Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosis of the liver refers to all forms of liver
disease characterised by a significant loss of cells. It is one of the most
serious hepatic diseases. The liver gradually contracts in size and becomes hard
and leathery. The liver is one of the most important glandular organs in the
body. It is located high up on the right side of the abdomen just under the
diaphragm. It is a vast chemical laboratory which performs many important
functions. It produces bile, cholesterol, lecithin, blood albumin vital to the
removal of tissue wastes prothrombin essential to the clotting of blood and
numerous enzymes. It inactivates hormones no longer needed, synthesizes many
amino acids used in building tissues and breaks proteins into sugar and fat
when required for energy. It stores vitamins and minerals. It also destroys
harmful substances and detoxifies drugs, poisons, chemicals and toxins from
bacterial infections. Liver damage interferes with all of these functions. In
cirrhosis of the liver, although regenerative activity continues, the
progressive loss of liver cells exceeds cell replacement. There is also
progressive distortion of the vascular system which interferes with the portal
blood flow through the liver. The progressive degeneration of liver structure
and function may ultimately lead to hepatic failure and death.
Symptoms
In the early stages of the diseases, there may be
nothing more than frequent attacks of gas and indigestion, with occasional
nausea and vomiting. There may be some abdominal pain and loss of weight. In
the advanced stage, the patient develops a low grade fever. He has a foul
breath, jaundiced skin and distended veins in the abdomen. Reddish hair like
markings, resembling small spiders, may appear on the face, neck, arms and
trunk. The abdomen becomes bloated and swollen, the mind gets clouded and there
may be considerable bleeding from the stomach.
Causes
Excessive use of alcohol over a long period is the
most potent cause of cirrhosis of the liver. It has been estimated that one out
of 12 chronic alcoholics in the United
States develops cirrhosis. The disease can
progress to end-stage of hepatic failure if the person does not abstain from alcohol.
Cirrhosis appears to be related to the duration of alcohol intake and the
quantity consumed daily. Recent researches indicate that the average duration
of alcohol intake to produce cirrhosis is 10 years and the dose is estimated to
be in excess of 500 ml of alcohol daily. Poor nutrition can be another
causative factor in the development of cirrhosis and a chronic alcoholic
usually suffers from severe malnutrition as he seldom eats. Other causes of
cirrhosis are excessive intake of highly seasoned food, habitual taking of
quinine for a prolonged period in tropical climate, and drug treatments for
syphillis, fever and other diseases. It may also result from a highly toxic
condition of the system in general. In fact, anything which continually overburdens
the liver cells and leads to their final breakdown can be a contributing cause
of cirrhosis.
Treatment
The patient should be kept in bed. He must abstain
completely from alcohol in any form. He should undergo an initial liver
cleaning program with a juice fast for seven days. Freshly extracted juices
from red beets, lemon, papaya and grapes may be taken during this period. This may
be followed by the fruit and milk diet for two to three weeks. In this regimen,
the patient should have three meals a day, each of fresh juicy fruits and milk.
The fruits may include apples, pears, grapes, grape fruit, oranges, pineapples
and peaches. One liter of milk may be taken on the first day. It should be
increased by 250 ml. daily up to two to two and a half liters a day. The milk
should be fresh and unboiled, but may be slightly warmed if desired. It should
be sipped very slowly. After the fruit and milk diet, the patient may gradually
embark upon a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds,
nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits, with emphasis on raw
organically grown foods. An adequate high quality protein diet is necessary in cirrhosis.
The best complete proteins for liver patients are obtained from raw goat‘s
milk, home-made raw cottage cheese, sprouted seeds and grains and raw nuts,
especially almonds. Vegetables such as beets, squashes, bitter gourd, egg-plant,
tomato, carrot, radishes and papaya are useful in this condition. All fats and
oils should be excluded from the diet for several weeks. The patient should
avoid all refined, processed and canned foods, sugar in any form, spices and condiments,
strong tea and coffee, fried foods, all preparations cooked in ghee, oil or
butter and all meats rich in fat. The use of salt should be restricted. The
patient should also avoid all chemical additives in food and poisons in air,
water and environment. Warm water enema should be used during the treatment to
cleanse the bowels. If constipation is habitual, all steps should be taken for
its eradication. Application of alternate compress to liver area followed by
general wet sheet rub will be beneficial. The morning dry friction and
breathing and other exercises should form a regular daily feature of the treatment.
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