The liver is one of the most important organs of our body. It is an organ that has the extraordinary ability to regenerate itself. Chronic injury to the liver leads to the malfunction and deterioration of the organ. Healthy tissues of the liver get replaced by scar tissues and this restricts the blood flowing through the liver. This in turn impairs the ability of the liver to perform its perfunctory functions.

Yoga is considered to effectively help patients with liver cirrhosis. Yoga differs from other fitness exercises as it combines physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques and meditation in order to maintain a balance between physical, mental and emotional well being.

Yoga that helps the liver does not literally mean that the asanas exercise the liver, but rather mean that they stimulate and improve the functioning of the liver. Some poses provide a direct benefit by putting gentle pressure on the liver and stimulating it. While other poses help the body to recover from liver damage, improve circulation of blood and cleanse the system. It not only helps lower stress levels but also assists in enhancing the physical as well as psychological health. It helps feel better and aids the body to react more favourably to treatment.

The following asanas are recommended for treating liver cirrhosis:
Kapalbhati pranayama – This is a breathing exercise basically meant for complete fitness of the body. With devoted practice of this pranayama, cirrhosis might get permanently cured.

Matsya asana – This asana is also known as the fish pose. The posture falls under the category of backbends. It strengthens and stimulates the organs of the belly.

Sarvang asana – This is one of inverted postures in yoga that benefits the entire body. It promotes circulation of blood to the entire body especially towards the heart.

Hal asana – This is one of the basic postures in yoga. It stretches the spine and rejuvenates the entire body. Also known as the plough pose, this asana soothes the stomach, belly and liver.

Chakra asana – Also known as the wheel pose, this asana too comforts the liver and the stomach.

Marjari asana – This asana is also known as the cat posture. Inspired by the mannerisms of cats, this gives flexibility to the backbone.

Gomukh asana – This is also known as cow head pose. It massages the abdominal organs, increases blood circulation and activates the nervous system.

Garuda asana – Also known as the eagle pose, it aims towards balance and tranquillity of the body. It also strengthens ankles and calf muscles.

You should also do breathing exercises along with these asanas so that there is better supply of oxygen to the liver. Practising breathing exercises also aids in pumping clean blood which increases the metabolism of the body. Please ensure that you learn the various asanas under the guidance of an experienced instructor. This is because failure to do the asanas correctly may lead to injury. Also keep in mind that in addition to yoga, you need to follow a healthy lifestyle and maintain a strict diet.

According to ayurveda, cirrhosis is caused by highly damaged Vata. This is a disease that affects one of the most important organs of our body – the liver. The liver performs various vital functions such as production of bile, elimination of wastes from the body, production of urea, filtration of harmful substances from the blood, making of proteins, and so on. Symptoms of this disease include weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, fluid retention in the abdomen and legs, etc.

Treatment of this disease through ayurveda might take time but it aims to destroy the root cause of the disease and increases the ability of the body to heal naturally. Once the cause of the disease is diagnosed, one can undergo a certain treatment or therapy or a combination of them. One such treatment is the Panchakarma treatment.

The basic aim of the Panchakarma treatment is to flush out the toxins from the body. This treatment not only improves physical health but also vitalises the mind. As the name suggests, Panchakarma means five types of therapeutic treatments that cleanses the body. The phases of the Panchakarma treatment are broadly classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification. These phases are composed of various therapies such as oil massage, herbal massage, fermented liquid massage, medical enemas, nasal administration of oil, etc.

The pre-purification phase of the Panchakarma treatment aims to slacken the toxins from the body. It also opens up the circulation channels and prepares the body to release the toxins. The pre-purification method that is adopted for the treatment of liver cirrhosis is called ‘Snehapanam’. Apart from cleansing the body of its toxins, it also enhances memory. Snehapanam involves consumption of a concoction made from medicated ghee and sesame oil for a certain number of days.  Few other ingredients used for making the concoction include Aragwadha (Cassia Fistula), Bhringaraja ( Eclipta alba), Patola (Trichosanthes lobata)guggul (Commiphora Wightii), chopchini (Smilax China), ginger (Zingiber Officinale), neem (Azadirachta Indica), onion (Allium Cepa) and so on.

The intention of the main purification phase is to get rid of the toxins that were slackened during the pre-purification phase. The therapies for the main purification for cirrhosis are called ‘Nasyam’ and ‘Virechanam’. In the Nasyam therapy, herbal oil is poured drop by drop into the nostrils. Inhaling the oil opens up the head channels. The base ingredient of the herbal oil is sesame oil to which herbs such as bael (Aegle Marmelos), sida plants, etc. are mixed. Virechanam refers to the oral intake of herbal medicines. The toxins are then released through excreta. This therapy energises the entire body and improves appetite.

