Cirrhosis of the liver, symptoms causes and treatments

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This a liver disease characterized by a gradual annihilation of the liver cells. These cells are progressively replaced with fibrous tissue, which then leads to hardening. Cirrhosis is irreversible chronic injury of the liver. It often has no symptoms. Your health care provider will diagnose cirrhosis based on your medical history, a physical examination, and laboratory tests.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of cirrhosis can range from an absence of symptoms (in 10 to 20 percent of patients) to liver failure. Cirrhosis can also have symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin), weight loss, abdominal pain, testicular atrophy (in men), menstrual irregularity (in women), swelling and fluid in the abdomen, and enlarged veins.

Usually no symptoms appear until the disease has entered the late stages as the disease tends to come on gradually. When they occur, symptoms can include:

nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
unusual gain or loss of weight.
yellow coloration of the skin and eyes (see Jaundice).
dark urine.
bloody, black stools, or unusually light-colored stools.
vomiting of blood.
thinning hair
abdominal swelling.
itching.
swollen feet or legs.
red palms.
sleep disturbances and confusion.
fatigue or loss of stamina.
enlarged breasts in men.
loss of sex drive and menstrual problems in women.
spider like blood vessels on chest and shoulders.
in severe cases, mental disturbances

Causes

The most common cause of cirrhosis is alcoholism. Consuming a lot of alcohol daily (32 to 48 oz. of beer, 4 to 8 oz. of liquor, 16 to 32 oz. of wine) for 10 years or more increases your chances of developing cirrhosis. How much alcohol you drink and for how long are more important than the type of alcohol ingested. Between 5 and 10 percent of people in the United States are alcoholics. Of these, 10 to 15 percent will develop liver disease. Cirrhosis can also be caused by the ingestion of drugs and toxins, infections, inherited medical conditions, and cardiovascular diseases. About 10 percent of cases have no known cause.

Herbs

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.

Due to the high doses required and the need to avoid alcohol, the preferred form of these herbs is powdered.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): 100 mg three times per day prevents free radical damage in the liver.
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris): 250 to 500 mg per day corrects metabolic abnormalities in liver cirrhosis.
Catechin (Uncaria gambir): 400 mg three times per day, is antioxidant, antiviral, and helps regenerate liver tissue.

Homeopathic remedies for Cirrhosis of Liver

Chelidonium majus: A prominent liver remedy, covering many of the direct reflex symptoms of diseased conditions of that organ. The jaundiced skin, and especially the constant pain under inferior angle of right scapula, are certain indications.

Taraxacum officinale: Characteristically mapped tongue and jaundiced skin.