The liver is the largest glandular organ in the body and has more functions than any other human organ. A person’s entire blood supply passes through the liver several times a day. At any given time there is about a pint of blood in your liver. Ayurveda considers the liver as the seat of ‘Pitta‘ activity. Pitta in Ayurveda parlance is one of the three functional units, Vata and Kapha being the other two. The liver is responsible for all kinds of assimilation in the body including digestion, the actions of enzymes, and your metabolism at the tissue level. The liver has a pivotal role in body’s metabolism.
These toxins and wastes are converted into less harmful substances by the liver and then eliminated from the body. Because of the significant role in maintaining health, we must do all we can to keep it in a healthy state.
The causes of the liver disorder are mainly dietary, like eating allergic food that is not suitable to one’s constitution or eating heavy, cold, and dry items regularly. Alcohol consumption is also a major cause of liver damage. Viral infections such as hepatitis A to E and G are other causes. Most chemical drugs get detoxified in the liver and may cause liver damage in the long run.
Mentioned below are some herbs which are well known and useful for liver care. Daily intake of these herbs as indicated for a period of 41 days will be useful to tone up the liver.
– Make a paste of the fresh leaves of Aegle Marmelos (Bhel, Bilwam) and Eclipta Alba (Bhringaraja, Karishilam Kanni) 5 gm each. Add a pinch of turmeric. Consume this paste in the morning on an empty stomach followed by a cup of diluted buttermilk.
For viral infections of the liver like Hepatitis A, follow this for 14 days:
– Take 5 gms of Phyllanthus Amarus (Bhoomyamalaki – Kizharnelli), preferably the reddish shaded variety. Make a paste and mix with one glass of fresh unboiled cow’s milk or diluted cream-free buttermilk. Take this in the morning on an empty stomach and consume the same quantity in the evening at around 6 pm. Avoid any oily substances, sour items, and salt. This enhances the retro-viral activities in the liver and the person gets relief from all symptoms of jaundice in two week’s time.
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RISA is a rare Ayurveda-based integrative health care center that brings together the best that traditional medicine (Ayurveda) and modern medicine (Allopathy) have to offer. It is attached to the 700-bed Ramaiah Memorial Hospital located within the campus.. Read More