Jaundice
From Wiki4CAM
Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of skin, mucous membranes, and/or eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells. Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. It is transported by the blood to the liver, where it is excreted in bile, eventually reaching the small intestine. Jaundice may arise from a problem at any point in the pathway of bile from the liver to intestine.
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Causes
Causes of jaundice in children include viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E), Hemolytic anemia, disorders present since birth that cause problems processing bilirubin (Gilbert's syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Rotor's syndrome, or Crigler-Najjar syndromes), biliary atresia, autoimmune hepatitis and malaria. It may occur in newborn, which is known as newborn jaundice. It is physiological. Usually no treatment is required. Breastfeeding jaundice is found in more than 1 in 10 breastfed infants in the first week of life. It may be due to inadequate milk intake, leading to dehydration or low caloric intake. It is a type of physiologic or exaggerated physiologic jaundice. Breast milk jaundice is due to some substances in mother's milk which decrease the liver's ability of the infant to deal with the bilirubin. It occurs in about 1 in 200 babies. Here the jaundice isn’t usually visible until the baby is a week old. It often reaches its peak during the second or third week. It usually does not cause any problem and the nursing can be continued.
In adults it is usually due to blocked bile ducts (by infection, tumor or gallstones), viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E), drug-induced cholestasis, drug-induced hepatitis, biliary stricture, alcoholic cirrhosis, cancer of the pancreas, primary biliary cirrhosis, ischemic hepatocellular jaundice, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, hemolytic anemia, disorders present since birth that cause problems processing bilirubin like Gilbert's syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Rotor's syndrome and Crigler-Najjar syndromes, chronic active hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis and malaria.
Symptoms
The symptoms of jaundice usually include extreme weakness, headache and fever, loss of appetite, severe constipation, nausea, yellow discoloration of the eyes, tongue, skin, and urine and dull pain in the liver region.
CAM therapies for jaundice
Acupuncture and acupressure
The commonly used points for jaundice include ST 36 (Zusanli), SP 6 (Sanyinjiao), SP 9 (Yinlingquan), R 12 (Zhongwan), ST 25 (Tianshu), D 9 (Zhiyang), GB 24 (Riyue), UB 19 (Danshu), UB 48 (Yanggang) and R 4 (Guanyuan)
Ayurveda
It is called as Kamala in ayurveda. According to ayurveda jaundice is due to excess of pitta. It needs to be expeled and the rebalancing of the immune system should be done.
Herbal remedies
There are studies that prove the effectiveness of herbal remedies for jaundice. Berberis vulgaris, which is called as jaundice berry, is effective in jaundice. A quarter teaspoon can be given 3 to 6 times a day. All parts of the Chichorium intybus can be used for jaundice. It boosts up the liver, removes the bile flow obstruction and effectively reduce the enlargement of the spleen. The root of the Hygrophila spinosa has been used since long for hepatitis and jaundice. An infusion can be prepared in water and given to the patient. The pulp and leaves of the Aloe barbadensis can be taken with black salt and ginger in the morning. Oxalis corniculata is usually taken with butter milk prepared from cow's milk. Other herbs used for jaundice are Aloe vera, Emblica officinalis, Operculina turpethum, Phyllanthus niruri, Solanum nigrum and Trichosanthes anguina.
Homeopathy
Usually remedies like Carduus marianus, Chelidonium, Bryonia, Chionathus, Cinchona, Lycopodium, Merc sol, Natrum sulph and Phosphorus are used in cases of jaundice.
