


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