Fatty Liver

Fatty liver

This is the effect of the accumulation of different types of fats in the liver. There should be balance between the fatty acids that enter the liver with the amount that is excreted out but this cycle is not followed when there is Fatty Liver. The most common cause of Fatty Liver is excessive alcohol intake. But it should be taken note of that even people who do not drink alcohol are also at risk in having Fatty Liver especially those with Diabetes and are Obese. Symptoms are fatigue, excessive weight loss, headache, and inability to concentrate and make sound judgment.

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Turmeric [1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. 

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that turmeric can help in the treatment of liver disease. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Licorice (Glcyrhiz Gaba) [1, 6, 7, 8, 9]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Licorice has been shown to have potentially harmful side effects in people with high blood pressure, liver or kidney diseases)

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that licorice helps treat some symptoms of a fatty liver. More research is needed)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Indian Snakeroot (Rauvolfia, Rawolfia Serpentina) [1, 4, 5]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Indian Snakeroot helps to treat fatty livers in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Celandine (Ukrain, Chelidonium Majus) [1, 2, 3]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly against (There is insufficient evidence that Celandine helps to cure or treat liver fibrosis. In addition, the plant is mildly poisonous to humans. It may cause hepatitis as well as symptoms of pain, nausea, thirst, and fever.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Neural Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recomendation (there is insufficient evidence to show that Neural Therapy helps in treating Fatty Liver in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Chel

3. http://www.naturalstandard.com/index-abstract.asp?create-abstract=/monographs/herbssupplements/greatercelandine.asp

4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/indian-snakeroot

5. http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/seven/000092149.htm

6. Winston, David; Steven Maimes (2007). Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press.

7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15190039

8. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/licoriceroot/

9. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-licorice.html

10. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric

11. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html

12. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm

13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm

14. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/

15. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric

Public Discussion