Homeopathic Treatment for Liver Cirrhosis

The liver is the largest gland in the human body. 'Cirrhosis' of liver is a condition wherein the normal liver tissues get damaged and replaced by scar tissue.
Healthy liver cells get substituted with fibrotic scar tissue in a very slow and gradual process. Conditions leading to recurrent inflammation of the liver cells (hepatitis) heal with fibrosis and scar tissue formation.

Cirrhosis can disrupt many vital functions of the liver. Any condition that can damage the liver cells can cause cirrhosis. The liver gets its major supply of blood from the venous system of the intestines. The presence of scar tissues can reduce the effective circulation of blood within the liver. This slows down the transport and elimination of the various products of liver metabolism. The liver breaks down many substances including red blood cells and drugs and toxins. With chronic inflammation & scar tissue formation, the liver function becomes very sluggish leading to accumulation of various harmful substances.

The liver performs many important roles.    

• Breakdown and elimination of many chemicals like alcohol, drugs and toxins.    
• Breakdown and metabolism of red blood cells.    
• Formation of cholesterol and breakdown of saturated fats.    
• Formation and storage of important clotting factors.    
• Manufacture bile - an important substance for digesting foods.    
• Production and storage of sugar in the form of glycogen.    
• Storage of vital nutrients like vitamins and providing them when their levels in the body are low.

Causes :

• Alcohol    
• Chronic viral infections - hepatitis (types B, C and D)    
• Drugs and toxins.    
• Autoimmune hepatitis    
• Hereditary conditions like    
• hereditary hemochromatosis    
• Wilson's disease    
• Cystic fibrosis    
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency    
• Cystic fibrosis    
• Conditions affecting the biliary system    
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis    
• Primary biliary cirrhosis    
• Infections with parasites    
• Schistosomiasis (snails)    
• Cardiac failure - causes a condition called 'cardiac cirrhosis'.

Symptoms :

• Weakness/fatigue/exhaustion    
• Loss of appetite    
• Weight loss or sudden weight gain    
• Nausea    
• Jaundice    
• Itching of skin (pruritis)    
• Swelling or distention of the abdomen    
• Ascites » collection of excess fluid within the abdomen    
• Swelling of the ankles    
• Easy bruising    
• Spider naevi » dilated capillaries on the upper chest, arms and forearms.    
• Slow healing of wounds    
• Palms appear very red and warm    
• Asterexis » sudden, involuntary, violent twitching of the hand when it is held outstretched.    
• Gynaecomastia » enlargement of breast in males    
• Changes in personality    
• increased irritability    
• inability to concentrate    
• weakness of memory    
• indifference to personal appearance

Homeopathic Treatment for Liver Cirrhosis

Homeopathic medicines treat the underlying cause of Cirrhosis of Liver, such as viral infection, genetic tendency, bad effects of alcohol, metabolic changes, etc. and thus help to treat effects of Cirrhosis of Liver. Homeopathy helps to control further cellular damage. It cannot cure the scarred tissues, as such, as it is not possible to regenerate scarred tissues.

When introduced at an early stage of cirrhosis, homeopathic medicines can effectively reduce the viral count (in Hepatitis caused by HBV and HCV) as well as give symptomatic relief without side effects. Homeopathic medications can prevent the progress of cirrhosis and in very early cases of liver cirrhosis, the medicines restore majority of the normal functions of the liver.