Abstract: An unhealthy way of living leads to numerous health issues in the modern world. One such ailment is fatty liver, where fat accumulates in the liver. The liver, being the body’s second-largest organ, is affected by this condition called Fatty Liver Disease, which is reversible. In this illness, large fat vacuoles form in liver cells due to steatosis. This article offers an in-depth look into fatty liver disease and the importance of overall management in its treatment.
Keywords: Lifestyle, Obesity, Liver, Fat, Fatty Liver, Homoeopathy.
Introduction
The liver acts as the body’s metabolic hub. Fatty Liver Disease, or fatty liver, is a treatable condition characterized by the buildup of large lipid droplets in liver cells due to abnormal lipid retention. While having several triggers, this condition often stems from modern lifestyles. Found globally, it predominantly impacts individuals who overindulge in alcohol and are overweight, irrespective of insulin sensitivity. Fatty liver is closely associated with other disorders impacting fat processing. It is challenging to differentiate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease based on morphological characteristics, as both show similar fatty alterations. The terms Alcoholic steatosis and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease can be used interchangeably to describe fatty liver, with more severe forms referred to as Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis.
Epidemiology
Fatty Liver Disease is seen in 10% to 24% of the general population globally. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy identifies liver fat in 31% of US adults and 33% of potential live liver donors. Ultrasound indicates fatty liver issues in 12.9% to 16.4% of individuals. The prevalence of liver fat is higher in men and specific ethnic groups, increasing with age from 2.6% in toddlers to 26% in those aged 40 to 59. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is more common in individuals with diabetes (50%) and obesity (76%), especially prevalent in severely obese diabetics. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is tied to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Aetiology
A fatty liver is often associated with alcohol intake or the metabolic syndrome, which comprises conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and abnormal blood fats. However, it can also develop due to various other causes.
Metabolic
These disorders include conditions affecting glycogen storage, deficient abetalipoproteinemia leading to acute fatty liver during pregnancy, Weber-Christian disease, and lipodystrophy.
Nutritional
Examples of malnutrition include substantial weight loss, refeeding syndrome, surgical procedures like jejunoileal bypass and gastric bypass, as well as jejunal diverticulosis accompanied by bacterial overgrowth.
Toxins and drugs
Toxins like phosphorus and mushrooms, methotrexate, diltiazem, old tetracycline, powerful HIV medications, steroids, and tamoxifen are all harmful to the liver.
Alcoholic
Fatty liver disease often results from alcoholism due to the production of harmful byproducts like aldehydes during alcohol metabolism. Prolonged alcohol abuse is the primary trigger for this condition.
Other
HIV, hepatitis C (particularly genotype 3), alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, and
inflammatory bowel disease.
Clinical Features
Mild fatty liver often doesn’t show any symptoms and is usually discovered incidentally during routine tests. Yet, some individuals may have vague symptoms occasionally.
- Loss of weight
- Nausea and diarrhoea
- Reduced appetite
- Abdominal distension (caused by ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)
- This is an emergency if you have poor memory, attention problems, dull ideas, or mental disarray.
- Depression
- Jaundice, a yellowish skin pigmentation, and black urine.
- Abdominal fullness and heaviness, especially in the upper right corner
- Malaise, or extreme suffering that makes a person wish to rest, even after moderate effort, fatigue.
- On occasion, pressure may cause pain in the liver.
- Unchecked fatty liver, however, can develop into the potentially fatal Cirrhosis. After That, Signs Of Liver Failure Start To Appear.
Diagnosis
The majority of patients have no symptoms, which are only discovered by accident because of hepatomegaly or abnormal liver function tests that are unrelated to medical conditions. There are several circumstances in which the spleen may enlarge. Levels of liver enzymes may increase. It’s possible that the AST and ALT or SGPT and SGOT levels are greater than usual. Excessive triglyceride levels are another possibility. Others make a diagnosis based on the patient’s medical history supported by imaging, blood work, and a liver biopsy.
General Management
In order to treat fatty liver, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing body weight are essential. It makes sense to reduce body weight by roughly 10% or in line with one’s BMI. Even half of it will be beneficial. Frequent causes of insulin resistance include fatty liver. This suggests that your body is unable to use insulin efficiently even when it has enough of it. Consequently, the amount of glucose in your blood increases.
In order to treat fatty liver, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing body weight are essential. It makes sense to reduce body weight by roughly 10% or in line with one’s BMI. Even half of it will be beneficial. Frequent causes of insulin resistance include fatty liver. This suggests that your body is unable to use insulin efficiently even when it has enough of it. Consequently, the amount of glucose in your blood increases.
Homoeopathic Management
Nux Vomica
When excessive alcohol consumption is the cause of fatty liver, homeopathy offers the most effective treatment. It is utilized to treat abdominal pain that begins a few hours after eating and resembles a stone in the stomach. Belching that tastes sour or bitter goes along with the discomfort.Constipation with an ineffectual need to urinate or poop is a key sign that Nux Vomica is the right treatment for fatty liver.On the other hand, the stool is uncomfortable and insufficient. Abdominal pain is relieved by-passing excrement, but the need to do so quickly follows. The patient has a craving for fatty, spicy,caffeinated, and alcoholic foods and drinks.
Lycopodium
It is a natural remedy that can help with symptoms of fatty liver, such as gas and acidity. The patient complains of bloating or stomach distension after eating. Feeling of belly bloat. Belching that burns is another typical symptom. A modest bit of food can make you feel stuffed to the gills.The patient experiences pain and heaviness in the right upper part of the abdomen. The symptoms typically get worse in the evening. The person’s condition is aggravated by farinaceous meals. It’s possible that your cravings for sweets and hot beverages are abnormally intense.
Chelidonium
The right upper abdominal ache and tightness under the right shoulder are this medication’s most frequent symptom. Additionally, the liver may expand. In this person, constipation is typical. As the stool moves through, it assumes the shape of hard balls. Along with nausea and vomiting, there is often an enlarged abdomen. The sufferer is impacted by their severe frailty. The best treatment for jaundice in a patient with fatty liver is chelidonium. The desire for really hot food and drinks is a typical symptom that supports choosing to have this treatment.
Phosphorus
When there is increased thirst along with other signs of a fatty liver, it is one of the best homeopathic treatments available. The patient finds warm water uncomfortable, and as soon as it warms up in the stomach,they vomit it out. The patient is typically tall and slim. There is a light and empty feeling in the stomach. Lying on the left side makes the pain worse.
Calcarea Carb
The person is overweight and flabby, with additional fat throughout their entire abdomen and in their liver. The extra fat in the liver can be effectively removed with this treatment. Digestion is especially slow in persons who have been constipated for a long time. Usually, the stomach is swollen. Milk should not be consumed by these folks. Among the documented constitutional symptoms are cravings for strange items like chalk and pencils or boiled eggs. Cold sensitivity and profuse head sweating are other symptoms.
Bryonia
Liver region swollen, sore, tensive stitching and burning pain. Tenderness in abdomen with fatty liver., Constipation, stool hard and dry, with yellow pale skin.
Cardus Marianus
For fatty liver. Soreness in liver region.itching of skin with yellowish discoloration.Pain in region of liver. left lobe very sensitive., stool hard, difficult, knotty, hyperaemia of liver with jaundice.
Conclusion
Although fatty liver disease is a common condition, it needs to be treated very away to prevent serious long-term effects. The underlying etiology of fatty liver disease is the foundation of the conventional treatment. Fatty liver disease can be treated holistically with homeopathy by enhancing the liver’s normal function without causing side effects or drug reliance.
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Authors
Dr. Somendra Yadav1 ,Dr. Sunil Verma2,Dr. Ankita srivastava3 ,Dr. Avinashi Shukla4
- Assistant professor Dept. of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, Sophia Homoeopathic Medical College, Gwalior Madhya Pradesh, India
- Assistant professor Dept. of organon of medicine, Sophia Homoeopathic medical college, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Assistant professor Dept. of Homoeopathic Materia Medica , Sophia Homoeopathic medical college, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Consultant Physician at Devanshi Homoeo Clinic, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
