Jaundice

Jaundice is the most common of all liver disorders. It is a condition in which yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous occur due to an increase in the bile pigments, namely, bilirubin in the blood.

• Obstruction of the bile ducts: Jaundice may be caused by an obstruction of the bile ducts which normally discharge bile salts and pigment into the intestine. The bile gets mixed with blood and this gives a yellow pigmentation to the skin. The obstruction of the bile ducts could be to gallstones or inflammation of the liver, which is known as hepatitis, and is caused by virus.
• Hemolytic anaemia, typhoid, malaria: Other causes of the jaundice are hemolytic anaemia and certain disease affecting the liver such as typhoid, malaria, yellow fever and tuberculosis.

• Extreme weakness, headache, and fever: The symptoms of jaundice are extreme weakness, headache, and fever, loss of appetite, severe constipation, nausea and yellow discoloration of eye, tongue, skin and urine.
• Dull pain in the liver region: The patient may also feel a dull pain in the liver region. Obstructive jaundice may be associated with intense itching.

• Grind turmeric leaves and mix with milk.
• Mix tomato juice with salt and black pepper and drink on an empty stomach every morning.
• Add two teaspoons of oregano to one cup of boiling water, leave for ten minutes, filter and drink.
• Drink lemon juice daily.
• Eat a lot of carrots and plums.

• Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.
• Eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables)
• Do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks.
• Do not eat processed foods- white sugar, white flour, etc.
• Use stress relief like going for walks in the park.
• Brown rice and millets are good.
• Avoid red meat and animal fats.
• Reduce dairy products such as cheese, milk and others.
• Get sleep.
• Exercise light to moderate amount i.e., yoga and stretching are good.
• Do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke.