Cirrhosis, laennecs Health Dictionary

Progressive fibrous tissue overgrowth in an organ... cirrhosis

A disease of the liver with hardened and fibrotic patches. Scar tissue obstructs the flow of blood through the liver, back pressure causing damage. As they wear out liver cells are not renewed.

Causes: damage from gall-stones, aftermath of infections, drugs; the commonest is alcohol. Usually made up of three factors: toxaemia (self-poisoning), poor nutrition, infective bacteria or virus.

Symptoms. Loss of appetite, dyspepsia, low grade fever, nosebleeds, lethargy, spidery blood vessels on face, muscular weakness, jaundice, loss of sex urge, redness of palms of hands, unable to lie on left side. Mechanical pressure may cause dropsy and ascites. Alcohol-induced cirrhosis correlates with low phospholipid levels.

Treatment. Bitter herbs are a daily necessity to keep the bile fluid and flowing. Among other agents, peripheral vaso-dilators are indicated. Regulate bowels.

Teas. Balmony, Milk Thistle, Boldo, Bogbean. Dandelion coffee. Barberry tea (cold water). Tablets/capsules. Calamus, Blue Flag, Wild Yam.

Formula. Wahoo 2; Wild Yam 1; Blue Flag root 1. Dose: Liquid Extracts: one 5ml teaspoon. Tinctures: two 5ml teaspoons. Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Thrice daily.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum). Based on its silymarin contents: 70-210mg, thrice daily.

Practitioner. For pain. Tincture Gelsemium: 5-10 drops in water when necessary.

Enema. Constipation may be severe for which warm water injection should be medicated with few drops Tincture Myrrh.

Diet. High protein, high starch, low fat. Reject alcohol. Accept: Dandelion coffee, artichokes, raw onion juice, turmeric as a table spice.

Lecithin. Soy-derived lecithin to antidote alcohol-induced cirrhosis. (Study: Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center & Mount Sinai Hospital School of Medicine, New York City)

Supplements. B-complex, B12, C (1g), K, Magnesium, Zinc.

Treatment by or in liaison with a general medical practitioner or gastro-enterologist. ... liver – cirrhosis

An uncommon form of liver cirrhosis that results from problems with the bile ducts, either due to an autoimmune disorder known as primary biliary cirrhosis, or a longstanding blockage. Primary biliary cirrhosis affects mainly middle-aged women and seems to be linked with a malfunction of the immune system. Secondary biliary cirrhosis results from prolonged bile duct obstruction or biliary atresia. In both types, liver function is impaired due to cholestasis (accumulation of bile in the liver). In primary biliary cirrhosis, the bile ducts within the liver become inflamed and are destroyed. Symptoms include itching, jaundice, an enlarged liver, and sometimes abdominal pain, fatty diarrhoea, and xanthomatosis. Osteoporosis may develop. Symptoms of liver cirrhosis and liver failure may occur after several years. Drugs can minimize complications and relieve symptoms such as itching. A liver transplant is the only long-term cure.

The symptoms and signs of secondary biliary cirrhosis include abdominal pain and tenderness, liver enlargement, fevers and chills, and sometimes blood abnormalities. Treatment is the same as for bile duct obstruction.... biliary cirrhosis

See cirrhosis.... liver, cirrhosis of