Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. The liver carries out several necessary functions, including detoxifying harmful substances in your body, cleaning your blood and making vital nutrients.
Cirrhosis occurs in response to damage to your liver. Each time your liver is injured, it tries to repair itself. In the process, scar tissue forms. As cirrhosis progresses, more and more scar tissue forms, making it difficult for the liver to function.
Decompensated cirrhosis is the term used to describe the development of specific complications resulting from the changes brought on by cirrhosis. Decompensated cirrhosis is life-threatening.
The liver damage done by cirrhosis generally can't be undone. But if liver cirrhosis is diagnosed early and the cause is treated, further damage can be limited and, rarely, reversed
Causes-A wide range of diseases and conditions can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis. The most common causes are:Chronic alcohol abuse.Chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C).Fat accumulating in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
Other possible causes include:Iron build up in the body (hemochromatosis).Cystic fibrosis.Copper accumulated in the liver (Wilson's disease).Poorly formed bile ducts (biliary atresia).Inherited disorders of sugar metabolism (galactosemia or glycogen storage disease).Genetic digestive disorder (Alagille syndrome).Liver disease caused by your body's immune system (autoimmune hepatitis).Destruction of the bile ducts (primary biliary cirrhosis).Hardening and scarring of the bile ducts (primary sclerosing cholangitis).Infection such schistosomiasis.Medications such as methotrexate
Symptoms--Cirrhosis often has no signs or symptoms until liver damage is extensive. When signs and symptoms do occur, they may include:-Fatigue.Bleeding easily.Bruising easily.Itchy skin.Yellow discoloration in the skin and eyes (jaundice).Fluid accumulation in your abdomen (ascites).Loss of appetite.Nausea.Swelling in your legs.Weight loss.Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy).Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin. Redness in the palms of the hands.Testicular atrophy in men. Breast enlargement in men
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
CARDUS MARIANUS Q-Cardus Marianus is an excellent medicines for treating Cirrhosis of Liver. It covers a wide range of symptoms that can be relieved with its use. The first condition calling for its use is jaundice. The second is dropsical accumulation of water in abdomen. The next field is bleeding consequent to liver damage. Liver pain and sensitiveness are experienced by most patients needing Cardus Marianus. Patients who feel fatigued or tired and have bouts of nausea and vomiting due to Liver Cirrhosis. Abuse of alcoholic drinks is usually found among persons needing Homeopathic remedy Cardus Marianus. In Cardus jaundice or bleeding accompanies ascites.
CHIONANTHUS Q- In Chionanthus chronic jaundice is present. Here the urine is almost black. Jaundice appear every summer. There is hypertrophy of liver with constipation. Soreness in liver region is present. Skin yellow, sallow and tongue also becomes yellow in colour.
CURCUMA LONGA Q-It is an excellent remedy for liver cirrhosis, may consider a specific remedy for this condition.
LYCOPODIUM 200-Lycopodium is a another medicine for treating Cirrhosis of Liver when the liver has atrophied due to longstanding Cirrhosis. The liver region is sensitive. Hepatitis may be predominantly present. Dropsical conditions consequent to Liver Cirrhosis respond very well to Lycopodium.Therefore, Lycopodium is considered as one of the best remedies for liver damage.There is loss of appetite. Eating a small quantity of food brings satisfaction. Bloated feeling in abdomen and gas in abdomen remains a constant feature. Lycopodium can also help provide relief in the general condition of patients who have lost weight, and have become emaciated and thin under the effects of Cirrhosis of Liver. There is an increased desire for hot drinks, hot food or sweets. General worsening of symptoms in evening time around 4-8 pm
ARSENIC ALBUM 30-Arsenic Album is of great help for patients of Liver Cirrhosis who experience fatigue as the main symptom. The patient feels totally exhausted from doing a little labour. He or she goes on losing weight due to debilitating effects of Cirrhosis of Liver. There is nausea and vomiting of blood. Along with vomiting, burning in abdomen is a characteristic feature pointing towards the use of Arsenic Album. Vomiting follows drinking and eating. The liver region feels painful. Ascites, or accumulation of fluid in abdomen, can also be dealt with by Arsenic Album, though the general symptoms of fatigue and burning in abdomen should match too. A general relief from taking warm drinks. Mentally there are anxiety, restlessness and fear of death.
NUX VOMICA 30-Nux Vomica is a remedy of great help for patients of Liver Cirrhosis who have a history of long-term alcoholic abuse. Such patients usually also have been sufferers of chronic acidity and constipation. The acidity symptoms including heaviness in abdomen and burning in abdomen a few hours after meals. The constipation is marked by scanty, insufficient stool or poop but with a constant urge to pass stool. There is soreness or pain in liver region. The pain may present itself as stitching in character. The patients usually have an inclination to take highly spicy diet, stimulants like coffee and alcoholic drinks and fat. Mentally the patient is angersome and irritable nature, being sensitive to external impressions like noise and odour and also, a sensitivity to cold air.
MERCURIOUS SOL. 30-In Merc sol liver is enlarged and sore to touch. There is deficient bile secretion . Skin is moist and itching is present. In Merc sol patients the complaints becomes worse in the evening and in the night.
PHOSPHORUS 30-Phosphorus is effective for treating jaundice in patients with Cirrhosis of Liver. The symptoms during jaundice are yellow appearance of skin, and passage of stool of a very offensive nature. Utmost weakness follows the passage of stool. There is vomiting of blood. Phosphorus has an excellent effect in controlling the blood appearing in vomitus. Desire for cold drinks, juices and ice creams is usually present in patients needing Phosphorus.
APOCYNUM CANNABINUM 30--Apocynum Cannabinum ascites is marked. The symptoms to be considered are bloated abdomen with a weak and slow pulse. Other leading symptoms include an increased thirst for water. Difficulty in breathing and pressure in chest may also appear. Intolerance to food and water with immediate ejection in form of vomiting
QUASSIA 30-In Quassia ascites is accompanied by pain in liver and acidity
CHELIDONIUM MAJ Q—Jaundice.Chelidonium is pain in liver under right shoulder blade with jaundice symptoms. The jaundice symptoms include yellow skin, yellow urine and yellow or white-coloured stool and yellow-coated tongue. Desire for extremely hot drinks is noted in patients needing Chelidonium.
CROTALUS HOR 30—There is vomiting of blood in cirrhosis of liver
HYDRASTIS CAN 30-Hydrastis is ideal for Liver Cirrhosis patients with excessive debility and tiredness. The muscular power is exhausted with a loss of weight. Longstanding constipation is found in persons needing Hydrastis can.
PLUMBUM METALLICUM 200-In Plumbum metallicum the liver first enlarged and then becomes contrated .Hepatic region sensitive to pressure without being enlarged or somewhat hypertrophied.
HYDROCOTYLE ASIATICA Q-It is considered to be a specific for Cirrhosis of liver
NATRUM SULPH 6X- The peculiar symptom of Natrum sulph is yellow creamy coating at the back part of tongue and roof of mouth.
email-plantmedicines@yahoo.com