The Panchakarma treatment should be undertaken only by expert Ayurvedic practitioners. The treatment differs for each person according to the disease and the constitution of the body.

The ancient system of ayurveda is believed to have begun nearly 5000 years ago in the Indian subcontinent. Over the years, it has developed extensively and has found many followers worldwide. While in Indian, there are many believers of the power of ayurveda, in the western world, it is considered as alternative medicine.

Ayurveda is known to have cured many diseases. One such disease that has high success rate in getting cured by ayurveda medicines is liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver is a disease most often caused by excessive alcoholism and chronic hepatitis B, C or D. In this disease, the healthy tissues in the liver get replaced by scar tissues that impair the ability of the liver to perform its vital functions.

The ayurveda treatment for liver cirrhosis emphasises on rectifying the cause of the disease, plummeting the damage done and preventing further damage. Certain ayurveda medicines or a combination of them are administered to patients suffering from this disease.

The following ayurveda medicines help reducing inflammation and blockage of liver cells:
•    Arogya-Vardhini
•    Shankh-Vati
•    Sharpunkha (Tephrosia Purpuria)
•    Kutki (Picrorrhiza Kurroa)
•    Punarnava (Boerhaavia Diffusa)
•    Bhrungraj (Eclipta Alba)
•    Tamra-Bhasma

The following ayurveda medicines are taken for better circulation of blood and to reduce oedema:
•    Punarnavadi-Guggulu
•    Gokshuradi-Guggulu
•    Punarnavadi-Qadha
•    Gokshur (Tribulus Terrestris)
•    Saariva (Hemidesmus Indicus)
•    Deodar (Cedrus Deodara)
•    Aparmarga (Achyranthus Aspera)
•    Sahinjan (Moringa Pterygosperma)

The following ayurveda medicines are administered to repair the tissues of the body:
•    Indrayav (Holharrhina Antidysentrica)
•    Patol (Tricosanthe Dioica)
•    Kutki (Picrorrhiza Kurroa)
•    Saariva
•    Patha (Cissampelos Pareira)
•    Musta (Cyperus Rotundus)

The following ayurveda medicines are given to prevent fibrosis and partially reverse the damage done to the liver:
•    Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia)
•    Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis)
•    Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza Glabra)
•    Gokshur

The following ayurveda medicines are used to diminish immune dysfunction of the body:
•    Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)
•    Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus)
•    Bala (Sida Cordifolia)
•    Nagbala (Sida Humilis)

The following ayurveda medicines are given to soothe the liver and prolong life:
•    Panchamrut-Parpati
•    Suvarna-Parpati
•    Suvarna-Sutshekhar-Ras

In ayurveda, liver cirrhosis is known to have caused by the aggravation of three doshas: pitta, vatta and kapha. In order to avoid liver cirrhosis, one should take good care of one’s health and be careful regarding diet. Alcohol and caffeine should be avoided. One should exercise regularly, drink green tea and try and reduce stress levels.

Ayurveda is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent nearly 5000 years ago. It is a system of traditional medicine that is fast becoming popular all over the world. Ayurveda lays emphasis on healthy living. In order to keep illness at bay, ayurveda stresses on hygiene, yoga, exercise and herbal preparations. And in order to cure ailments, it emphasises the importance of diet, physiotherapy and ayurvedic medicines.

In ayurveda, the liver is referred to as ‘yakrut’ or ‘yakrita’. The derivation of the word comes from ‘yaha’ meaning one and ‘krut’ that literally means does. Thus the liver is considered to be an extremely important organ of the body that performs various vital functions. The basic functions of the liver include eliminating wastes from the body, producing urea, cholesterol and bile, filtering harmful substances from the blood, making proteins, maintaining an appropriate level of glucose in the body and so on.

The basic fundamentals of ayurveda are based on the principle that the human body is composed of four basics – dosha, dhatu, mala and agni. According to ayurveda, liver cirrhosis is known as ‘yakrut vishamyata’. In this disease, the liver cells decay as the kapha, meaning phlegm of the body, mixes with impure blood. This disease is categorised into three parts according to the increase in a particular dosha in the body. The three parts are:

•    Vataj, which is caused by excess vatta in the body.
•    Pittaj, which is caused by excess pitta in the body.
•    Kaphaj, which is caused by excess kapha in the body.

Ayurvedic solution to the treatment of liver cirrhosis has been found to have a high success rate. Many medicinal plants and a combination of them are administered to help cure this disease. Some very effective medications to cure liver cirrhosis are ‘bhringaraja’ (eclipta alba), arogyavardhini and ‘katuki’ (picrorhiza). While taking ayurvedic medicines, one should take special care regarding their diet.